Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has told the High Court in Christchurch his decision to fast-track the redrawing of Christchurch's urban boundaries was motivated by a need to avoid rampant land inflation.
The claim is included in an affidavit from the minister which has been read out during a judicial review being taken by a group of landowners led by Independent Fisheries.
They claim the redrawn boundaries unfairly disadvantage them.
Reading Mr Brownlee's affidavit, lawyer Peter McCarthy on Tuesday revealed the pressures Mr Brownlee was under when he made the decision to use his emergency powers including the need to free up land to help avoid a shortage and a resulting increase in property prices.
Mr McCarthy said as a result of Mr Brownlee's intervention, construction had already begun on a subdivision at Kaiapoi.
