Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) is a public service department established by the New Zealand government to coordinate the rebuilding of Christchurch
and the surrounding areas following the 22 February 2011 earthquake
.
CERA's CEO Roger Sutton
commenced on 13 June 2011. He was previously CEO of Orion New Zealand
, the electricity distribution company for the Christchurch area.
CERA has received criticism for paying panel members $1000 per day, approximately 10 times the national average.
CERA's powers were challenged in the High Court
after it ordered the demolition of Wharetiki House
at 854 Colombo Street
. The owner of the house wanted to restore it again after it had suffered damage in the February 2011 earthquake. Justice Whata dismissed the challenge on 20 June 2011, and the building was demolished the following day.
CERA hopes to have all of the Christchurch Central City
open again in April 2012.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and the surrounding areas following the 22 February 2011 earthquake
2011 Christchurch earthquake
The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island at on local time , The earthquake was centred west of the town of Lyttelton, and south-east of the centre of Christchurch, New Zealand's second-most populous...
.
Description
CERA was formed in response to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and its establishment was announced late March 2011. It has wide-ranging powers and can suspend laws and regulations for the purpose of earthquake recovery. The department is expected to operate for five years, with annual reviews.CERA's CEO Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton is a business leader in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was chief executive of power lines company Orion New Zealand Limited from 2003 until 13 June 2011, when he commenced as CEO of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority...
commenced on 13 June 2011. He was previously CEO of Orion New Zealand
Orion New Zealand Limited
Orion New Zealand Limited is an electricity distribution company, based in Christchurch, New Zealand.The company was formed under its current name in December 1998.Orion is owned by Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council...
, the electricity distribution company for the Christchurch area.
CERA has received criticism for paying panel members $1000 per day, approximately 10 times the national average.
CERA's powers were challenged in the High Court
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
after it ordered the demolition of Wharetiki House
Wharetiki House
Wharetiki, for some time known as Glenfell House, was an Edwardian timber dwelling in Colombo Street, Christchurch in New Zealand. Built in 1904 for businessman and philanthropist Matthew Barnett, it was damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake...
at 854 Colombo Street
Colombo Street
Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, in what at the time was known as...
. The owner of the house wanted to restore it again after it had suffered damage in the February 2011 earthquake. Justice Whata dismissed the challenge on 20 June 2011, and the building was demolished the following day.
CERA hopes to have all of the Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
open again in April 2012.