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Budget 2011 will provide up to $42 million for trades training for the Canterbury region, Tertiary education Minister Steven Joyce says.

Funding is being set aside for up to 1500 additional training places as part of a comprehensive cross-agency response to meet additional demand for labour for the reconstruction programme called “Skills for Canterbury”.

The Skills for Canterbury package includes:

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's announcement by the State Services Commissioner that the permanent chief executive of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) will be Roger Sutton.

Mr Sutton is presently chief executive of Canterbury electricity lines company Orion Networks.

"I want to thank the State Services Commission for the work they've done in the search for a chief executive, and also congratulate Roger on his appointment.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has applauded the many applications received for membership of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Community Forum.

“We’ve had 230 applications from community and special interest groups, and individuals, which underlines Canterbury’s special community spirit,” Mr Brownlee said.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has commended Christchurch City Council on organising this weekend’s community expo ‘Share an Idea’ for people to give their views on the re-development of Christchurch’s central city. 

Mr Brownlee will be speaking at the expo at the CBS Arena at 10.30am on Saturday 14 May. 

Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced today that more prisoners would receive trade and employment training to help meet the demand for these skills in the Christchurch recovery.

“The second Christchurch earthquake has generated a huge demand for trade skills as the rebuild gets underway. To meet this demand, the Department of Corrections will be ramping up trade training in the areas of highest demand,” Ms Collins said.

A bill tabled in Parliament today will provide real and practical help through the tax system to the people of Canterbury, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said.

“Much has been said and written about the February earthquake. This bill represents concrete action to provide help that is both useful and practical” he said.

Mr Dunne said that the Taxation (Canterbury Earthquake Measures) Bill focused on the tax treatment of a range of situations where people could be negatively affected by current tax law.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has held the first of regular meetings of the cross-party MPs’ forum established under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act.

“I’d like to thank all those who attended last night’s meeting at the Beehive, it was a genial and constructive session,” Mr Brownlee said.

Among topics discussed were nominations for the community forum.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced an alliance of parties that will rebuild Christchurch’s badly damaged ground level and below ground infrastructure, including roads, water, wastewater and stormwater.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) has worked with the Christchurch City Council (CCC) and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to establish the alliance.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has today offered his thanks to those who’ve led the response to the February 22 earthquake, following the lifting of the National State of Emergency at midnight.

“I wish to express my gratitude to Civil Defence National Controller John Hamilton. Mr Hamilton has brought a level of professionalism to the response that has stood us in good stead for a transition out of the state of emergency.

The state of national emergency in Christchurch city, declared in the aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake on 22 February, expired at 11.59pm last night, Civil Defence Minister John Carter said today.

“I would like to thank the National Controllers, John Hamilton and Steve Brazier, for the dedication they have shown and the many hours of work they have done in the past 10 weeks to respond to this devastating earthquake,” Mr Carter said.

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.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is calling for expressions of interest for membership of the community forum to be formed under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act.

"We are looking for representatives of community-based organisations to put forward their nomination for consideration to be appointed to the community forum," Mr Brownlee said.

Under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act, the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery must invite at least 20 people who are suitably qualified to participate in the community forum.

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has received more than 300,000 claims from the Canterbury earthquakes which began on September 4, putting the scale of the events into stark clarity, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

As of today, EQC has received 302,440 claims of which 184,399 relate to the first event on September 4 last year and the subsequent events on October 19, November 14, December 26, January 20 and February 4.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has today extended the state of national emergency until 30 April, in the aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand - that applies specifically to Christchurch City - was declared on 23 February. Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 a state of national emergency can be declared for a maximum of seven days at a time only.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says Housing New Zealand staff and contractors have inspected all state homes damaged as a result of the earthquakes in Canterbury and a repair programme is well underway.

The $2 million fund launched to help earthquake-affected Christchurch exporters reassure international clients that the region is open for business has been extended.

The Christchurch Market Connections Fund, announced last month as part of the Government’s economic recovery package, is now $4 million.

“More than 180 export businesses are reinforcing their relationships with key customers thanks to the Fund. It is clearly meeting a need, with $2.8 million allocated so far,” says Acting Economic Development Minister David Carter.

Commerce Minister Simon Power today announced relief for earthquake-affected Cantabrians who have KiwiSaver accounts by making it easier for them to withdraw their contribution.

“Apart from the obvious physical and emotional damage, February’s earthquake has seen many people suffer financially,” Mr Power said.

“The Government was concerned that some people may have been unable to make an early withdrawal of their KiwiSaver contributions under the significant financial hardship rules of the KiwiSaver regime.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has today extended the state of national emergency until 24 April, in the aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand - that applies specifically to Christchurch City - was declared on 23 February. Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 a state of national emergency can be declared for a maximum of seven days at a time only.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced the make-up of the independent review panel that will assess all legislative and regulatory changes under the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act.

The four-person panel will be chaired by former senior High Court judge Sir John Hansen. Sir John Hansen was a High Court Judge from 1995 to 2008, working predominantly in Christchurch, and is the current chair of the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission.

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.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman paid tribute to Canterbury Television (CTV) which restarts broadcasting today, less than two months after the February earthquake devastated the regional broadcaster.

"The return of CTV to our screens marks a significant point in the recovery process for Canterbury after the tragic events of 22 February," Mr Brownlee says.

"What better way to honour the lives of those people lost from the company than to continue the work they were so much a part of," he says.

The House this afternoon passed the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill, which repeals the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010.

The Bill sets out appropriate measures to enable the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and/or the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) to facilitate and direct greater Christchurch and its communities to respond to, and recover from, the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Dr Rod Carr, Vice Chancellor of the University of Canterbury, has been appointed as the third trustee of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust.

The appointment under the Trust deed has been made by Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy and Finance Minister Bill English.

Dr Carr’s appointment is supported by the University of Canterbury. He joins Brendan Boyle, Secretary for Internal Affairs, and John Whitehead, Secretary to the Treasury.