Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:670;Page:16965] 
1. 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Is he satisfied that actions to address the Christchurch earthquake are an adequate response; if not what are his areas of concern? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Generally yes but due to the severe damage in the eastern suburbs some households may well be without power water and sewerage for some time yet. However I want to assure people that everything that can be done is being done in terms of restoring central infrastructure. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Does the Prime Minister agree with his national Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Hamilton who said “We grossly underappreciated the scale of damage in the suburban areas.” and does he believe that the pace of addressing the problems particularly in the eastern suburbs is now at a satisfactory level? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I have not seen John Hamilton’s comments but I will accept the member’s word that that is what he said. In terms of the latter point yes everything that can be done is being done. New Zealanders will appreciate that as the worst affected of the people in the eastern suburbs have said to me or to my colleagues the reality is that in that early period when we were all desperately trying to find people alive in the search and rescue effort that was of paramount importance. I think all of us would accept that relative to the significant inconvenience those residents have had to go through looking for people who might have been alive was the top priority. Of course now our full effort is turning towards restoration of residents’ services. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Did the Prime Minister consult his Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Mr Hamilton before making the statement that some neighbourhoods in Christchurch would not be rebuilt and what advice did Mr Hamilton or any other official give him on the propriety of making that statement? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No and none. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Given the reaction of people on the ground to the Prime Minister’s statement what process does he have in mind to consult the communities affected and will such a process be implemented quickly given the huge uncertainty that has been created by his statement? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: We have to acknowledge the anxiety of those people who have damaged homes that may not be able to be rebuilt. I think everyone understands and appreciates that. The process is that currently geotechnical advice is being sought. When we have that geotechnical advice we will be in a position to understand whether that land can be remediated. If it can be remediated I suggest that it will be depending on the costs of doing so. But obviously we need to get that advice first and we are working as aggressively and as quickly as we can. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Given the concern that is being expressed in those communities because people do not know which community will now be written off and which homes not rebuilt when can he provide some certainty to those communities about what will be happening to them? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: As soon as we have that geotechnical advice. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Given the massive job that will exist in rebuilding 10000 houses that are due for demolition and a central business district two-thirds of which may require rebuilding what special plans has he got to upskill people in Christchurch so that we do not have unemployment alongside a major skills shortage in the construction trades in the months to come? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: It is hard to look for a silver lining in a tragedy of the extent of the one we have witnessed in Christchurch but if there is one it is that there will be enormous economic stimulus in Christchurch over the course of the next few years—in fact over quite a number of years. That will lead to opportunities for people from Christchurch. In terms of the skills capability my understanding is that all the insurance companies are aligned to a major building company and there is quite a pool of people in the construction sector from around New Zealand and potentially from around the world that can help in that process. Again when we are in a position to start that work I am sure we will try to soak up as much of that skill as possible. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: In light of the controversy that occurred over the comments of the Minister for Earthquake Recovery about heritage buildings not having any place in the future of Christchurch can the Prime Minister give an assurance that emergency regulations will not be used to implement arbitrary decisions that have not first been consulted with stakeholders with the chance for all of the community to express their views? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Firstly that is not what the Minister said. Of course one of the dangers in these situations is that people interpret from whatever perspective they want to take the comments that someone might make and like Chinese whispers they end up being in a completely different place from where they started. But the point I would make is that in terms of the demolition of buildings in the city there is clear process if it is happening under the civil defence emergency powers. If the buildings are heritage buildings then the requirements are more stringent and they have to go through that process.