New CERA successor named for Christchurch

Public servant Kelvan Smith has been appointed director of the Greater Christchurch Group of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The organisation is one of the legacy entities of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

Mr Smith has been the deputy chief executive corporate services of CERA since 2013 and before that was group manager, operations for AsureQuality with responsibility for five business units and approximately 1000 staff.

The Greater Christchurch Group’s role is co-ordinating the government’s role in the regeneration of greater Christchurch, and will monitor and report on progress.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet chief executive Andrew Kibblewhite says Mr Smith brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.

He succeeds Michelle Mitchell who died in January just a few weeks after being appointed to the director role.

The group will progressively decrease in size as government programmes are concluded and leadership of the regeneration is progressively transferred to local institutions, according to Mr Kibblewhite.

The Greater Christchurch Group’s tasks include oversight and funding of the horizontal infrastructure rebuild programme alongside the New Zealand Transport Agency and Christchurch City Council.

The programme is about restoring roads, bridges, and underground pipes.

The group will also provide formal advice to the Prime Minister and other government ministers on policy issues and plans prepared by Regenerate Christchurch and others.

It will lead the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Learning and Legacy programme.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority comes to an end on April 18, with its remaining roles and responsibilities transferring to other organisations. More information about the Greater Christchurch Group can be found at www.dpmc.govt.nz/gcg

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee recently announced formation of another Crown quango to oversee work on major projects in the central city.

Ōtākaro’s directors include Auckland lawyer Miriam Dean QC, Christchurch business leader Peter Townsend, and chairman Ross Butler who was appointed late last year.

The name Ōtākaro is the Maori name for the Avon River which flows through the city.

Ōtākaro will also manage Crown assets and work closely with Regenerate Christchurch, a joint Crown and Christchurch City Council organisation, and the city council’s Development Christchurch.

Judging by social media commentary, many Cantabrians have little faith the new plethora of bureaucracies will any more successful or consultative that CERA, in spite of its big public relations budget.

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