Christchurch tap water safe to drink again
Audio, Radio New Zealand
The instruction to boil water that's been in place across Christchurch since the 22 February earthquake has been lifted.
The instruction to boil water that's been in place across Christchurch since the 22 February earthquake has been lifted.
Farmers and rural businesses have been combining their efforts to bring desperately needed fresh water supplies to earthquake shattered Christchurch.
For the latest on the damage caused by Monday's earthquakes, we're joined by the Christchurch City Council's water and waste unit manager, Mark Christison.
Canterbury mayors say their ratepayers are already paying for earthquake recovery, roading, water and storm water infrastructure, so a shiny new Christchurch stadium is way down the priority list.
The company which runs Christchurch's water and sewage systems says it expects supply and wastewater problems in the wake of the earthquake to appear for at least the next six months.
Most parts of Christchurch damaged by last month's 6.3 earthquake now have power and water.
A week after the devastating earthquake many are still needing assistance to get essential provisions such as food and water.
Christchurch residents are pouring cold water on the Earthquake Recovery Minister's efforts to celebrate post-quake recovery in the city.
Interview with Surface Water Planner, Graham Harrington. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
Thousands in Christchurch still without power and water supply after yesterday's earthquakes and the government will soon decide which suburbs must be abandoned.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister has revealed the rebuild of Christchurch's damaged sewage and water pipes will be quite a bit more expensive than predicted.
The Canterbury earthquakes have forced the Government to look more closely at the strength of the country's transport, water, sewerage, energy and communication networks.
Construction delays and cost over-runs are prolonging the earthquake risks facing patients and staff at Christchurch hospital. Six major hospital buildings at the central city site have been listed as earthquake prone since May, but there is no safer space to shift patients into. Christchurch Hospital boss David Meates pron; Mates says the hospital is still basically a construction site. One earthquake prone building has roof tanks containing 75 tonnes of water. Mr Meates told RNZ reporter Phil Pennington removing the water from the tanks in the meantime is not an option.
More now on the the Government's move to sure-up the country's transport, water, sewerage, energy and communication networks in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.
The Christchurch city council says today's flooding would have been much worse had it not been for post-earthquake upgrades to the storm water system.
Some Christchurch community groups say a programme to rebuild the city's wastewater and storm water systems to a pre-earthquake equivalent isn't good enough.
With many people in Christchurch still without power and water and the streets covered in a thick layer of silt, getting clean clothes is proving difficult.
Damaged properties, water, sewerage and the demolition of buildings in the city centre are first on the list for the new man in charge of the recovery operation in Canterbury.
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.
The Maori King has called a national hui for iwi and hapu to discuss water rights after the government refused to call one; A member of the Iwi Chairs Forum says it might be time for the Maori Council to step aside from the water rights debate; The Whanganui River Maori Trust Board says it's satisfied with how its Treaty of Waitangi negotiations with the Crown are progressing, saying the Government's taking into account the iwi's unique circumstances; A Maori broadcaster who was living in Christchurch during many of the earthquakes says she tried hard to put whanau at ease while she was on-air, but admits it was tough remaining calm during the many aftershocks.
The Maori King has called a national hui for iwi and hapu to discuss water rights after the government refused to call one; A member of the Iwi Chairs Forum says it might be time for the Maori Council to step aside from the water rights debate; The Whanganui River Maori Trust Board says it's satisfied with how its Treaty of Waitangi negotiations with the Crown are progressing, saying the Government's taking into account the iwi's unique circumstances; A Maori broadcaster who was living in Christchurch during many of the earthquakes says she tried hard to put whanau at ease while she was on-air, but admits it was tough remaining calm during the many aftershocks.
Its now seven weeks since the February earthquake. Normality is returning to Christchurch, with most sewerage lines fixed and water no longer needing to be boiled before drinking. But that doesn't apply to everyone.
Turning parts of Christchurch's red zoned land into a flat water sports lake, a community garden or a wave garden are some of the ideas being put forward to revitalise the earthquake-ravaged eastern part of the city.
One of the great community initiative's in Canterbury is the Rangiora Earthquake Express - where urgent help is still needed. These Rangiora volunteers have been up and running for sometime now, with daily runs into the Christchurch suburbs most desperately in need of water and other essential supplies.
Earthquake bus survivor, Mike Ardagh - Christchurch Hospital, Reporter Erina O'Donohue live from Christchurch, Where to obtain water, Murray McCully thanks international community, Cowles Stadium welfare centre closed, Man escapes from 12th floor of Forsyth Barr building, Aussie medics set up field hospital, Schools need significant rebuilding and Fourteen supermarkets closed in Christchurch.
A review of the week's news, including... A Government decision not to back a national hui on water rights is dismissed as irrelevant by its organisers and do precedent setting legal cases involving large settlements such as the Sealords Fisheries deal apply in this case of fresh water?, scores of jobs are being axed at the Tiwai Point Aluminum Smelter, opposition parties and unions are continuing to pound the Government with criticism about it's jobs creation record and the Government's response from the Finance Minister, the country's medical laboratories are being called on to make urgent changes after biopsy sample mix-ups which led to four women having breasts removed when they didn't have cancer, it's two years since a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Canterbury, children take antibiotics after the frightening death of a 12 year Wellington girl from meningococcal disease and a statue of Christ is returning from the wilderness, as a twelve-year mystery surrounding its fate is solved.
The Ōtakaro-Avon and Ōpāwaho-Heathcote in Christchurch are some of the most polluted in the region. While the Avon has received a lot of attention since the Canterbury Earthquakes with $100 million going into a new promenade and cleaning up its water quality, it's a different story for the Heathcote River where raw sewage and industrial chemicals are still regularly found. Niva Chittock reports.
Sixteen-year-old Sam Mackwell and his mates from St Thomas of Canterbury College have created a device that uses boiling water to charge cellphones, power a light and run a radio. They came up with the idea for the small generator after the first earthquake in Canterbury in September when electricity supplies were cut to much of the city. They call the device"The Lion"and hope to sell it in retail stores soon.
Canterbury farmers say they're at breaking point. A recent Ministry of Health report presented to MPs shows suicide is up 20 percent in rural areas compared with a drop of 10 per cent in cities and towns. Droughts, floods, earthquakes, farm debt, M Bovis, looming water quality reforms and climate change legislation have Canterbury farmers feeling under the pump. Political reporter Jo Moir has been in the region talking to locals like Chris Allen.
A UN report warns today that the world is running out of time to make sure there is enough food, water and energy, The Government says residents forced to sell up and leave their earthquake-damaged houses in the red zones of Christchurch can't expect to be told when their former homes will be demolished. A big story in the current Atlantic Monthly concludes, after looking at many studies, that cellphone use isn't harmful to your brain.