0 1 6 , ▁C ER A ' s ▁functions ▁were ▁taken ▁over ▁by ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁other ▁ag encies . ▁ ▁Description ▁C ER A ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁Christ ch urch ▁earth qu ake , ▁and ▁its ▁establishment ▁was ▁announced ▁late ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁It ▁had ▁wide - r anging ▁powers ▁and ▁could ▁susp end ▁laws ▁and ▁reg ulations ▁for ▁the ▁purpose ▁of ▁earth qu ake ▁recovery . ▁ ▁The ▁department ▁operated ▁for ▁five ▁years , ▁with ▁annual ▁reviews . ▁C ER A ▁was ▁dis est ab lished ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁ ▁Roger ▁S utton ▁comm enced ▁as ▁C ER A ' s ▁CE O ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁He ▁had ▁previously ▁been ▁CE O ▁of ▁Or ion ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁the ▁electric ity ▁distribution ▁company ▁for ▁the ▁Christ ch urch ▁area . ▁S utton ▁res igned ▁as ▁CE O ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁effective ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁when ▁C ER A ▁was ▁down grad ed ▁from ▁a ▁public ▁service ▁department ▁to ▁a ▁department al ▁ag ency ▁within ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁and ▁Cab inet ▁( DP MC ). ▁John ▁O mb ler , ▁C ER A ' s ▁establishment ▁CE O ▁was ▁appointed ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁effective ▁on ▁ 1 ▁December