Hundreds of engineers assess damage in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of engineers are on the ground in Christchurch, assessing the damage in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake and are heading into the CBD en masse for the first time.

Campervans to house quake homeless

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of camper vans are now ready for the earthquake displaced residents of Christchurch, but the demand for what is cramped and slightly claustrophobic accommodation is yet to be proven.

People being allowed into cordoned-off city this morning

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As we go to air, Christchurch property and business owners people are being allowed into the cordoned-off central city for the first time since the earthquake twelve days ago.

Royal Commission excludes liability issues

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Survivors of February's devastating earthquake in Christchurch are astounded the Royal Commission won't investigate whether anyone should be held liable for the collapse of so many central city buildings.

EQC deploys rapid assessment teams in Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Rapid assessment teams are being sent out across quake hit Canterbury with the Earthquake Commission promising that up to 180-thousand homes will be inspected within the next eight weeks.

Labour tries to make political hay out of World Cup loss

Audio, Radio New Zealand

On the eve of the memorial service for the Christchurch earthquake, the Labour party is laying into the Government's handling of the city's ditching as a Rugby World Cup venue.

List of historic building to be destroyed grows

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The reality of just how many historic buildings will be lost to the Christchurch earthquake is now becoming apparent with Civil Defence adding another 123 buildings to the demolition list.

Snow means students miss out on precious exam prep

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Heavy snow is forcing schools to close across the country. It's a double blow for Canterbury students who have already lost weeks of precious school time due to the earthquakes.

Small band of campanologists keep bellringing alive

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With the silencing of the Cathedral bells in Christchurch following February's earthquake there are now just six places in New Zealand where a full set of bells can be rung.

Building panel explains just what went wrong with CTV building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An inquiry ordered by the Government has found the CTV building which failed massively in the February Christchurch earthquake did not meet building standards when it was constructed in 1986.

Midday News for 6 March 2012

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The family of a Christchurch earthquake victim wants the Royal Commission to investigate all Search and Rescue efforts during the disaster. The Government faces a higher-than-forecast Budget deficit.

MPs in Parliament pay tribute to people of Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Politicians have praised the courage and resilience shown by Canterbury residents following Saturday's earthquake. MPs from all the parties in Parliament had an opportunity to address the House this afternoon.

Small suburban businesses feel neglected by Chch council

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A group of small business owners in earthquake stricken Canterbury say they need a one hundred million dollar cash injection if they are to make it into the New Year.

Officials put barriers in way of strengthening building - owner

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch businessman has told the Earthquake Royal Commission the city council was a nightmare to deal with when he was trying to strengthen his building before the September quake.

Overseas expert shocked at design of PGC building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An American engineer has told the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission he was shocked at the failure of builders to properly fix the floors of the PGC building to its walls.

Quake victims say pending rates rise will cripple them

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Shell shocked residents still picking up the pieces in one of the worst earthquake affected parts of Canterbury, say a looming rates rise to pay for repairs will cripple them.

Rural Recovery - A Quake Aftermath

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes finds out how the rural recovery is going near the epicentre of the Canterbury Earthquake that shook the province in the early hours of September 4th.

Business owners decision on buildings' future

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Business owners have told the Christchurch City Council they are haemorrhaging thousands of dollars a week, while it decides whether or not to demolish their buildings following last month's earthquake.

Gerry Brownlee offside with Chch business community

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, is offside with the business community in Christchurch over the decision to permanently relocate nearly 500 public servants outside of the central business district.

Families react to firm destroying CTV design information

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The director of the structural engineering company that designed the CTV building came under fire yesterday over documents missing from evidence his firm submitted to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Chch homeowners consider legal action against State Insurance

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A group of angry Christchurch locals are considering legal action against one of the country's biggest insurance companies because they say their earthquake claims are taking too long to settle.

CTV designer apologises to families for the first time

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised for the first time to the families of the 115 people killed when the building collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake.

Bereaved husband rejects CTV designer's apology

Audio, Radio New Zealand

For the first time Alan Reay, whose firm designed the collapsed CTV building, has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed in the Christchurch earthquake 18 months ago.

Chch councillor Raf Manji to take on Gerry Brownlee in Ilam

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch councillor Raf Manji announces plans to stand against Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee in Ilam at the general election. He tells John Campbell why he is standing as an independent.

Role of engineer in inspecting Chch building under spotlight

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A structural engineer who ordered a building green stickered though he'd failed to do another thorough check on it has defended his inspections at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Springsteen to play in Chch on eve of quake anniversary

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Boss is back - and he and his band, the E Street band, are going to Christchurch on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake this summer.

Christchurch volunteers begin training to work with refugees

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch is preparing to welcome the first refugees to settle in the city since the 2010 earthquake, but it needs more volunteers to help them transition into their new lives.

Duncan Webb ahead of Nicky Wagner in Chch central

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch lawyer Duncan Webb made the shift into politics because of the people left behind after the Christchurch earthquakes. Now he's ahead of National's Nicky Wagner in the latest results.

Vege co-operative in Christchurch feeding stomachs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A fruit and vegetable co-operative in Canterbury that started with just 140 members has grown to more than two thousand members in the three years since the region's earthquakes.

EQC accused of ignoring true extent of damage to Chch homes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch man says EQC misled him about the earthquake damage to his home and deliberately under-scoped the repairs that were needed. David Townshend said his warnings were ignored.