The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 killed 185 people, damaged more than 100,000 homes, destroyed much of Christchurch's central business district, and badly damaged infrastructure. Christchurch and Canterbury will never be the same.
Canterbury has begun to recover. The rebuilding of homes, infrastructure, and the Christchurch central business district is under way. The recovery – a huge challenge for the country – is likely to take many years to complete. It presents many opportunities to rebuild a better Christchurch and Canterbury.
Rebuilding Canterbury is a priority for the Government. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) is responsible for leading and co-ordinating the work of many public entities. CERA cannot and should not deliver the recovery alone. An effective recovery requires all involved – public sector agencies, communities, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector – to co-ordinate and collaborate well.
This report discusses the response of public entities. The recovery calls for many public entities to work in new and challenging ways. As this report shows, the administrative arrangements for the recovery are complex, reflecting a wide-ranging and challenging programme of tasks. Complexity is not necessarily bad – it can bring opportunities as well as challenges. I understand that the State Services Commission has identified many good examples of public entities working in new and more effective ways in response to the earthquakes.
Lyn Provost
Controller and Auditor-General
8 October 2012