Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has defended the pace of the Canterbury rebuild.
Gerry Brownlee. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
On Monday, Labour MPs Clayton Cosgrove and Phil Twyford said 2160 homes have been built in Christchurch in the past two years - a sign the rebuild is moving painfully slowly.
But on Tuesday Mr Brownlee said the rebuild was on target. He said 25,000 new homes were needed before 2021 - not just in Christchurch, but also in the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts.
He said the rebuild was proceeding as quickly as anyone could practically expect and only 1500 new homes were needed in Christchurch before 2016.
But Mr Cosgrove said if Mr Brownlee thinks only 1500 homes are needed when thousands were destroyed by the quakes, he is out of touch.
Mr Cosgrove said 6000 houses were needed just for earthquake relocation and temporary housing demand.