Ministerial Statements — Earthquake, Christchurch—Extension of State of National Emergency

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 had struck Christchurch on 22 February and the continuing aftershocks. It was the first time in New Zealand’s history that a state of national emergency had been declared as a result of a civil defence emergency event. That declaration meant that, under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management could “control the exercise and performance of functions, duties and powers of Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups and Group Controllers.” It ensured the maximum possible coordination and cooperation between central and local resources and international assistance.

Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act “A state of emergency expires with the commencement of the seventh day after the date on which it was declared,” unless it is further extended or terminated earlier. I considered it necessary to keep the state of national emergency in place, due to the ongoing coordination and resources required to respond to this disaster. I therefore extended the duration of the state of national emergency on 1 March 2011, and further extended it on 7 March 2011, under section 71 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act. The extensions have demonstrated the Government’s ongoing commitment to helping people in Canterbury to respond to this event. I will continue monitoring the situation, and will make further extensions as required.

I would like to pay tribute to the international urban search and rescue parties, which included teams from Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Those international teams have worked tirelessly, alongside New Zealand teams. I also acknowledge the disaster victim identification assistance we received from Australia, Thailand, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China, and Korea. Offers of other various types of assistance have also been received from many other countries around the world.

Our thoughts are with the people in Canterbury who have suffered from the disaster, particularly those who have lost loved ones.