Head of NZX to lead quake appeal
Audio, Radio New Zealand
The head of the stock exchange, Mark Weldon, is leading the Government's fundraising efforts for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
The head of the stock exchange, Mark Weldon, is leading the Government's fundraising efforts for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
The government has pledged five and half billion dollars over the next six years for Canterbury's Earthquake Recovery Fund.
The Government is considering introducing a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes in Christchurch this afternoon.
The Government has created an agency to try to lure foreign students back to New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquake.
Private schools in Christchurch have asked the government for help as they try to cope in the aftermath of February's earthquake.
Christchurch school principals say they might not be able to implement the government's national standards properly because of the February earthquake.
Christchurch school principals say they might not be able to implement the government's national standards properly because of the February earthquake.
Government scientists say there's almost a one in four chance of a magnitude seven earthquake striking Canterbury in the next year.
Questions to Ministers 1. CRAIG FOSS to the Minister of Finance: What challenges does the Government face in putting together Budget 2011? 2. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his pre-Budget statement "The key sector which is not saving right now is the Government"; if so, what steps has he taken to increase government revenue? 3. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement "…we can use this time to transform the economy to make us stronger…"; if so, does this transformation involve an economy that uses fewer natural resources and produces less pollution? 4. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on KiwiSaver? 5. NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: What reports has he received on progress made to provide winter heating for residents affected by the Canterbury earthquakes? 6. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: What advice did he receive from the most recent food bank he visited about the current cost of living? 7. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister for the Environment: What practical initiatives is the Government taking in preparation for Rugby World Cup 2011 to protect the environment and New Zealand's important clean green brand? 8. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister of Finance: What was the annual rate of GDP growth for the year ended December 2010 projected in Budget 2010, and what was the actual rate of growth for that period according to Statistics New Zealand? 9. AARON GILMORE to the Minister of Education: What recent decisions have been made regarding schooling in Christchurch? 10. SUE MORONEY to the Minister of Education: When was construction completed on the new early childhood education centre at Weymouth Primary School and why is the centre empty? 11. COLIN KING to the Minister of Agriculture: What steps has the Government recently taken to support innovation in the Manuka honey industry? 12. CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by his statement "This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone…has access to justice"?
From tomorrow, the Government is winding down the subsidy that allows earthquake-damaged businesses in Canterbury to keep paying their workers' wages.
Labour MPs in Christchurch are calling on the Government to tell people now if their earthquake damaged land has to be abandoned.
Disgruntled Christchurch red-zoners who want the government to rethink its policy on quake-damaged homes are backing Labour's Earthquake Recovery Package.
The Government seems likely to face higher costs as it looks to strengthen the country's infrastructure in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Hundreds of public servants are on their way to Christchurch to relieve their weary colleagues and bolster the Government's response to Tuesday's earthquake.
The thousands of Christchurch residents expected to be forced into temporary Government-supplied accommodation by earthquake damage will be required to pay rent.
Thousands in Christchurch still without power and water supply after yesterday's earthquakes and the government will soon decide which suburbs must be abandoned.
More on our top story now where the Government is offering to buy five thousand of the most badly quake damaged homes in Christchurch.
"Extraordinary powers for extraordinary times."The Government says that's what it's giving to the new Christchurch earthquake authority it's set up to lead the rebuild.
The Government has a clear picture of what areas of Christchurch cannot be rebuilt because of earthquake damage but will not reveal them yet.
The Canterbury earthquakes have forced the Government to look more closely at the strength of the country's transport, water, sewerage, energy and communication networks.
The Philippines government is asking for extra compensation for its citizens killed in the Christchurch earthquake, a similar plea is being made by China.
The Government's ruled out extra money for families of Chinese victims of the Christchurch earthquake while Chinese authorities continue to push for special consideration.
Employers and unions in Christchurch say the Government is moving too quickly to reduce emergency welfare payments in the wake of the February earthquake.
The families of some Christchurch earthquake victims are angry disappointed the Government is refusing to pay for lawyers for them at the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
Two weeks ago government scientists warned there was almost a one in four chance of a magnitude six to seven earthquake striking Canterbury within a year.
Questions to Ministers 1. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: What was the combined increase in the value of the Crown's equity in Meridian, Mighty River Power, Solid Energy, Genesis and Air New Zealand for each of the last five years? 2. SIMON BRIDGES to the Minister of Finance: How did Budget 2011 continue the Government's programme to build faster growth, higher incomes and more jobs? 3. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Have all recent actions of New Zealand's diplomats been consistent with Government policy? 4. Hon TAU HENARE to the Minister of Health: What reports has he received about improved access to dialysis for patients in Auckland and Waitemata? 5. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Will the Government have to borrow further to pay for the latest Christchurch earthquakes? 6. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with the statement of the Auditor-General, "Despite the encouraging improvements made in the last 10 years, we do not yet have a system for scheduled services that can demonstrate national consistency and equitable treatment for all"? 7. AMY ADAMS to the Minister for the Environment: What steps has the Government taken to facilitate resource consents for work required at the Lyttelton Port to ensure it is able to recover quickly from earthquake damage? 8. JACINDA ARDERN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by the statement made on his behalf that "this Government is focused on improvements within the economy in order to create the platform on which business and New Zealanders can invest and grow jobs"? 9. TE URUROA FLAVELL to the Minister of Health: Does he agree that under section 118 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Medical Council has a responsibility to ensure the cultural competence of doctors, and what support has the Government provided to the health sector to ensure cultural competence is achieved across the health sector? 10. DAVID SHEARER to the Minister of Science and Innovation: Does he agree with Professor Sir Paul Callaghan's statement on science and innovation "it's clear that the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister have not really seen this as a top priority"? 11. CHESTER BORROWS to the Minister of Justice: What progress is being made on preparations for the referendum on the electoral system to be held in conjunction with this year's general election? 12. Hon RICK BARKER to the Minister of Veterans' Affairs: When can veterans expect to have a full response from the Government in response to the Law Commission's report "A New Support Scheme for Veterans"?
There are suggestions this morning that a Mossad agent working for the Israeli government may have been one of those killed in the Christchurch earthquake.
Christchurch schools will lose the equivalent of 167 teaching jobs next year as the government removes support for schools that lost pupils after February's earthquake.
The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government is looking at cuts to the Working for Families package to help pay the costs of the Christchurch earthquake.
More now on the charter schools which the Government is planning to trial in South Auckland and in some parts of Christchurch, which were hit badly in the earthquake.