Labour is accusing the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority of spending up large on spin doctors.

Spokeswoman Megan Woods says in the last financial year the authority spent $1.6 million on external PR and media agencies and claims an additional $1.1 million was spent on internal campaigns. 

It's claimed they also spent 37 percent more on public relations campaigns, than the year prior. 

She says with major anchor projects behind schedule, Cantabrians will be wondering why the Government isn't focusing on the rebuild.

"They claimed that they needed to communicate to the people of Canterbury what was happening, but what the people of Canterbury want to see is some progress."

Cera currently employs 19 communications staff, compared to 11 for the big Education Ministry and seven for the Ministry of Health.