By 3 News online staff
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he has apologised after calling Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker a “clown”.
He says the comments were “a slip on my part” and a sign of his frustrations with the ongoing friction within the Christchurch City Council.
His comments, reported in the Christchurch Mail, were a reaction to the Mayor’s statement that the Government could force the city to increase rates or sell assets to fund the earthquake recovery.
Mr Parker told the Mail that Treasury officials had made overtures to the council about a potential rates rise.
Mr Brownlee says the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) specifically forbids such a move and Mr Parker’s comments were indicative of “an outrageous abdication of his responsibilities”.
He said while there had been discussions between council staff and Treasury officials, but no demands had been made, and he was “incensed” that it had ended up “in the newspaper as if it was a threat”.
He also criticised councillors for their reluctance to examine “every single option”, saying they should be considering a rates rise or asset sales to finance the rebuild.
“We were going through a quite intense period of getting the council to recognise their responsibilities,” Mr Brownlee told the Press.
“I am sick and tired of the council running and telling people what we're going to do.”
Mr Brownlee said he was disappointed in Mr Parker, but conceded that the Mayor has had ongoing difficulties with his council.
The comments, which are the latest in a series of rifts between Government and the council, have fuelled speculation that a commissioner may be brought in to run the city.
Mr Parker is in China and has not been available for comment.
3 News