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Good progress is being made on the recovery process for Canterbury following the destructive 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

"We're coming up to four months on from one of the most expensive insurance events ever worldwide. We are already getting international recognition for the speed with which the recovery process got underway," Mr Brownlee says.

"I'd like to acknowledge the ongoing patience and community spirit displayed by Cantabrians during what is a stressful time," he says.

A new initiative to repair and insulate houses in Ratana township will significantly improve the quality of life for residents, and act as a showcase for the benefits of energy efficiency initiatives for other Maori communities.

The project, announced today by Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples, and Housing Minister Phil Heatley, allocates $2.7 million to provide basic essential repairs, insulation and efficient heating for around 100 homes.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has today moved to reassure the families of the 29 victims of the Pike River mine that the government continues to explore all options to recover their loved ones.

“A recovery operation depends entirely on the mine being stabilised and made safe enough for people to enter,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Pike River Coal has undertaken, via its receiver Pricewaterhouse Coopers, to submit a proposed recovery plan in the next few days.

The government has decided to sell the diesel-fired electricity generation plant at Whirinaki on the New Zealand market by tender instead of transferring it to Meridian Energy, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

“Meridian has advised the government that it does not want the plant, and the government considers that the electricity market will be best served by selling the plant by open tender,” Mr Brownlee said.

The government is continuing to implement its programme of improvements to New Zealand’s electricity sector, with Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today announcing details of virtual asset swaps between the three state-owned electricity generator-retailers: Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy, and Mighty River Power.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today that the review of the Crown Minerals Act (1991) and the review of associated minerals programmes and regulations will now be considered as a single package.

“It was originally envisaged that the review of the Crown Minerals Act would be complete by November this year, and a bill introduced into the House in December 2010.

An Origin/Contact Energy consortium has been granted permission to proceed to fully commissioning the Ahuroa underground gas storage facility near Stratford in Taranaki, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said today.

“A permit under the Crown Minerals Act has been granted that will allow the Ahuroa Gas Storage Project to be developed into a fully-functioning underground gas storage facility for the purposes of storing and supplying gas for electricity generation,” said Mr Brownlee.

Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, says the government is pleased with its busy and productive legislative year, which ended with Parliament’s adjournment this evening.

“This is an active and reforming government, and the government’s legislative achievements in 2010 clearly reflect this,” Mr Brownlee said.

Increased production at the Kupe gas field has resulted in the largest quarterly production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) since June quarter 2006, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said today.

“LPG production is at a four-year high,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Production exceeds domestic market use, there has been a growth in LPG exports, and for the first time since the March 2006 quarter New Zealand hasn’t needed to import LPG.”

The review looked at the adequacy of New Zealand’s present health, safety and environmental regulations based on what is happening overseas. It was undertaken by New Zealand law firm Atkins Holm Joseph Majurey, in partnership with the international consultancy Environmental Resource Management.

“The review concludes that New Zealand’s health, safety and environmental (HSE) regime for offshore petroleum operations already compares favourably internationally, and incorporates a number of key characteristics of international best practice,” Mr Brownlee said.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed the Gas Industry Company (GIC) board’s decision to hand back about $1.5 million in surplus levy funds to industry participants.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed a report commissioned by Venture Taranaki on the value of the oil and gas industry to New Zealand and the Taranaki region.

Mr Brownlee says the report, titled ‘The Wealth Beneath Our Feet,’ highlights the significant contribution of the oil and gas sector to the New Zealand economy.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced changes to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) board.

EECA is a Crown agent with the role of encouraging, promoting and supporting energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable sources of energy. Its board is appointed by the Minister.

Dr Andrew Pearce, a former chief executive of Landcare Research, has been reappointed a member and appointed deputy chair for a term of two years.

Earthquake recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's release of the Earthquake Commission's Stage 2 geotechnical report into land damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake.

"This report gives Canterbury homeowners more information and certainty around the repair process," Mr Brownlee says.

"For the majority of property owners, the recovery process is relatively straightforward and the repair process can start now."

Earthquake recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced a package of new measures to assist Canterbury business in the wake of the September 4 earthquake.

Over half a million dollars has been set aside to provide support.

“The best way for the city to recover is to restore the pre-quake flows of traffic – getting the street barriers down, is the best way to get commerce back on its feet,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Numerous businesses have relocated and changed their business model to sustain their business.

The Government stands ready to offer whatever assistance it can as events unfold at Pike River mine on the West Coast, says the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee.

Earthquake recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today visited the first of Fletcher Construction's regional project management hubs in Halswell, Christchurch, marking the beginning of work to repair ho

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced a third round of the aquaculture market development contestable fund, providing $410,000 in additional funding for the industry.

Backstop regulations to address potential difficulties for consumers and the gas industry, arising from the liquidation of gas retailer E-Gas, came into force today.

Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee today announced the government, through its Major Events Development Fund, is investing $150,000 in the Optimist World Championships to be hosted in

Contact Energy's Tauhara II geothermal project will be an important step toward New Zealand achieving its target of 90 per cent renewable energy by 2025, Energy and Resources and Economic Developme

With the Electricity Authority coming into existence today a significant milestone in the government's reforms of the electricity sector has been reached, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownl

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the passing of The Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill.

A report released today suggests New Zealand could double the value of its food exports, and offers insights into how this could be done, Minister for Economic development Gerry Brownlee says.

Moving to the centre: the future of the New Zealand food industry was commissioned from Coriolis Research by the Ministry of Economic Development and focuses on food exports to Australia.

It shows that New Zealand's exports of high-value processed food products to Australia are not just large at $877 million in 2009 (excluding wine), they are also growing rapidly.