Legislative flurry to streamline quake recover

3:51 pm on 8 March 2011

The Government has suspended parts of nine separate laws to try to speed up the recovery process in Christchurch.

Under the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act, the Government can issue what are called orders-in-council to temporarily bypass current legislation.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the process of removing legislative barriers has proved effective since the first quake in September.

Tuesday's orders include three changes to the Resource Management Act, streamlining the consent application process for land repair work.

The Education Act is also affected, giving the Government greater power to relocate students, manage the location of schools and change school hours.

The Government has also approved two regulation changes to ensure payments from the Red Cross Earthquake Commission fund will not affect applications for hardship support.