Today is the 12th anniversary of the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. 

An unnerving symmetry 12 years on - the country is once again in a national state of emergency, grappling with a natural disaster and a seemingly insurmountable rebuild.

But there are positives we can take from the Canterbury rebuild and a lot of cautionary lessons as well.

The former Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods is drawing parallels between Cyclone Gabrielle and the Christchurch quakes, telling Tova O'Brien that the devastation is much the same.

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