Kaikoura's rocky inland road. Photo / Kurt Bayer
Parliament had a good week passing the Hurunui/Kaikoura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Act.
Normally, quite simple legislation takes months to wind through the Byzantine Parliamentary process. This Act was done and dusted in a week. Even better, the Act makes it easier to get on and do things. Most legislation makes
it harder. It passed with unanimous support.
It means farmers can get on and fix quake damage. They don't have to first get resource consent. The Kaikoura Harbour will be able to be dredged without the normal years of delay and frustration. Good job.
Minister Gerry Brownlee is also enabled to give the okay to push landslips into the sea. That's where the land was heading and with a bit of care that's where it should be put. It makes no economic or environmental sense to be trucking all that material out.
Parliament and all parties should be proud. They have done their bit.
