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More than 90 Canterbury exporters will be reinforcing their relationships with key customers in the coming weeks thanks to the Christchurch Market Connections Fund, launched 10 days ago as part of the government’s economic recovery package for earthquake-affected businesses.

Over $1.3 million of the $2 million fund has already been approved to support 91 firms seeking to strengthen relationships and reassure customers that Christchurch, and New Zealand, is open for business.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand’s announcement today that it will build a $15 million state-of-the-art bottling plant in Christchurch makes an important statement about the city’s future.

"The clear message from Coca-Cola is it believes Christchurch will maintain its role as the South Island’s economic powerhouse.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the establishment of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will provide leadership and coordination of the recovery effort following the February 22 earthquake.

“Numerous factors were considered in determining the best way to provide leadership and certainty for the rebuilding and recovery effort,” Mr Brownlee said.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today confirmed that New Zealand Customs chief executive Martyn Dunne will not be involved in the new government department that will manage the rebuilding and recovery of Canterbury following the February 22 earthquake.

Mr Brownlee said media speculation about Mr Dunne’s role had been premature; Mr Dunne had not been appointed interim chief executive of the department, though he had been doing some work for the State Services Commission to help with its establishment.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the progress Waimakariri District Council has made in developing a programme of work to fix the damage caused by the 4 September earthquake.

"Kaiapoi wasn't badly affected by the 22 February earthquake so it's great they are getting on with fixing the damaged land and homes," Mr Brownlee said.

"This government is committed to rebuilding Christchurch and Canterbury as quickly as possible."

The government has committed $6.85 million to a carefully targeted economic recovery package to help Canterbury businesses severely affected by the two major earthquakes get back on their feet.

The package includes money for business recovery coordinators, international visits for exporters to key clients, a trust fund for those in need following the quakes, and more money for workshops and business training.

The Earthquake Commission's new assessment process will give Christchurch homeowners more certainty about the status of their homes, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The EQC announced today it will begin a new rapid assessment process of all Christchurch houses over the next eight weeks to prioritise needs and urgent repairs.

"The rapid assessments will give homeowners some certainty about their homes in a quicker timeframe," Mr Brownlee says.

The preliminary figure of around 10,000 houses in Canterbury needing to be rebuilt was provided by the Earthquake Commission’s geotechnical engineers in the first few days after the earthquake on 22 February, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said today.

"This was an early indication of the number of rebuilds likely due to damage caused by the earthquake," Mr Brownlee said.

The government has, in consultation with opposition parties, approved nine orders in council to cut red-tape and help speed up the recovery process after the Christchurch earthquake, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

"This process of removing legislative barriers has proved effective since the initial quake in September," Mr Brownlee said.

Four of the approved orders in council are reinstatements of orders that had expired since the first Canterbury earthquake on 4 September 2010.

The government has today announced a package of initiatives to assist Cantabrians who have been displaced from their homes due to severe earthquake damage.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the package includes the establishment of a temporary accommodation service and financial assistance for displaced homeowners to help cover temporary accommodation costs.

The roll out of the government's home insulation and clean heating programme, Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, is nearing 90,000 homes while keeping about 2000 kiwis in full time employment, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The latest figures show 88,920 New Zealand households have been retrofitted with insulation and/or a new efficient heating since the programme started in July 2009.

Finance Minister Bill English, Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the establishment of an Advisory Group on Green Growth in enabling New Zealand to grow the economy while enhancing our clean, green brand.

“This new initiative is another part of the Government's plan to build a faster growing economy," Mr English said, announcing the advisory group at the National Party’s Bluegreens forum in Akaroa. 

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says Labour leader Phil Goff’s violent reaction to mixed ownership of State Owned Enterprises has left him promoting a position he recently described as a mistake that drove Labour from office.

“In October 2009 Mr Goff told the Labour Party conference the dividends his government took from the three electricity SOEs, which he called ‘excessive,’ were partly responsible for Labour losing the 2008 election,” Mr Brownlee said.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced that New Zealand has secured oil reserves for 2011 that ensure the country will continue to meet its international obligation to hold 90 days of the previous year's net oil imports.

"The 90 day target is part of the New Zealand's obligations as a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA),” Mr Brownlee said.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's news the Earthquake Commission is now more than halfway through assessments of claims lodged after the Canterbury earthquake.

The Earthquake Commission has received more than 169,000 claims from the Canterbury earthquake on 4 September (7.1 magnitude), and the three major aftershocks on 19 October (5.0 magnitude), 14 November (4.9 magnitude) and 26 December (4.9 magnitude).