25 Apr 2017

Brownlee faced tough job in Chch - critic

7:36 am on 25 April 2017

Gerry Brownlee had a tough job as Minister supporting the Greater Christchurch Recovery and it's too early to judge his legacy, a Christchurch Red Zone campaigner says.

National MP, Gerry Brownlee.

Gerry Brownlee Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Mr Brownlee was yesterday appointed Foreign Affairs Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle, vacating his previous portfolios.

His portfolio as Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration has been given to the MP for Christchurch Central, Nicky Wagner, who is already a minister outside Cabinet.

Evan Smith chaired the Avon-Otakaro Network, which provides ideas about what to do in with red-zoned land.

He said Mr Brownlee was a polarising figure who took on a hard job.

"There were certainly some issues different people had with Mr Brownlee in different aspects.

"At least Mr Brownlee gave us an opprtunity to move on, those of us that were red-zoned, despite the losses we took in the process. So, it's a mixed bag."

Mr Smith said he was looking forward to working with Ms Wagner.

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