Podcasts Other The Mike Hosking Breakfast Sir John Key: Former Prime Minister reflects on Christchurch earthquake 10 years on

Sir John Key: Former Prime Minister reflects on Christchurch earthquake 10 years on

Published: Feb. 21, 2021, 8:19 p.m.

It was horrendous on the ground.
That memory from the Prime Minister of the day, Sir John Key, when Christchurch was hit by a 6.2 earthquake in 2011.
The event claimed 185 lives, and seriously injured scores more.
Key had flown to the city immediately, describing conditions as horrendous.
Ten years ago, he told Mike Hosking we may well be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day.
And he spoke to Hosking again today - saying the darkest day comment was from the heart, given the speed at which things were happening.
Ten years on, the former Prime Minister has few regrets with the way the Government reacted to helping a torn city, and its part in a $50 billion dollar rebuild
Key told Mike Hosking it would have taken weeks to get through official channels to introduce a wage subsidy scheme.
"In doing that, I think that very short term decision actually t saved the future of Christchurch, because what it effectively diod was it meant there was hope for these people that they could keep their businesses going."
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