The New Zealand Government estimates it will contribute $NZ15.2 billion ($12.62 billion) to the Canterbury earthquake recovery.

The sum includes $NZ7.6 billion ($6.31 billion) incurred by the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and other Crown entities, $NZ2.4 billion ($1.99 billion) for infrastructure and $NZ900 million ($747 million) on rebuilding central Christchurch.

The next financial year will see the most Government payments, with nearly $NZ3.5 billion ($2.9 billion) to be spent after last week’s budget allotted an extra $NZ2.1 billion ($1.74 billion) to the recovery.

Finance Minister Bill English says supporting the rebuild is one of the Government’s four priorities.

He says the EQC will have paid $NZ5.3 billion ($4.4 billion) in claims by the end of this month. By the end of next month the cordon around the CBD will be removed.

The total estimated cost of the rebuild is $NZ40 billion ($33.22 billion).