Transition from Civil Defence to CERA

As the Civil Defence emergency comes to a close, earthquake response and recovery functions will be transitioned out of the EOC and moving forward, many of the key roles and responsibilities will be shared between the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), the Christchurch City Council (the Council) and other local authorities and agencies.

CERA will lead the Recovery strategy, policy and planning, and the Council will continue to be responsible for regular Council related matters in the most part and the coordination of the Central City Plan.

Infrastructure

The Council will be responsible for water and waste issues, including maintenance of street laterals; portaloos and chemical toilets; roading and traffic management; kerbside collections; water conservation and restrictions, including the state of the city’s waterways which will be shared in conjunction with Environment Canterbury; and a rodent management plan.

CERA will be responsible for the coordination and planning of infrastructure.

Orion will be responsible for power and the telcos will remain responsible for telecommunications.

Planning

CERA will be responsible for all individual building inquiries; cordon management including access schemes for business, temporary and residents; demolitions, including debris management; the Cashel Mall Re:Start project; and business communications which will be shared with Councils.

The Council will be responsible for earthquake prone building policy; heritage; resource consents; LIMs and PIMs; CBD business putrescence cleaning; and flood protection.

Economic Recovery

CERA will be responsible for economic recovery coordination and skills/workforce planning.

The Department of Labour will be responsible for the Labour market.

Welfare

Responsibilities for welfare will remain with the following government agencies:

• Welfare rebuild coordination - CERA

• Welfare / employment assistance - Ministry of Social Development 

• Temporary Housing – Department of Building and Housing

• Health messaging coordination – Canterbury District Health Board

• Education – Ministry of Education

• Emergency repairs – Earthquake Commission (EQC)

• Heating installation - EQC

Insurance

Insurance claims and issues will be the responsibility of EQC, Insurance Council New Zealand and insurance companies

Individual projects

CERA will be responsible for land remediation and will share the responsibility of the hillside suburbs with the Council.

The Council will be responsible for the Central City Plan.

Public Information and website links

The general public can continue to call 941 8999 for all enquiries and check the following website for updates: www.cera.govt.nz, www.ccc.govt.nz, www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz and other agency websites.