page_title: Gerry Brownlee
section_title: As Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
hierarchical_section_title: Gerry Brownlee / Controversy and faux pas / As Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
caption_attribution_description: English: EQC protest banners on commercial premises (corner Fitzgerald / Ferry in Christchurch).
context_page_description: Gerard Anthony Brownlee is a New Zealand politician serving as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand National Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition since 14 July 2020. Brownlee was Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2017 and has served as the Member of Parliament for Ilam since 1996.
  A Christchurch native, Brownlee worked as a teacher before being elected to Parliament at the 1996 election. He first served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the National Party's deputy leader from 2003 to 2006. He later returned to the post fourteen years later, with new National Party Leader Judith Collins.
  In the Fifth National Government, between 2008 and 2017, he served various ministerial appointments, including Leader of the House, Minister of Defence, Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
context_section_description: After the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, Brownlee, as the senior-most Christchurch MP in government, was appointed Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery on 7 September 2010. The role gave Brownlee substantial powers in supervising and coordinating the involvement of central government, local government, and the private sector in rebuilding Christchurch.
  On 14 September 2010, Brownlee introduced the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 into the house with leave to pass the legislation in one sitting. This Bill was passed by the time the House adjourned at 10.02 pm.
  In 2012, it was reported that the idea of using part of Christchurch's residential red zone for an international rowing regatta course known as East Lake had found the support of Brownlee as Earthquake Recovery Minister.
  In September 2012, Brownlee accused residents in Christchurch's newly created TC3 zone of "carping and moaning" for comments they made in a survey conducted by the main local newspaper. The comments were about perceived inaction by the authorities, including the government. He apologised soon after.
caption: A protest sign in Christchurch criticising Brownlee's performance as Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery (photographed in September 2013)
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