Christchurch earthquake: Contemptible to keep facts from Canterbury, says PM

John Key says he has no reason to doubt the advice he recieved regarding the demolition of homes. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The picture of a harmonious bipartisan approach to the earthquake recovery fractured yesterday as Labour continued to accuse the Government of unnecessarily causing Christchurch families anxiety and uncertainty.

This week, Prime Minister John Key said some parts of the city were so damaged they might have to be abandoned, and up to 10,000 homes would have to be demolished. However, some of the 10,000 would likely be rebuilt because they were on salvageable land.

Yesterday, he said that while it was only preliminary information, keeping it from the public would be treating the Canterbury people with contempt.

Official geotechnical reports on land damage are still up to three months away, and Mr Key's comments have caused anxiety among some Christchurch families worried about their ability to rebuild their homes.

Christchurch officials - including Mayor Bob Parker - have tried to dampen fears by calling the comments speculative. The Labour Party has also criticised the comments, and the previous decorum in the House during question time quickly descended yesterday into heated exchanges.

Opposition Leader Phil Goff said it would have been better to wait for the full reports before "unnecessarily causing anxiety, distress and uncertainty".

But the PM said he had no reason to doubt the advice, as it came from Earthquake Commission geotechnical engineers.

"Streets, houses, or areas may be abandoned. We will not know exactly those areas until we get the absolute geotechnical advice. It is blatantly obvious to anyone who has been in Christchurch that a significant number [of homes] will be demolished. For the Government not to give an indication of the likely extent of damage to business and consumers is, quite frankly, treating the people of Canterbury with contempt."

Mr Goff also grilled Mr Key about possible Government incentives to upskill Cantabrians to fill a shortage in builders and skilled labour. The construction industry there was in decline, firms were going into liquidation, and apprenticeship numbers were falling.

Mr Key said the market would meet demand for builders in Christchurch, even if they had to come from outside.

"I, for one, happen to believe that plenty of people will either apply for courses or will find opportunities," the Prime Minister said.

When accused of not having enough training programmes for exactly the type of the skills needed to rebuild Christchurch, Mr Key retorted: "I am reliably informed by the Minister for Tertiary Education that that is total rubbish from the Leader of the Opposition."

He said the focus should be on rebuilding infrastructure rather than on training incentives.