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A new temporary stadium with seating for 17,000 will be built in Christchurch for major sporting and cultural events.

"The new temporary stadium will allow Cantabrians to experience the excitement of Crusaders and Canterbury ITM Cup home games again as well as Phoenix football matches, rugby league games, other major sporting events, concerts and festival events," says Mr Key.

"I'm thrilled the New Zealand Rugby Union has also announced today our world champion All Blacks will play a test match against Ireland at the new venue in June next year.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal’s commitment to help the city’s CBD retailers kick-start their businesses ahead of summer.

Restart the Heart, an initiative to give temporary, re-locatable accommodation to displaced businesses, will receive a $3.36 million interest-free loan from the Appeal.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the announcement that Christchurch businesses, community groups and children are set to receive funding in the latest round of disbursements from the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

“Since the Appeal was set up in February, people from around the country and the world have dug deep to help Christchurch recover. That generosity has given the Appeal the opportunity to assist a wide variety of worthy projects which will help make a difference to Christchurch.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed ANZ’s $1 billion dollar commitment of special mortgage lending to help Christchurch homeowners relocate.

ANZ today announced it has committed $1 billion in new residential mortgage lending, with a low interest rate, to help residents relocate from the residential red zone.

“This announcement is welcomed by the Government,” says Mr Key.

“It shows that despite the earthquakes, there is business confidence in Christchurch and Canterbury.

Prime Minister John Key and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee on today's announcement concerning earthquake land recovery options.
 

Prime Minister John Key today announced the next step in the government's ongoing work to give people of greater Christchurch a clearer picture of what their future holds following a series of major earthquakes and aftershocks in the region.

Mr Key and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today released a map of the areas of greater Christchurch where the land is unlikely to be able to be rebuilt on for a considerable period of time.

Prime Minister John Key today thanked three of the world’s major motion picture organisations for their generous donations to the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment, co-chaired by Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, have collectively donated USD $1 million (NZD $1.26 million) towards the Appeal.

Warner Brothers, through Warner Bros. Video Ltd and Warner Bros Entertainment Australia Pty Limited, has donated USD $500,000 (NZD $633,557) to the Appeal.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed the announcement of a telethon to support the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, the official, global fundraiser for the recovery effort for Christchurch and the Canterbury region.

Rise Up Christchurch – Te Kotahitanga will be a 12-hour event on May 22 – three months after the February 22 earthquake. All funds raised will go to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Prime Minister John Key has today recognised the severe impact on Canterbury tourism by the February 2011 earthquake with a funding boost.

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED), Christchurch City Council (CCC), and Christchurch International Airport (CIAL) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to help Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) that is worth an additional $1.6 million.

The funding boost breaks down to $625,000 from MED, $625,000 from CIAL, and $350,000 from CCC (which is additional to core council funding of $2.2 million).

Prime Minister John Key today announced that New Zealand’s gift to the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be a donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone wishing to give the couple a wedding gift consider instead donating to one of the nominated charities. The couple nominated the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal as one of those charities.

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed Westpac’s announcement of a temporary business hub for quake-affected small businesses in Christchurch.

The Westpac Business Hub, set to open in early May, will give local small- and medium-sized businesses free access to office space, and key services and networks. It is expected the Hub will be able to house up to 70 businesses at any one time.

Prime Minister John Key today announced the creation of a new, single authority to provide leadership and coordination of the ongoing recovery effort in Canterbury.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will be established as a stand-alone government department to enable an effective, timely and co-ordinated rebuilding and recovery effort in Canterbury.

CERA will have a lifespan of five years and its operations will be reviewed annually.

Prime Minister John Key today announced extended assistance for Christchurch businesses and workers following the initial Earthquake Support package launched last month.

Both the Earthquake Support Subsidy for employers and the Job Loss Cover for workers will be extended until 18 April, followed by a second round of assistance with tighter application criteria.

“The purpose of this initial package was to be a solid first step for Christchurch businesses and individuals on the road to rebuilding their lives and livelihoods,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key says ASB’s announcement that it will invest $250 million to stimulate the Christchurch economy is both generous and far-sighted.

Mr Key was in Christchurch with incoming ASB Chief Executive Barbara Chapman when she announced a $250 million investment programme to support the Christchurch rebuild.

Among other initiatives, ASB is offering;

· reduced interest loans and six-month repayment holidays to existing home loan customers significantly impacted by the earthquake

Prime Minister John Key today thanked Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her support, through the Queen’s Charitable Trust, of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

“Her Majesty’s charitable trust will be making a monetary donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, which is a generous and gratefully received measure of support for the people of Christchurch,” says Mr Key.

“I am sure New Zealanders will join me in thanking Her Majesty for her kind support at such a tragic time for the city.”

We are here today to remember the people we have lost, to express our grief and sorrow, and to re-affirm our commitment to this city and to each other.

On the 22nd of February Christchurch experienced an earthquake of such violence that it stole from us the lives of dozens of people, and dramatically altered the lives of tens of thousands more.

All who were caught up in that earthquake, all who have seen the images and read the stories, have been horrified by it its scale and by its callous disregard for so much that we held dear.

Prime Minister John Key today thanked Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton for their generous support for Christchurch and the West Coast following the tragic events in those areas.

“Prince William’s visit to New Zealand to meet with the families of those lost in November’s Pike River Mine tragedy, and to attend the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service, is hugely appreciated by New Zealanders.

Prime Minister John Key is welcoming the news that the Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott will all attend the Christchurch Earthquake National Memorial Service on Friday.

“This is a heart-warming show of solidarity with New Zealand by the leadership of Australia.

“It is a concrete demonstration of the sentiment Prime Minister Gillard expressed during her visit to New Zealand last month that New Zealand is 'family',” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Cabinet has agreed to establish a Royal Commission on the Canterbury Earthquake.

The inquiry will examine issues around the built environment in the Christchurch CBD including, but not limited to, the CTV and PGC buildings, as well as the adequacy of the relevant building codes and standards into the future.

Prime Minister John Key today announced Mark Weldon, Chief Executive of NZX, will spearhead the fundraising efforts of the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

“Mr Weldon has a wealth of experience both in New Zealand and overseas, and has the networks to enable the appeal to be a truly global one,” says Mr Key.

“I’m very pleased Mr Weldon has offered his expertise and donated his time to oversee the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal during its fundraising period.”

Prime Minister John Key is welcoming the news that Prince William is taking time to visit the people of Christchurch as they cope with the tragic aftermath of the February 22 earthquake.

St James’s Palace has announced that Prince William, on behalf of The Queen, will attend the National Memorial Service at North Hagley Park on 18 March. He will also visit Greymouth to speak to the families of the Pike River Mine disaster.

“This is a heart-warming gesture that will mean a lot to the thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed by these events.

On this day two weeks ago, the great city of Christchurch was ripped apart by a devastating earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale.

So far it has been confirmed that 166 loved ones have lost their lives, and we are told that the final death toll could be more than 200.

To lose so many people at once, including many foreign nationals, is hard to fathom. It is a tragedy that one cannot put into words.

Prime Minister John Key has announced that a National Memorial Service for the victims of the February 22 earthquake will be held in Christchurch on Friday March 18.

The service, which will be held in North Hagley Park, is being organised by the Christchurch City Council and the Visits and Ceremonial Office with wide consultation from the community and families.

“The service will give people the chance to reflect on the terrible loss of life suffered as a result of the earthquake, and the huge impact it has had on our second largest city.

Good afternoon

I thought it appropriate to make some comments to mark the announcement made a short time ago in Christchurch that the rescue phase has come to an end, and that we are now fully in a recovery phase.

This will be a very sad day for the families of those who are missing.

This is also a very sad day for all those involved in the rescue effort, who have worked night and day combing the city valiantly searching for signs of life.