Christchurch: return of 60-thousand quake 'refugees'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Civil Defence says as many as sixty thousand people are expected to return to Christchurch after fleeing the city because of last month's earthquake.

Hundreds of Christchurch firms expected to fail post quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Most Christchurch firms are back on their feet a month after the devastating earthquake, but it remains a difficult city to do business in.

Powers now transferred to CERA by law

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury earthquake authority has now been legally vested with the extraordinary powers given to the Government under the state of national emergency declared after the February disaster.

A third lawyer to help families at quake Royal Commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After an appeal from the families of Christchurch earthquake victims, a third lawyer is being appointed to the Royal Commission, to work specifically with them.

PGC property manager defends lack of detailed assessment

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard the property manager of the Pyne Gould building did not organise detailed engineering assessments after the first quake in September.

New business hub calling for applications

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A new centre being set up to help Canterbury businesses struggling after the recent earthquakes says it's getting ready to open its doors and is calling for applications from interested companies.

Christchurch CBD revival on hold until demolition decision

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More than ten weeks after being damaged beyond repair by the Christchurch earthquake, there is still no decision about how or when the Grand Chancellor Hotel will be demolished.

Christchurch's Orange Zone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People living in Christchurch's orange zone will have to wait longer than expected for a decision on whether they can remain in their homes, after the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority missed one of its deadlines.

Earthquake Minister in Europe to speak to insurance companies

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, is in Europe in an attempt to convince insurance companies not to pull out of New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquakes.

Heathcote locals congregate at church/pub

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A pub in a church might seem unusual, but then life in Christchurch after both the September and February earthquakes has been anything but normal.

Global insurance industry now wary of New Zealand

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The insurance industry says overseas insurers have become wary of New Zealand after Monday's earthquakes in Christchurch and higher premiums across the country are now almost inevitable.

23 job losses as Nelson rest home closes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Elderly and ill people evacuated from Christchurch to Nelson after the February earthquake are having to move for a second time, following the sudden closure of a rest home in Nelson.

Clean up continues in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In Christchurch power is back on for all but a small number of customers after Monday's earthquakes, but the city council is warning it could be six months before water supplies return to normal.

Quake Authority sets deadline to speed up city rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Demolition companies and building owners in central Christchurch hope efforts by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will speed up the city's rebuild after it's been languishing for weeks.

Earthquake Minister on shift to recovery operation

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Families of people still missing after last week's Christchurch earthquake have been told there is now officially no hope of finding survivors, though searchers are still insisting they are not ruling out a miracle.

Evening Business for 30 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Tourism is in for a short, sharp shock as fewer people visit New Zealand after the earthquakes in Japan and Christchurch and Genesis Energy says customers have no one to blame but themselves when electricity prices spiked last Saturday.

Ballantynes celebrate reopening of Christchurch store

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two weeks after re-opening, the landmark Christchurch department store, Ballantynes has thanked staff, contractors and customers for their hard work and loyalty since the February earthquake forced it to close.

Tenants return to HSBC

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first of Christchurch's high-rise buildings to close after the February earthquake has reopened. All the tenants of the12-storey HSBC Tower are now back in the building which has been extensively checked by engineering experts.

Jobs to go at Sockburn meat works

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Workers at the Sockburn meat works in Christchurch say the announcement that the plant will close at the end of the season is a double blow after a year of coping with the aftermath of earthquakes.

PGC building owner says he did all he could to make it safe

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Pyne Gould building tenants in Christchurch have told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes hearing they didn't feel safe there after the September quake.

Parliament pays tribute to victims and rescuers and adjourns

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament has adjourned for two weeks following the declaration of a national emergency after yesterday's devastating Canterbury earthquake. The leadership of the various parties took turns to acknowlege the disaster and pay tribute to it victims and heroes.

Family of quake victim call for action over access to Lyttelton

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The family of a man killed while trying to reach his family after the February earthquake in Canterbury wants the Christchurch City Council to ensure people in Lyttelton are not cut off again.

Jazz Footprints for 22 June 2011 - Neill Pickard

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Colette Jansen talks to guitar and banjo played Neill Pickard about establishing the Christchurch Jazz School, working in and around Christchurch with his Dixieland Jazz Band, and life after the Christchurch Earthquake. Due to copyright issues all music has been removed.

Tourists forced to stay in marae, arts centre in Wellington

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of tourists have spent the night in makeshift accommodation in Wellington after fleeing earthquake hit Christchurch. The tourists were flown to the capital by the Royal New Zealand Airforce, many without passports, money and belongings left behind in hotels.

Lyttelton port hopes to have core services back within week

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Lyttelton Port is still only operating at 40 percent of its full capacity, nine days after the Christchurch earthquake, but the Port company says its core services are all working and within a week it will be almost at full strength.

Insight for 27 March 2011 - Quake Health Services

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Health correspondent Karen Brown visited Christchurch Hospital a week after the disaster that resulted in patients being resuscitated by torchlight. She reviews the immediate impact of the earthquake on the region's health services, how they’re picking themselves up and what lies ahead.

Christchurch residents consider leaving as aftershocks continue

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Many people in this city are, yet again, cleaning up after a major earthquake. An increasing number of householders, especially in the badly hit eastern suburbs, say they're close to hanging up their spades and shipping out.

Bishop Victoria Matthews - Hope and Thanksgiving

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After more major earthquakes in Christchurch this week, Bishop Victoria Matthews fears her clergy, and the people, are facing 'exaustion of the spirit'. She says it's important to keep alive hope, and thanksgiving for all that we still have - even in the face of loss and crisis.

Feature Guest - Jim Stuart-Black

Audio, Radio New Zealand

National Manager Special Operations, New Zealand Fire Service, who lead the Urban Search and Rescue Teams in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake. He then lead the New Zealand USAR team which travelled to Northern Japan to assist after the earthquake and tsunami there.

Court Theatre set to reopen in a shed in Addington

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In Christchurch the Court Theatre is about to reopen, more than nine months after the earthquake ruined its inner city premises. The country's most successful professional theatre, which used to be in the 19th century gothic style Arts Centre, has moved to a shed in the suburbs.