The Auditor-General’s report Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority: Assessing its effectiveness and efficiency was presented to the House of Representatives today.

In March 2011, the Government established the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) to lead and co-ordinate the complex task of recovery from the Canterbury earthquakes. In April 2016, CERA was disestablished, and its roles and responsibilities transferred. Over five years, CERA spent $4 billion on a wide range of programmes and projects.

In our view, CERA did well early on in the recovery. For example, CERA managed the demolition of condemned buildings in the central business district effectively. CERA was also effective in leading a co-ordinated government response to the earthquakes.

However, CERA found it challenging to maintain momentum. Its role became less clear as it took on more responsibility for delivering more projects and programmes. CERA did not engage the community well, and struggled to demonstrate its effectiveness and value for money because it had inadequate performance measures and information. It also took a long time for CERA to set up effective systems and controls. CERA’s management controls and performance information needed improvement right up to the time of its disestablishment.

We have identified several lessons to consider in future recovery efforts. In light of the November 2016 earthquakes in Kaikōura and the surrounding region, these lessons are particularly pertinent.

A two-page summary of this report is also available.

“Looking forward” – insights from the 2015/16 CRI annual audits

After considering the results of the 2015/16 audits of Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), the Auditor-General sent a letter to Parliament, and to CRI chief executives, Board chairs, and the responsible Ministers. The letter set out the results from the audits, some insights, and analysis we have done of financial risk factors for CRIs. You can read this letter on our website.

Results of the 2015 tertiary education institutions audits

After considering the results of tertiary education institution (TEI) audits for the year ended 31 December 2015, the Auditor-General sent a letter to Parliament, and to TEIs, the Tertiary Education Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the responsible Ministers. The letter provides an update on completion and timeliness of the 2015 audits, the types of audit opinions we issued, and noted the main matters we identified from our audits. You can read this letter on our website.

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