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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.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia is thanking the many individual volunteers and communities that have assisted with the response to the Christchurch earthquake.

“I have been so impressed with the way New Zealanders have come together to help each others in such trying circumstances including the many non-government agencies, fire, police, defence, local and international search and rescue personnel who have all been working together for the common good.

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.

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 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.

A rise in domestic violence is likely to add to Christchurch’s misery, says the Minister of Women’s Affairs Hon Hekia Parata.

Ms Parata urged those at a breakfast she hosted at Parliament this morning to mark 100 years of International Women’s Day, to be prepared for an increase in violence following last month’s devastating earthquake.

“The international evidence is that domestic violence increases after big natural disasters and the increase may continue for up to a year.

Mr Speaker

I wish to make a ministerial statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the extension of the state of national emergency over Christchurch City.

On 23 February, I declared a state of national emergency for Christchurch City under section 66 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. This was as a result of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February and the continuing aftershocks. It was the first time in New Zealand history that a state of national emergency was declared as a result of a civil defence emergency event.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says an Order of Council has been passed which allows the Minister and Secretary for Education to act quickly to get Christchurch students back into education as soon as possible.

“We need to restore education for students affected by the earthquake as soon as we can, but existing legislation is not flexible enough to allow this,” says Mrs Tolley.

“This Order removes any potential roadblocks which could delay schools from opening on their own site, a new site or sharing facilities with another school.

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.

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.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that more than 100 Christchurch schools have now set dates for re-opening, including 21 which are already open again for students.

88 early childhood education centres have now re-opened, with 135 expected to open their doors by the end of the week.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their determination in getting schools and ECE centres up and running as soon as possible for students and young children,” says Mrs Tolley.

Government financial statements for the seven months to January 31 are broadly in line with forecast, but this will change significantly in the coming months as the impact of the Christchurch earthquake becomes clear, Finance Minister Bill English says.

While the latest accounts show spending and revenue consistent with forecasts in the Half-Year Update in December, tax revenue was still about 4 per cent behind Budget 2010 forecasts.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has inspected all of its homes in the areas of Christchurch most affected by the Christchurch earthquake, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

HNZ has over 50 staff on the ground in Christchurch working in communities, checking on tenants and assessing the safety of homes. It has completed checks on more than 4500 homes including 2,600 in the eastern suburbs, and other areas badly affected by February’s earthquake.

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.

Related Media Release: 06 March 2011

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has today extended the state of national emergency for a further seven days in the aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand was declared on 23 February and first extended on 1 March. It is expected to continue for several more weeks, Mr Carter said.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says that schools in Christchurch City will begin re-opening from tomorrow.

31 schools have indicated they will be open for students from Monday or over the next few days.

A further 55 schools have also been confirmed as structurally sound and can open for staff immediately, with opening dates for students expected soon.

“I want to thank principals, teachers and parents for all the hard work they are putting into getting their schools open as soon as possible,” says Mrs Tolley.

High profile Cantabrians including several All Blacks are providing messages of support and advice about where to go for help to people affected by the latest Canterbury earthquake.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says, “It's heartening to see some of New Zealand's best known sporting heroes more than willing to lend some words of comfort and support to quake victims in a television, radio and newspaper campaign.

The Treasury’s preliminary assessment of the Christchurch earthquake’s economic impact confirms the need for the Government to carefully consider its priorities, Finance Minister Bill English says.

It also points out that economic growth was slower than forecast previously, even before the latest earthquake. This reflects soft domestic demand – as New Zealanders save more - despite exporters benefiting from higher commodity prices.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says that alternative plans are in place for over 1700 students from two of the Christchurch schools severely damaged in last week’s earthquake, with planning well underway for all of the city’s school students.

“We want to get students back in school and provide certainty for families as soon as we possibly can,” says Mrs Tolley.

Acting Energy and Resources Minister Hekia Parata today acknowledged and thanked electricity, gas and fuel companies for the hard work and support they are providing to the people of Christchurch.

“Long hours, under difficult conditions, have gone into reconnecting Christchurch and ensuring people are safe.

“Many of those workers have their own homes and families to worry about, but they have still worked tirelessly for the greater good of Christchurch.

New Zealanders will be able to donate their accumulated tax credits from donations they have made in the current tax year to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Last year tax credits claimed for donations were worth about $154 million.

“That is by any measure a substantial amount of money in tax credits, and if some or all of that were gifted to the Appeal, it would be a very significant level of gifting,” Mr Dunne said in an address to the Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand annual conference in Wellington.154

Minister of Science and Innovation Wayne Mapp visited Christchurch Ministry staff yesterday in rented space at the Russley Golf Club.

The Ministry’s Christchurch office is in the CBD and unlikely to be available for some time. Long-term temporary accommodation is being sought.

“It was a great relief to hear that staff are safe. They are now focused on formulating a plan to support business and help the city recover from the blow it has received,” the Minister said.