Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Deputy mayor downplays friction

Updated at 12:26 pm on 9 February 2012

Christchurch Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button is playing down reports of friction between Mayor Bob Parker and the Earthquake Recovery Minister, saying both men have been under pressure.

Gerry Brownlee has said dealing with the Council is frustrating but his description of Mr Parker as a clown in the Christchurch Mail newspaper was at the height of the controversy over council infighting.

Mr Parker is in China but Ms Button on Thursday praised both his work and that of Mr Brownlee in aiding the city's recovery.

She says both men are under pressure from the community and its inevitable that tensions will arise.

Mr Brownlee has said that comments by Mr Parker that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority could direct the council to raise rates or sell assets to cover costs are incorrect and Mr Parker should have known that.

But Ms Button says the mayor made a genuine mistake and it won't affect the working relationship between council and the Government.

She said she will discuss the matter with Mr Parker when returns.

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