Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Goff Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:670;Page:17172] 
2. 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement that “rebuilding Christchurch is a key priority for the Government this year”; if so what rebuilding plans are currently in place? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes I do. However due to aftershocks and the need for inspections and demolitions rebuilding may not begin in the central business district for at least 6 months. It is very important that the reasons for the severity of damage to certain buildings and consequent loss of life are understood as soon as possible. For this reason Cabinet will request that the royal commission provide an interim report back in approximately 6 months. This report will include any recommendations that may be relevant to the construction of new buildings in Christchurch’s central business district. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What steps is the Government taking to begin an emergency housing programme for the 10000 families unable to return to their homes because they are uninhabitable? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The relevant Minister and Cabinet has that issue well in hand. We will be in a position to make an announcement in the foreseeable future. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What is he doing to help businesses that were operating out of the central business district which obviously cannot operate there until it is reopened and rebuilt so that as many of those businesses as possible can continue to operate and survive into the future? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The Government is working on a package for businesses. Again we will be in a position to announce that package very soon. We have also been working with the Christchurch group that is responsible for that: the old chamber of commerce the Canterbury Business Recovery Group I think it is called. We are putting in place facilitators that can help work alongside them and we have a number of other plans for those businesses. Again in due course we will release those plans. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What new skills training initiatives are being put into place given the massive rebuilding job that lies ahead of Christchurch? Given that 9000 people in Christchurch have been made redundant as a result of the earthquake with unemployment expected to reach 7 percent what skills training initiatives are being put in place to ensure that those people can help in the rebuilding of their own city? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The relevant Ministers—Steven Joyce the Minister for Tertiary Education and Paula Bennett the Minister for Social Development and Employment have been meeting with both their departments and the business recovery group which is the old chamber of commerce to discuss skills requirements. Again they have planning in hand and will be able to make announcements in due course. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Given the Prime Minister’s answer what has the Canterbury building industry told his Ministers about a severe shortage of skills that will exist within 12 to 18 months in the absence of real measures to provide for those skills? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The member might better address his questions directly to the Minister for Tertiary Education and the Minister for Social Development and Employment but I can say that there will clearly be gaps because of the sheer amount of rebuilding that is required. Those gaps will be filled by a number of initiatives that the Government has. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What does his Government propose to do to stop families who have lost their homes being subject to rent gouging because of a shortage of rental accommodation? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The Government has in train some initiatives in terms of temporary housing and the like. It is also working with a number of other providers. The Department of Building and Housing has a website that is looking to match those who are offering rental properties with those who require them. Again we will have more announcements to make on that in due course. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think that answer addressed the supply but not whether any specific measure will go to price gouging. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member should not litigate an answer in that way. The Prime Minister was asked what measures the Government was putting in place. Obviously the member was looking for some regulation or other but the Prime Minister’s answer indicated that the Government was taking a somewhat different approach making sure supply was better matched to demand. It was a perfectly legitimate answer. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: What advice has his Government or Rugby World Cup 2011 given to the International Rugby Board about Christchurch’s capacity to host the cup games? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am not privy to all the conversations that the relevant Minister Murray McCully has had. I am aware that the International Rugby Board representative here in New Zealand has been involved in a number of discussions with the Government. I myself was at a meeting with them on Sunday evening. We are working our way through those issues. Again when we have all of the facts and we are in a position to advise the International Rugby Board what our thinking is then I am sure it will be in a position to make a decision along with us. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: Is the Prime Minister like me— 
Hon Members 
: Ha ha! 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: In so many ways! Is the Prime Minister like me pleased and proud of the way officials have worked with council staff business leaders and community leaders in Christchurch—and indeed with his Ministers—not just in terms of the emergency response required for Christchurch but now looking ahead in terms of the massive job of rebuilding Christchurch for the people of Christchurch? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am a lot like the member although arguably with slightly more hair. Yes I am delighted with the work that local government and the officials have been doing to work though a process to ensure that Canterbury can be rebuilt as quickly as it can. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: What role will the new sped-up processes for the Earthquake Commission play in allowing Christchurch people to get on with the business of rebuilding their lives and their houses? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I am not in a position to detail all those processes today but I can say that they will play a significant role. It is important that good and speedy decision-making can take place. Obviously we want to work closely and in partnership with local government in Christchurch but everyone will appreciate that the significance of that event means that we need a different structure if we are going to be successful in rebuilding Christchurch as quickly as we can.