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The Government is working with councils and industry to maximise the recycling of the estimated 4.5 million tonnes of demolition and liquefaction waste from the Canterbury earthquakes, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

A report into approvals of subdivisions in Christchurch and Kaiapoi badly affected by Canterbury's earthquakes has resulted in the Government proposing changes to the Resource Management Act to better manage the risk of natural hazards.

The Government is offering to do all it can to ensure the rezoning of land for residential development in Kaiapoi happens as quickly as possible, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

Dr Smith today visited Kaiapoi with MP Kate Wilkinson and met with officers from the Waimakariri District Council and Environment Canterbury to discuss the issue of rezoning land for residential development.

The government has approved the fast-tracking of a 10-hectare reclamation of Lyttelton's Port using rubble from Christchurch's earthquakes, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

"A streamlined process for this reclamation is needed to enable Lyttelton Port to quickly recover and to provide a practical way to deal with some of the estimated 8.5 million tonnes of rubble and material from the earthquake," Mr Brownlee said.

ACC Minister Nick Smith is reassuring Christchurch employers that they won’t be penalised by ACC for injuries to their workers caused by the 22 February earthquake.

“Under ACC’s existing regulations, employers who had staff injured or killed in their workplace during the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February could have their Work Account levies increased as a result. This is unfair and that is why an exception needs to be made,” Dr Smith said.

The Government is streamlining the resource consent processes for land remediation works to enable homes to be rebuilt more quickly for Christchurch families hit by the 4 September and 22 February earthquakes, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.

ACC is doing all it can to support the injured and those who have lost loved ones in the Christchurch earthquake, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.

The Government has waived the $10 a tonne waste levy on Canterbury landfills for earthquake waste as it is inappropriate for the fund to profit due to additional waste from the Canterbury earthquak