Adams Amy: Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading 
Adams Amy: Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill — Procedure First Reading Second Reading 
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AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) 
: 
 I will take a call in the second reading of the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill firstly to pay tribute to everyone in Canterbury who has been working so hard since 4 September. I also pay tribute to my colleagues in the House. Certainly not just the Canterbury-based MPs but everyone has shown a great willingness to do what needs to be done to support the people of Canterbury. That is very much acknowledged and we in Canterbury are very grateful for it. 
I want to make the point that I am talking about the Canterbury earthquake because as Clayton Cosgrove my parliamentary colleague who has just sat down would agree this is not simply a Christchurch issue. The districts of Waimakariri and Selwyn have been greatly affected as well. 
When I spoke to the House in the general debate last week I talked about the fact that the time it will take Canterbury to move through the recovery phase is a big part of what is causing stress and anguish for the people of Canterbury. It is heartening to see this House acknowledge the need to do all that we can prudently to facilitate that process and to ensure that it is no more long-winded than it needs to be. That is very much the way that I see this bill. 
I acknowledge the comments made about the extraordinary nature of the bill. From a constitutional point of view it is well out of the ordinary and I accept that it involves somewhat of a leap of faith. But equally I think that we in this House are recognising that this is what is required. The actions of this House of the Government of local government and of regional government since 4 September have shown to all of us that the people leading this recovery have the skills the passion and the absolute desire to make sure that this is done well and that the powers are used simply to encourage Canterbury to get back on its feet. I want to be absolutely confident that there is no ulterior motive or tomfoolery. I am very confident that these powers will be used appropriately and expeditiously to get Canterbury back on its feet. 
It simply would not be right to be pontificating about red-letter law while more and more damage is caused. To give a real example of that I was speaking with a constituent of mine just yesterday who has a commercial building that has been significantly damaged. The constituent is not working through the Earthquake Commission but their own insurers have been out. The constituent has structural engineer’s drawings and knows what needs to be done. Everybody is ready to go and the only thing holding them up is the lack of a building consent. In a business-as-usual world processing that building consent would take some time and during that time there is a very real chance that that building could be further damaged even to the point of needing to be demolished. So if we allow ourselves to be slowed down while we follow a process for the sake of process we will see not only a continuation of the anguish and heartbreak but also further damage occurring that could simply be avoided. 
I acknowledge that this is a significant set of powers but equally I draw attention to clause 3 “Purpose” which provides a very clear statement of the scope and the ambit within which these powers are to be used. As a member of the Regulations Review Committee I can well imagine that in the subsequent considerations of the Orders in Council that are made under this bill the purpose clause will provide a very clear set of guidelines as to the appropriate ways in which those powers can be exercised. But as I say the response from all levels of government has indicated to me that everybody is on the same page. Everybody will use those powers appropriately so that we can ensure that the rebuilding effort is not hampered and not done callously and carelessly and so that we can get on as fast as we can to move through the disaster phase and into the recovery and rebuilding phase. Everybody in Canterbury is anxiously awaiting that so I am very pleased to commend the bill to the House.