Gilmore Aaron: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Gilmore Aaron: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:674;Page:20227] 
AARON GILMORE (National) 
: 
 Vote Canterbury Earthquake Recovery has been put forward by this Government in response to the worst-ever natural disaster this country has seen in our history and I hope in all of the history of this House. The Minister in the chair the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery has done a wonderful job in the work done to date. We have heard from members on the other side of the Chamber some of the compliments that have been given to Mr Brownlee as the Minister in charge of the Canterbury earthquake recovery; I will reiterate some of those. If there has been a time for a wonderful man to step forward it is now and if we wanted a person to stand in front of the people of Canterbury and deliver as a Canterbury son then it is Mr Brownlee. He is a former builder and someone who understands the issues that the people of Canterbury are dealing with. One of the wonderful things we have seen after the three major disasters that we have experienced—not just one but three—is that Mr Brownlee has stood steadfast on every single one of them. 
We have seen the Prime Minister come down to Christchurch and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Canterbury including Mayor Bob Parker and outline to them that the Government will step in behind them and that we will rebuild our great wonderful city in the South Island. I think that is a wonderful thing. We have a fund that has been put aside in this estimates debate that talks about $5.5 billion. That is a drop in the bucket but we need a lot of support and help from the good people of New Zealand to rebuild our city. The Minister in the chair has steadfastly stood up for the people of Canterbury whether they come from the eastern suburbs or the western suburbs from the rich houses or the poor houses. That man has stood behind them and put forward many many options for them. 
We saw just today how some of this money will be spent. Today we have had to put in place a situation where half of people’s legal fees will be paid for and that is worth up to $750 for those people in the affected red zone. That is a good step forward. We have seen the issue put forward of allowing upfront deposits for those people who take up the option of the Government offer they will see in a few weeks. Those are the sorts of things when we go out and talk to the community that we hear that people want. This Government listens to what the people want and it is using some of that $5.5 billion wisely to deliver some of the things that people really want and think are important. This is not about side issues. It is not about media hype and the rubbish that some Opposition members have put forward. It is about someone who is solid and reliable like the Minister Mr Brownlee putting forward those measures that people need to get back on their feet and get our city into recovery again. 
The people of Canterbury are showing that themselves: 76 percent of people in a recent Christchurch  
Press 
 poll stated that the Government was doing a good job. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: How many are in the red zone? 
AARON GILMORE 
: I say to Mr Cosgrove over there that the Opposition would love to have those sorts of numbers supporting their party because 76 percent of the public are happy with what the Government is doing. We think that is a good step forward. 
I will talk in terms of what is actually happening in Canterbury. There was a comment from the Opposition that 20000 30000 or even 50000 people in Christchurch would be unemployed. What have we seen? Nothing like that! We heard from the Opposition that something like 50000 to 100000 people would leave our city. What have we seen? Nothing like that because we have leaders in John Key and Gerry Brownlee who are willing to put forward options for those people to move ahead and commit to their lives in Canterbury for the next 1 2 10 or 20 years. Christchurch has had more jobs in the last 3 months than have Auckland and Wellington combined. Members opposite sat there and told people in this Chamber that Canterbury would have a massive increase in unemployment. We have seen absolutely the reverse. In the Christchurch  
Press 
 in the weekend there were 17 pages of job advertisements. The member opposite who is smirking might be looking at some of those pages because he might need a job in a couple of months’ time. I think that on the latest polling about half a dozen of the people on the other side of the Chamber might need a job in Christchurch. We will give it to them: there are 17 pages of jobs in the Christchurch  
Press 
 and plenty of work. I say to Mr Cosgrove that he might have to work a bit harder. He might not be used to hard work and getting his hands a bit dirty but who knows? There are plenty of things he can do. Mr Brownlee needs a lot of help in the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and so does Roger Sutton who is doing a good job. Mr Cosgrove might be gainfully employed in some way. 
This Parliament has put forward its confidence in Mr Brownlee and the Prime Minister in this vote to rebuild our fair city—the city that I was born in as were many generations of my family. I think that one day in 10 or 20 years’ time when those members opposite probably will not be here we will stand back and say what a great job Gerry Brownlee and Prime Minister John Key did at the time of the worst natural disaster in New Zealand’s history. They will build statues to this man recognising how great and wonderful it is to have the heritage grandeur and greatness of Canterbury restored. We will sit back and say what a wonderful time that was. Thank you.