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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has paid his third visit to NZ Defence Force troops training members of the Iraqi Security Forces at Camp Taji, near Baghdad.

Mr Brownlee arrived back in Dubai this morning, accompanied by Chief of the Defence Force Lt Gen Tim Keating.

“Once again I’ve been impressed by the way our trainers are able to connect with the Iraqi Security Forces,” Mr Brownlee says.

A longstanding agreement between Civil Defence Emergency Management authorities and national broadcasters has been renewed and strengthened today, Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

“While the government is working to fast-track new technology like cell broadcasting, it’s important to remember that traditional information channels provide a valuable source of information during emergencies,” Mr Brownlee says.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says an extension to the national transition period will continue to support recovery efforts following the Kaikōura earthquake.

Mr Brownlee has given notice of an extension to the national transition period in Kaikōura and Hurunui Districts and the Wairau-Awatere ward of Marlborough District, which will come into force at 1pm today and last for a further 90 days.

The extended national transition period for these areas will now end at 1pm on 7 June 2017, unless extended or terminated earlier.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the implementation of a new nationwide channel for sending alerts about emergencies to mobile phones is on track to be up and running by the end of the year.

Cell broadcast alerting is a new way of sending information to mobile phones in a set area without people needing to download an app or subscribe to a service.

“The alerts will appear similar to text messages. They are received automatically and for free by all cell broadcast enabled mobile phones in the area,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will be treated to a spectacular display of air power at this weekend’s Royal New Zealand Air Force 2017 Air Tattoo.

“This is a unique opportunity to see all of our Air Force air craft in one place, plus aircraft from militaries all around the world,” says Mr Brownlee.

Mr Brownlee will be at RNZAF Base Ohakea on Sunday, 26 February, to attend the air show, which marks the 80th anniversary of the RNZAF.

The sixth anniversary of the February 22 earthquake is a significant moment for Cantabrians and all those affected by the devastating events of that day in 2011.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee and Associate Minister Nicky Wagner say today’s commemorations are particularly important, as the unveiling of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial provides those who lost a family member or friend with a dedicated place to remember and reflect.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the fires in Christchurch City and the Selwyn District have highlighted the need to streamline New Zealand’s Civil Defence legislation.

On Thursday, Mr Brownlee was scheduled to meet with representatives from all political parties to discuss the Civil Defence response to the Kaikōura earthquake.

He instead travelled to Canterbury to receive updates from the local and regional response teams and survey the blaze from the air.

Civil Defence and Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has requested the New Zealand Defence Force to provide support to local authorities in Christchurch as they deal with the Port Hills fires.

“The Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group has offered its assistance to both Selwyn District Council and Christchurch City Council but at this time the councils have not declared a state of local emergency,” Mr Brownlee says.

Three months after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 14 November, encouraging recovery progress is being made in affected communities.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the government and local authorities are working alongside not-for-profit organisations and businesses on a multi-pronged recovery effort in the wake of the 14 November earthquake.

“People’s wellbeing and livelihoods are our top priority,” Mr Brownlee says.

The Office of the Auditor-General report into CERA’s effectiveness must be viewed in the context of New Zealand’s most significant natural disaster, the Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says.

“I believe the report as a whole is unbalanced at times and doesn’t compare CERA with other recovery agencies or post-disaster experiences worldwide,” Mr Brownlee says.

The restoration of Kaikōura Harbour after last year’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake is expected to be completed by the middle of the year.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced progress on the slipway, ramp and channel deepening as a result of the November 14 earthquake lifting the seabed between one and two metres in some areas. 

“At the moment access is severely restricted and the harbour channel is so shallow, it can only be used four hours a day – two hours either side of the tide,” Mr Brownlee says.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced $889,000 of funding grants to boost New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards and their consequences.

Mr Brownlee says the grants are awarded from the 2017 Resilience Fund, an annual fund of $889,000 administered by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).

Nine councils and organisations from Northland to Southland have been awarded grants this year.

Joint Statement

New Zealand and Singapore’s Defence Ministers Gerry Brownlee and Dr Ng Eng Hen today observed Exercise Thunder Warrior, an artillery live-firing exercise at the Waiouru Training Area.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) exercise.

The ministers also conducted the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith today announced initial funding of up to $3 million to develop and enhance GeoNet’s natural hazards monitoring capability and response service.

The funding will support GeoNet - New Zealand’s official geological hazard information service - to further develop New Zealand’s hazards monitoring tools.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee says discussions are continuing about the future of the ChristChurch Cathedral.

“The Cathedral Working Group was formed in June to consider restoration options for the earthquake-damaged cathedral,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The group delivered its final recommendation on November 28.

“Proposals from the working group were considered by Cabinet today however discussions continue with the Church Property Trustees.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says 2016 has seen the New Zealand Defence Force respond to natural disasters, train Iraqi soldiers and future-proof the country’s Defence industry.

“I think most of us will remember 2016 as a turbulent and extraordinary year for the world,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force perform essential roles in protecting New Zealanders, supporting our friends and neighbours and furthering New Zealand’s interests around the globe.

A grant of up to $5 million to help with the post-earthquake restoration of Kaikoura Harbour was announced today by Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce.

“This grant will ensure work can begin as soon as possible to dredge the harbour, which is a pivotal lifeline to the Kaikoura region,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14 resulted in the seabed rising between one and two metres in some areas, which has severely restricted access to the region by sea.

Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says this afternoon’s adjournment of Parliament brings to an end an extremely busy legislative year.

“Parliament sat for 88 days this year, the same number of days as in 2015, passing 107 bills – 98 Government bills, four Members’ bills, three private bills and two local bills,” Mr Brownlee says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today that approval has been given for the New Zealand Defence Force to progress work on the Consolidated Logistics project at a cost of $130 million over five years.

“New Zealand’s Defence Force holds a wide range of equipment, all of which needs to be stored, maintained and serviced so that it is ready and safe to use when required,” Mr Brownlee says.

“However the systems presently used to do this need to be brought into the modern age.

The Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between EQC and private insurers.

EQC and New Zealand’s major private insurers have reached an agreement which will help ensure thousands of claims following the November 14 earthquake are resolved efficiently and in a timely manner.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee has approved the Waimakariri Residential Red Zone Recovery Plan – the first of several major future use decisions in the region.

About 100 hectares of mainly residential land in Kaiapoi, The Pines Beach and Kairaki sustained severe land damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

The Crown subsequently bought almost 1000 properties in the district to allow people to move on with their lives.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says a National Transition Period issued today will help support recovery efforts following the November 14 earthquake.

The Minister has given notice of a National Transition Period in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough Districts, which came into force at 1pm today.

A National Transition Period provides for a National Recovery Manager to coordinate recovery activity if needed across the three district councils, the Canterbury Regional Council and central government agencies.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery Bill 2016 by Parliament today.

This is the third of three Bills in response to the Kaikōura earthquake sequence that started with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14.

“It will establish a time limited process to enable Acts and associated plans, to be amended by Order in Council, for earthquake-affected areas,” Mr Brownlee says.

Leader of the House and Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Bill 2016 in Parliament today.

“This is the second of three Bills in response to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14, and is about supporting individuals and communities to get their lives and livelihoods back on track as quickly as possible,” says Mr Brownlee.