Labour has accused Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee of making "veiled threats" to Christchurch councillors, after the minister said some officials were slowing the city's rebuild.
Mr Brownlee told media this afternoon there needed to be greater pace around council decision-making, particularly around consents.
"They've got a big job, they're advertising for people to do that job, but I think they've got to make sure that their processes also are going to give effect to some of the moves that Government has made ... a general sort of churn up is necessary."
Asked whether the Government needed to take over the council, Mr Brownlee said: "We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.
"Everyone's been through a very difficult year, but next year we're into full rebuild, so we'd expect a whole lot of things to be done in a way that is not business as usual, but recognises that we need to move at a pace that people want."
