Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Wagner Nicky: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7459. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central) 
 to the  
Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery 
: How is the Government delivering a strong and effective recovery for greater Christchurch following the earthquakes? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery) 
: 
 The Government is doing its part to deliver a strong and effective recovery by working through the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority with the community at the heart of the vision as expressed in the recovery strategy published in May of 2011. As the strategy states community engagement is key to a successful recovery. We are working extensively with our communities to deliver best results mindful that timely clear and decisive decision-making is essential to recovery. The Government has committed considerable resources to implementing a strong effective recovery. Known costs to date total $13 billion with more decisions to be made. The arms of Government at all levels have been involved and are working tirelessly to deliver on this recovery for the people of Greater Christchurch despite the best efforts of many Opposition politicians. 
Nicky Wagner 
: What has been the fiscal cost of the Canterbury earthquakes? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The cost will consolidate across many categories and some of the features of that cost will be $2.5 billion for the repair of the horizontal infrastructure with $500 million spent by the end of this year. Widespread acceptance of the Crown offer by homeowners in the residential red zones has meant that over $1 billion has been spent in paying out 5212 settlements so far. Land zoning decisions mean that red zone offers will have a gross cost to the Crown exceeding $1.9 billion. The Earthquake Commission has now paid out in excess of $4 billion; nearly $1 billion of that has been funded. Over 28000 homes have been repaired by the Fletcher EQR project team. The total Earthquake Commission payout will be $12 billion with over $7 billion coming from Crown funds. The final cost is not yet known. We know that it will cost the Government somewhere in excess of $13 billion but the total economic cost is likely to be about $30 billion. I know that the people of Greater Christchurch are grateful for that and sick and tired of the negative rubbish they get— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If the Minister was capable of answering that question properly he would have taken far less time. He is just wasting the House’s time now. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! [ 
Interruption 
] Order! The Leader of the House should know better than to interject on a point of order. Ministers are taking a long time to answer questions from their own colleagues. That will inevitably lead to more noise in the House and it is not that helpful. Answers to questions should be reasonably brief. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Has he heard none of the concerns that have come from the people of Christchurch who have been affected by the Government’s top-down recovery process many of these concerns having been summed up in this book  
The Christchurch Fiasco 
; and will he describe its author who lives in West Melton as another enemy of the recovery as he did the  
Press 
? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I listen to thousands of people in Canterbury who are very very satisfied with the way things are going forward. If I had listened to some of the commentary coming to us—allegedly in the name of people who are upset—from Opposition politicians we would be a long way further behind than we are at the present time. There will be people who will write books and have views but in the end if we stop making decisions and stop doing things we will stop things happening. That is what the Labour Opposition wants. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: I seek leave to table  
The Christchurch Fiasco: The Insurance Aftershock and its Implications for New Zealand and Beyond 
 by first-time author Sarah Miles. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Sorry I think the Minister— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! [ 
Interruption 
] No order! What is the point of order about? Leave was sought and I heard a member clearly deny leave and that is the end of that matter. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. A comment was made about the author by one of the members and I take exception— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! [ 
Interruption 
] Order! That is irrelevant. Members are at liberty to comment on authors so long as it is not—the member is absolutely at liberty to comment on authors. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Describing someone as a loopy nutter across the House is just— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Now look—[ 
Interruption 
] Order! Look someone will—even if it is the last day I will not hesitate if the House does not show a little more respect for this place. That point of order was totally unnecessary. Members have referred to people outside this House by worse terms than that and— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: No it was a person outside— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! That will be the end of this nonsense. On the last day members can show a little better sense.