[7][8] CERA received criticism for paying panel members $1000 per day,[9] approximately 10 times the national average.

[10] CERA's powers were challenged in the High Court after it ordered the demolition of Wharetiki House at 854 Colombo Street.

In April 2016, other functions went to newly established organisations: the Crown company Otakaro Ltd (responsible for delivering anchor projects) and the council-Crown agency Regenerate Christchurch (responsible for developing regeneration plans for Christchurch, including the residential red zone).

[15] A report released by the auditor-general in February 2017 was critical of CERA's performance, citing tensions with Christchurch City Council as one of the reasons for delays with implementing projects.

The minister who had been responsible for CERA, Gerry Brownlee, dismissed the report as "unbalanced", while the mayor of Christchurch, Lianne Dalziel, stated that she "always believed the recovery should be a collaborative partnership between the Crown and council".