The coroner has ruled the search and rescue effort at Christchurch's CTV building did not contribute to the deaths of eight people who survived the initial collapse. However Gordon Matenga criticised nearly every aspect of the fire service's response to the tragedy that claimed 115 of the 185 lives lost in the February 2011 earthquake.
Professor Maan Alkaisi, a spokesman for the Christchurch Earthquake Families Group speaks with Geoff Robinson.
There's been widespread dismay at the decision not to prosecute anyone for the deaths of 115 people in the CTV building collapse during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Police say it was a tough decision - they wanted to hold someone to account but there simply wasn't the evidence to warrant a prosecution.
Justice Minister Andrew Little said on Thursday that "everybody involved in this has walked away scot-free. And that's not right." Nigel Hampton QC, who was counsel for the families at the Royal Commission in to the Canterbury earthquakes, joins us to discuss the outcome.
And when the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch, people turned to Radio New Zealand for news.
Staying with earthquakes and three years on from the deadly quake in Christchurch an increasing number of children are turning to counselling services for help.
Topics - ready with the pumps at last this time, but thankfully not as much rain - so far - as feared for people in the low-lying Flockton Basin in Christchurch. Labour's proposing a special court be set up just to deal with earthquake insurance claims, as part of a policy around the Christchurch rebuild. The policy would see an Earthquake Court established to try to speed up the settling of 9,755 outstanding "over cap" insurance claims. John Banks will be gone by Friday from Parliament, at the behest of the ACT party with a gentle nudge from the Nats as well. The PM thinks it's a joke that the Civilian political party, run by Ben Uffindell and named after his satirical webite, will receive $33,000 of taxpayer funding for the coming election.
A Christchurch lawyer with more than 100 insurance cases before the courts is dismissing Labour's plans for a special Earthquake Court.
The former Earthquake Commission minister, Gerry Brownlee, is defending EQC over claims its assessors in Christchurch were not properly qualified. A growing number of homeowners in the city are discovering EQC assessors have completely missed quake damage including broken foundations costing hundreds of thousands to repair. That's been disastrous for people who've bought homes with hidden damage who are sometimes finding private insurers unwilling to cover the cost of putting right mistakes made by EQC. The company hired by EQC to carry out repairs was Fletcher Construction. Its chief executive at the time, Mark Binns, told Checkpoint that EQC probably hired unqualified people to assess quake damaged homes. Gerry Brownlee refused to be drawn on the comments from Mr Binns. But when asked by RNZ Christchurch reporter, Conan Young, if it was acceptable to have retired policemen, school principals and vacuum cleaner salesmen carrying out assessments for EQC, he admitted finding enough people to do the job was a challenge.
The State Services Commission is investigating Canterbury earthquake insurer Southern Response. A new pharmacy council ethics code has upset doctors.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is promising help for Tongan children traumatised by Cyclone Gita and says New Zealand was too slow responding to children caught up in the Christchurch earthquakes. Ms Ardern spent the day in Nuku'alofa where she went to a school that was badly damaged from the cyclone last month. RNZ political reporter Mei Heron is in Tonga.
As IAG and Southern Response's limitation periods for claims resulting from the February, 2011 earthquake nears, Christchurch lawyer Peter Woods says the current situation is a "bloody mess".
It's hoped a new art installation in Ōtautahi Christchurch can help people talk their worries away through a series of telephones by the riverside.
Twelve telephones have popped up across sites commemorating the city's devastating 2011 earthquakes.
The group behind the project is Flourish Kia Puawai.
Its associate director Sharon Torstonson spoke to Corin Dann.
The Governors Bay community weren't going to accept a Christchurch council decision to close the 140 year old jetty following earthquake damage in 2011. Nick Harwood's part of the group and handily a geotechnical engineer.
Audio of Sue-Ellen Sandilands's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Margaret Jefferies's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Sarah van der Burch's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Trent Hiles's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Vilma Loader's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Jules Lee's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Kerry Grant Donnelly's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Jenny Garing's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Glenn Harris's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Gary Manch's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Ali Watersong's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
An interview with Chris Whitty, Site Manager at the Christchurch Arts Centre, about the recovery of the Townsend Telescope from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The interview was conducted by Sebastian Wilberforce.
An audio recording of the song 'Remember'. Lyrics by Naomi Ferguson and music by Naomi Ferguson and Alex van den Broek.
This audio file was recorded in Lyttelton. It captures the human and electronic responses following the 22nd February 2011 earthquake such as people talking, snips of radio broadcast, and alarms going off.
Audio of Brendan Evans's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Mark Buckley's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.