The outgoing chief executive of the Earthquake Commission (EQC) says lessons have been learnt about how to handle a natural disaster.
EQC chief executive Ian Simpson Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
While Ian Simpson said he was "very proud" overall with the handling of events since the first Canterbury earthquake in September 2010, EQC did not get everything right.
Mr Simpson, who has headed EQC since 2010, finished today. He will start as chief executive of GNS Science at the end of January.
He had learned it was best not to charge in, but to stand back and lead a managed response, he said.
His successor's challenge was to remember the lessons from the past six years, he said.
Bryan Dunne will be the interim chief executive until a new chief executive is chosen.