22 Feb 2018

Minister wants anchor projects in Christchurch completed

8:42 am on 22 February 2018

Seven years on from Christchurch's devastating earthquake, the Minister responsible for the city's rebuild wants to see outstanding anchor projects in the CBD completed.

Megan Woods at the habour reopening in Kaikoura. 14 November 2017.

The Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake, which struck seven years ago today, killed 185 people and led to whole suburbs and most of the central city being demolished.

While some government lead anchor projects in the city such as the Justice Precinct and Bus Interchange have been finished - other major projects such as the Convention Centre, Metro Sports Facility and Stadium had faced set-backs and delays.

The Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Leeann Watson said it was important for the city's regeneration that these were finished as soon as possible, because they were creating some uncertainty for businesses coming back into the CBD.

"The more we can do to accelerate those anchor projects the better," she said.

The Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister, Megan Woods, said there hadn't been nearly enough movement on some projects in Christchurch where the crown was in charge.

Dr Woods said she would be working to get some anchor projects, which had stalled under the previous government, back on track.

"What I'm looking forward to in the next 12 months is us really being able to get some momentum behind some of the anchor projects in the city," she said.

Dr Woods said the completion of all anchor projects was still some years away.

A civic service to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the quake will be held at 12:30pm at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, in the city centre.