Bill to disestablish Regenerate Christchurch takes a step forward

A Bill that aims to disestablish Regenerate Christchurch and hand over quake regeneration activities to local leadership has been introduced to Parliament.

The Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016 by returning regeneration matters to local leadership.

It also provides for the early disestablishment of Crown-Council entity Regenerate Christchurch and extends the time Land Information New Zealand has to reconfigure titles in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (the former red zone).

“As we approach nine years since the February 2011 earthquake in Canterbury, and with the transition to local leadership well under way, the timing is right to return ongoing business as usual regeneration responsibilities to local leadership," said Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minster Megan Woods.

“This is about supporting Christchurch to thrive through removing some of the Crown’s extraordinary powers that have been in place under the Act and making changes so that decisions on regeneration matters are made at local level.”

Woods says officials at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and staff at Christchurch City Council have been working closely on the transition to local leadership for some time.

If passed, most changes in the Bill will come into effect in the middle of the year.