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Bill English: Port Hills fire, slow state of emergency declaration

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 7:44AM
The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking all the questions that need to be asked, will be asked, but right now the focus is on getting on top of the fire (NZ Herald)

Bill English: Port Hills fire, slow state of emergency declaration

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 7:44AM

UPDATED 9.02am Criticism has been made of the slowness in calling in Civil Defence as the fire around the Port Hills in Christchurch rages on.

The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking all the questions that need to be asked, will be asked, but right now the focus is on getting on top of the fire.

"It's getting more threatening to some parts of Christchurch there, and they've got a tough day ahead of them.

The fire in the Port Hills has burnt across more than 1800 hectares, displacing close to thousand of people from their homes.

Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the State of Emergency should have been declared sooner.

But English said the focus should be on stemming the fire.

“Look I haven’t seen the arguments for and against it but the big said the focus at the moment for Gerry and the firefighters is getting on top of that fire. It’s getting more threatening to some parts of Christchurch and they’ve got a tough day ahead of them.”

The Government response included mobilising the Defence Force.

He said the Fire Service and civil defence system was “totally focused” on protecting the people at risk of the fire and putting the fire out.

English said no one could have anticipated the large scale fire on the Port Hills.

The Prime Minister will not be going to Waikanae and Queenstown as previously planned but will be heading to Christchurch in light of the fires.

English was to visit the opening of the new road from McKays Crossing to Peka Peka in Waikanae, as well as the Five Mile Development in Queenstown and the Kawarau Falls Bridge Project in Frankton.

Mr Brownlee will arrive in his home city today, but won't be the one calling the shots.

He said it's up to the Civil Defence Controller to ask for more national or overseas resources to fight the fire.

"Certainly from a government perspective we want to help as much as we can, and as I say the military are on standby. There's a large number of military personnel available to be deployed as the controller or fire officer determines."

 

 

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