Community Economic Development

In May I addressed the crisis we are facing in Christchurch following the February earthquake. I said then that knowing the challenges ahead of us in what was the new normal, we needed to engender a sense of hope in the community. More

Green MP Keith Locke explores the nature of democracy as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill is rushed through the House under urgency. Locke explains the "local people of Christchurch know better than any bureaucrat from Wellington or anywhere else what is important to their future. More

This is a rather historic moment. Apart from in wartime New Zealand I think we are passing into law arguably the most Draconian legislation ever passed by a New Zealand Parliament. I do not wish to be melodramatic, but we have experienced a dramatic event, and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill is a dramatic bill.

I want to pick up an issue that I raised earlier, and so did Brendon Burns, and others—the much-maligned. It pertains to community engagement. I will make just one further point on community engagement, and I wish to then address the issue of powers as well. More

I want to address the immediate practical issue of the Green Party's Supplementary Order Papers, and in doing so I want to divide my time. I will talk initially to the issue of community engagement. As I said during the first reading debate, our concerns revolve around a two-fold process: firstly, the lack of adequate community engagement; and, secondly, the extensive powers. More

We acknowledge that the task of recovery in Christchurch is massive. We acknowledge that the purposes of this bill are appropriate. We acknowledge that there is a role for central Government and an essential role for central Government. More