Lack of engineering assessments investigated

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A lack of building inspections and the engineers to carry them out has come under further scrutiny at the Royal Commission of inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes.

Illegal dumping of earthquake rubble investigated

Audio, Radio New Zealand

At least five companies are being investigated by the Canterbury Regional Council for dumping or burning earthquake demolition rubble illegally.

Police investigate first cases of fraudulent earthquake claims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch police have made their first arrest for false claims over earthquake damage, charging a local woman with obtaining by deception.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

There's disagreement about whether a Royal Commission of inquiry into building collapses in the Canterbury earthquakes should apportion blame.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People caught up in February's earthquake in Christchurch want to know why a Royal Commission of inquiry isn't going to apportion any blame for building collapses.

Earthquake Commission looks at increasing size of fraud team

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission is looking at increasing the size of the team investigating fraudalent claims in Canterbury.

Government appoints experts to look at building collapses

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has appointed the panel of experts that will investigate why so many buildings collapsed during Christchurch's February earthquake.

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.

Quake hearing told building in use despite yellow placard

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A property manager has been questioned at the Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes about why he didn't tell tenants the building they worked in was unsafe.

Concerns raised over training of NZ structural engineers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Auckland structural engineer John Scarry is concerned that the series of investigations into earthquake related collapses of Christchurch buildings won't result in the changes needed to make the city safer.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Monday 18 July 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

NZ SAS troops involved in another gun battle in the Afghan capital Kabul. Another fatal police pursuit, this time, in South Auckland and Police investigate missing cheques for earthquake damage in Christchurch.

Man was killed by a falling concrete wall

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes has heard that the premises where a man was killed by a falling concrete wall was not inspected by structural engineers between the September and February quakes.

Focus on Politics for 1 July 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's no longer politics as usual in Christchurch following a series of devastating earthquakes. Not everyone in the city and its surrounding areas is happy with last week's offer to buy out those households on land which has suffered the worst damage. Our political editor Brent Edwards investigates.

The Panel with Sir Bruce Slane and David Slack (part 1)

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Naval blockade: Greenpeace say its activists are willing to get arrested over their protest against a Brazilian oil company surveying off East Cape. Royal Commission: Legal experts are in agreement ... the purpose of the Royal Commission into February's earthquake in Christchurch is to investigate - not to incriminate.

Question time for 17 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Questions to Ministers 1. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Finance: When he said recently "where the Government does have some influence, we are working hard to keep prices low", which prices was he referring to? 2. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What are some of the likely impacts on the Government's finances of the Christchurch earthquake? 3. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Acting Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by all his statements on economic development? 4. Dr JACKIE BLUE to the Minister for ACC: How many claims has ACC received since the tragic earthquake on 22 February and what steps has the Government taken to facilitate prompt compensation for those seriously injured? 5. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Civil Defence: What is the basis for according priority to entry of the red zone in the Christchurch central business district? 6. NIKKI KAYE to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What support is the Government giving to non-government organisations in Christchurch affected by the earthquake? 7. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: What role did he or his department play in the decision to shift the Rugby World Cup quarter finals, from AMI Stadium to Eden Park? 8. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Corrections: What progress has been made toward the Government's commitment to encourage private sector investment in the New Zealand corrections system? 9. Hon DARREN HUGHES to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What specific policy changes has the Government made to increase the number of apprenticeships and other building-skills training programmes since the September Canterbury earthquake? 10. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Commerce: Will he use his powers under Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986 to call for an investigation into the dairy wholesale and retail milk market, following the release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's review of the domestic milk market in New Zealand; if not, why not? 11. CAROL BEAUMONT to the Minister of Women's Affairs: Does she support the retention of the stand-alone and independent Ministry of Women's Affairs? 12. JOHN HAYES to the Minister of Agriculture: What steps has the Government recently made to progress agricultural greenhouse gas research?