18 Feb 2014

Brownlee says Dalziel playing politics

9:15 am on 18 February 2014

The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says the Christchurch mayor, Lianne Dalziel, is trying to play the political parties off against each other in election year.

Gerry Brownlee.

Gerry Brownlee. Photo: RNZ

He is describing a 'state of the city' speech she gave yesterday as deeply disappointing.

Ms Dalziel said the city council had yet to forge the partnership it needed with the Government, and it wanted to revisit the cost-sharing agreement the Government signed with the previous council.

Mr Brownlee says the mayor is playing politics while at the same time urging political parties not to play politics with the city's recovery.

He has described the speech as an attack on the Government.