New Zealand's best cats battle for glory

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The National Cat Show is on in Christchurch on Sunday, the first time cat lovers from across the country have met in Christchurch since the earthquakes.

New quake safety doubts over police stations, hospitals

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's been revealed that not a single one of New Zealand's 315 police buildings constructed before 2011 have had a full earthquake safety check. Canterbury's district health buildings and a central Wellington cinema are among other major structures needing checks. Phil Pennington joins us with the details.

Quake claims affect Suncorp NZ result

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The insurance arms of Suncorp New Zealand have reported lower profits off the back of the Kaikoura earthquake and a rise in Canterbury earthquake claims. .

NZ's second community fridge opens in New Brighton

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch suburb of New Brighton was hit hard by the Christchurch earthquakes, with roads that still haven't been fixed and many families on struggle street. One local is hoping a fridge offering free food, will help. 

Chch's new super school opens in Aranui with a bumper roll

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Haeata is the first public school in Christchurch to cater for all ages, replacing three eastern suburbs schools that were closed after the earthquakes. RNZ joined more than 900 students for the first day.

BWB Books

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Dire predictions about the death of books and of publishing in this country with the advent of e-books and the amalgamation of big publishing houses have proved to be way off the mark. One of the standout publishers to have emerged is Wellington's BWB - Bridget Williams' Books - with its focus on New Zealand non-fiction and championing of the topical essay. Titles in their popular BWB text series include The New Zealand Project by Max Harris, Holly Walker's The Whole Intimate Mess, and Antibiotic Resistance by Dr Siouxsie Wiles. Their latest publications include The Expatriates by expat Martin Edmond, and Paul Gorman's take on the Canterbury Earthquakes - Portacom City.

Cruise ships coming back to Christchurch in 2019

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Lyttelton Port Company, owned by Christchurch City Council, will spend $56 million on a new berth for cruise ships, which haven't visited the garden city since the 2011 earthquake.

The Panel with Lisa Scott and David Cormack (Part 1)

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A fault line on Dunedin's doorstep could cause an earthquake as destructive as 2010's Canterbury quake. Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles explains why the new superbug CPE is a serious threat. A New Zealand Medical Journal article warns a group of bacteria known as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae pose an enormous risk to people in intensive care, or having bone marrow or lung or liver transplants. Mercedes-Benz has successfully trialled a new app called Croove, CROOVE, which will let Mercedes owners rent out their cars. Now it's being officially rolled out. The panellists discuss the sign outside a pub in New Brighton reading "Vegan buffet. Just kidding now get away from our sign - you pansy." Is this just a joke or is it deeply offensive? The Kentucky doctor dragged off a United Airlines flight from Chicago earlier this month has received a financial settlement from the airline.

Quakes, fires, insurance claims - and then a parking ticket

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch woman Pam Sharpe has endured earthquakes, fires and dealing with insurance companies, but then she received a parking ticket. She tells Checkpoint what happened next.

Backpacker's family's first visit to Chch for quake memorial

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Rachel Conley's family has flown to Christchurch for the first time for the unveiling of the memorial wall. They are staying with a NZ family, whose son died along with Rachel in the earthquake.

Families attend Chch earthquake memorial unveiling

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial was unveiled to the public at a memorial attended by more than 3000 people.

30,000 to watch Springsteen on eve of quake anniversary

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People have been queuing for days for the Bruce Springsteen concert in Christchurch tonight, ahead of the sixth anniversary of the 2011 earthquake. Glenn McCartney is at the front of the queue.

Memorial for quake victims to be revealed on 6th anniversary

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A memorial for the 185 people who died in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake will be blessed tonight, ahead of the unveiling tomorrow, on the sixth anniversary.

Earthquake survivor says Wgtn must cordon around unsafe sites

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A woman crushed to within milimetres of her life in the Christchurch earthquake says it is murderously cavalier for Wellington's council not to cordon off weak or prone buildings.

Bruce Springsteen fans queue for days ahead of SI show

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Bruce Springsteen fans have queued for days ahead of the Boss' show in Christchurch tomorrow night - on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the 2011 earthquake.

CERA officials used positions for financial gain

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two former Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority officials attempted to use their positions for their own financial gain and their actions will now be referred to the Serious Fraud Office.

Heathcote family say EQC failed them

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch family have found themselves stuck with a house that is too unsafe to live in after a fire revealed earthquake damage, which EQC admits it failed to identify.

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.

Christchurch sitting on mental health 'time bomb'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Dr Sue Bagshaw, the head of a youth health clinic Christchurch, fears the high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among children will skyrocket due to the earthquake.

First freight chugs into Chch from Picton since Kaikoura quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first freight train since the devastating Kaikoura earthquake has chugged into Christchurch, after an historic 348 kilometre journey from Picton.

Something For the Weekend - Quake City Re-opens

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury Museum is inviting visitors to view Quake City for free during the special exhibition's reopening this weekend, 16 & 17 September. The newly-relocated exhibition that tells stories from the Canterbury earthquakes, reopened on 14 September.

Rail returns between Picton and Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The track will open this week after being closed for nearly a year after the line suffered extensive damage in last November's earthquake.

Canterbury land can't be farmed due to earthquake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Tourism, native planting, and bee keeping are all possibilities a community lead working group is waiting on government funding to explore.

Christchurch redzone homeowners win seven year battle

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The quake outcasts, who were uninsured at the time, will receive 80 percent of the pre-earthquake value of their homes. Three of them tell John Campbell how they've been living in limbo.

Tiny temporary village opens in town hit by Kaikoura quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A temporary village has opened in the small Canterbury town of Waiau to help residents who lost their homes in the Kaikoura earthquake.

Ministry apologises to Chch schools for handling of closures

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Ministry of Education has been forced to apologise for its flawed handling of school closures and mergers after the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.

Music back at the Christchurch Town Hall

Audio, Radio New Zealand

For the first time in six years, music has filled Christchurch's Town Hall, which suffered significant damage in the February 2011 earthquake.

Christchurch cleanup producing potentially toxic dust

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Medium-density fibreboard has been sitting at an old rubbish put in Wigram since the earthquakes and residents are worried it's harming their health.

Gerry Brownlee acted 'unlawfully' over uninsured land, court rules

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The former Earthquake Recovery Minister's decision to exclude uninsured Canterbury landowners under the Recovery Plan was unlawful, the Court of Appeal has ruled in an interim judgement.

Phoenix Rising

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch earthquakes caused devastating damage to many of the city’s creative spaces. But rising from the rubble has been the Isaac Theatre Royal under the watchful eye of Neil Cox. He’s directed the resurrection of one of  the premiere performance spaces in the country.