Repairs to quake-damaged homes start today
Audio, Radio New Zealand
The first permanent repairs to Canterbury homes damaged in September's earthquake will start today.
The first permanent repairs to Canterbury homes damaged in September's earthquake will start today.
Fletcher Construction says it may take years to repair an estimated 50-thousand homes in Canterbury following the September 4th earthquake.
Some Christchurch drainlayers repairing damage from the Canterbury Earthquake say there are delays and confusion in getting repayments from the earthquake commission.
The Minister for Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, says the recovery process from Canterbury's earthquake is moving quickly, despite strong aftershocks yesterday setting back repair work.
In its latest update, the Earthquake Commission says it will have to manage repairs to 50-thousand homes moderately or seriously damaged by the Canterbury earthquake four weeks ago.
The Christchurch City Council says it needs Government money to help repair its earthquake damaged heritage and character buildings.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says all but a few Cantabrians will be able to rebuild on their original properties.
The Transport Agency says initial repairs to State Highways damaged in the Canterbury earthquake could cost up to six million dollars.
Some Christchurch residents are angry they will have to wait almost three years before their severely earthquake damaged homes can be repaired.
Some Christchurch residents fear there's a risk to the region's history if headstones damaged by September's 7.1 magnitude earthquake are not repaired.
The owners of more than three-thousand properties damaged by the Canterbury earthquake have been told the repair job could take nearly three years.
Fletcher Construction has won the largest building contract in New Zealand history to repair half of the Canterbury homes damaged in last month's earthquake.
The Property Council says an ultimatum from the Christchurch City Council to owners of earthquake damaged commercial buildings will add to the stress business people are already under.
Glaziers and window makers in Christchurch say Saturday's earthquake smashed up to 90 percent of their glass supplies, leaving them without materials to repair people's homes.
Canterbury earthquake victims with the most damaged homes could have to wait more than two and half years for their houses to be fixed - but one owner says her problems are nothing compared to the misery of the Pike River mine disaster.
The chief medical officer of health for the region, Dr Alistair Humphrey, says people carrying out repairs on their earthquake-stricken properties need to be wary of asbestos.
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.
While it's going to take several years and millions of dollars to repair earthquake damage, the Christchurch Arts Centre can count its lucky stars and look ahead to making the historic building better and stronger.
Some owners of commercial buildings badly damaged in the Canterbury earthquake, have been told if they don't repair or demolish them by January the 31st, the Christchurch City Council will do it for them.