A family who lived through the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes is now in isolation in Spain because of the Covid-19 virus. Spain is currently the fourth most affected country in the world, with more than 2000 new cases reported in the past 48 hours. More than 600 people have died, 90 of which have been reported in the past 24 hours. Yuri Bacas Hosaka, who grew up in Madrid says the family's quake experiences helped prepare them for what they're experiencing right now. Indira asked her how she and her family are coping
On 22 February 2011, Christchurch police sargeant Dave Harvey was outside the earthquake-damaged Hotel Grand Chancellor on Cashel Street, unsure if anyone was trapped inside. In case they were, he grabbed a can of spray paint and painted 'Help is on the way' in one-metre high letters on the road. Harvey's quick thinking really helped the people trapped in the hotel, says Clare Mackey, producer of the new documentary Help is on the Way.
Earthquakes, fire and terrorism have shaped the lives of Christchurch teenagers growing up during the last decade. A documentary from NZBS students.
There are 1,600 Canterbury homeowners with earthquake claims still open with EQC. About 100 homeowners turned up to a meeting organised by EQC Fix in Christchurch on Monday night - all with stories of home repair hell, botched repairs, or seemingly never-ending arguments with EQC, Southern Response, or their private insurer. They were all tired and wondering why they still had to fight more than nine years on from the first Canterbury Earthquake. Checkpoint video journalist Logan Church travelled to Christchurch to speak to those still fighting for what they believe they are entitled too.
A heritage advocate says he is over the moon to see a special piece of this country's history restored for future generations to enjoy. Three second world war era gun emplacements have been officially opened at Godley Head near Christchurch. The concrete bunkers and network of tunnels were badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes and have only now been repaired and had screeds of graffiti removed. At the height of the war, the guns at the entry to Lyttelton Harbour were home to two thousand army personnel. They were the main defence from an anticipated Japanese invasion. The Godley Heads Heritage Trust chair, Peter Wilkins, told Conan Young the restored emplacements will ensure this history is never forgotten.
Christchurch residents forced away from their redzone homes returned today for the unveiling of the the Avon loop pathway - the first redevelopment, nine years on from the deadly earthquake.
Reporter Conan Young went along to hear from them.
The Reserve Bank has cut its benchmark interest rate, to support the economy against the impact of the Covid-19 virus. The central bank cut its official cash rate to 0.25 percent from one percent. Governor Adrian Orr says the cut is necessary to support businesses and employment. The last time the Reserve Bank made such a big cut was in March 2011 after the Canterbury earthquake. Last week, the bank outlined a range of unconventional monetary policy tools such as negative interest rates, special loans to banks, and buying bonds to put money into the economy. Cameron Bagrie is an independent economist. He speaks to Susie Ferguson.
Repatriation, innovation, virtual reality and other digital opportunities and issues around earthquake strengthening buildings will all come up for debate next weekend at our museums' national conference in Christchurch. The MA18 Conference brings together several hundred museum leaders to talk about a time of rapid change in how museums display their taonga and how they reach out to their communities. Lynn Freeman spoke to Phillipa Tocker who's the Executive Director of Museums Aotearoa, and to one of the guest speakers, futurist Kaila Colbin who's curator of TEDxChristchurch and TEDxScottBase, co-founder and Chair of the Ministry of Awesome and a director of ChristchurchNZ which is responsible for tourism, major events and economic development in the city.
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.
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. Phil Pennington reports.
The coroner has ruled the search and rescue effort at Christchurch's CTV building did not contribute to the deaths of eight people who survived the initial collapse. However Gordon Matenga criticised nearly every aspect of the fire service's response to the tragedy that claimed 115 of the 185 lives lost in the February 2011 earthquake.
Professor Maan Alkaisi, a spokesman for the Christchurch Earthquake Families Group speaks with Geoff Robinson.
There's been widespread dismay at the decision not to prosecute anyone for the deaths of 115 people in the CTV building collapse during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Police say it was a tough decision - they wanted to hold someone to account but there simply wasn't the evidence to warrant a prosecution.
Justice Minister Andrew Little said on Thursday that "everybody involved in this has walked away scot-free. And that's not right." Nigel Hampton QC, who was counsel for the families at the Royal Commission in to the Canterbury earthquakes, joins us to discuss the outcome.
And when the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch, people turned to Radio New Zealand for news.
Staying with earthquakes and three years on from the deadly quake in Christchurch an increasing number of children are turning to counselling services for help.
The decision on what to do with Christchurch's earthquake damaged redzone is one step closer, with the end of the public consultation period on the plan for the area. Over the past month Christchurch people have been asked to comment on a draft land use plan for the 602 hectares of land. Now those pitching ideas want the authorities to get on with the next step, so they can have some certainty about whether their projects can go ahead.
Topics - ready with the pumps at last this time, but thankfully not as much rain - so far - as feared for people in the low-lying Flockton Basin in Christchurch. Labour's proposing a special court be set up just to deal with earthquake insurance claims, as part of a policy around the Christchurch rebuild. The policy would see an Earthquake Court established to try to speed up the settling of 9,755 outstanding "over cap" insurance claims. John Banks will be gone by Friday from Parliament, at the behest of the ACT party with a gentle nudge from the Nats as well. The PM thinks it's a joke that the Civilian political party, run by Ben Uffindell and named after his satirical webite, will receive $33,000 of taxpayer funding for the coming election.
A Christchurch lawyer with more than 100 insurance cases before the courts is dismissing Labour's plans for a special Earthquake Court.
The former Earthquake Commission minister, Gerry Brownlee, is defending EQC over claims its assessors in Christchurch were not properly qualified. A growing number of homeowners in the city are discovering EQC assessors have completely missed quake damage including broken foundations costing hundreds of thousands to repair. That's been disastrous for people who've bought homes with hidden damage who are sometimes finding private insurers unwilling to cover the cost of putting right mistakes made by EQC. The company hired by EQC to carry out repairs was Fletcher Construction. Its chief executive at the time, Mark Binns, told Checkpoint that EQC probably hired unqualified people to assess quake damaged homes. Gerry Brownlee refused to be drawn on the comments from Mr Binns. But when asked by RNZ Christchurch reporter, Conan Young, if it was acceptable to have retired policemen, school principals and vacuum cleaner salesmen carrying out assessments for EQC, he admitted finding enough people to do the job was a challenge.
The State Services Commission is investigating Canterbury earthquake insurer Southern Response. A new pharmacy council ethics code has upset doctors.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is promising help for Tongan children traumatised by Cyclone Gita and says New Zealand was too slow responding to children caught up in the Christchurch earthquakes. Ms Ardern spent the day in Nuku'alofa where she went to a school that was badly damaged from the cyclone last month. RNZ political reporter Mei Heron is in Tonga.
As IAG and Southern Response's limitation periods for claims resulting from the February, 2011 earthquake nears, Christchurch lawyer Peter Woods says the current situation is a "bloody mess".
A review of the week's news including... the former wife of a highly regarded Maori community leader who died in 2016 says she has passed on to Police the names of people she believes may have been involved in, or have knowledge of, what she's calling a paedophile sex ring involving her former husband, Peters on Trump, Wellington's new bus fleet hits the streets, more details of plans to cut jobs at the national museum, anti-gambling groups want poker machines included in a crackdown on money laundering, the worst winter for moteliers since the Canterbury earthquakes and who's to blame?, a statue on Bastion Point that could be as big as the Statue of Liberty and what happens when RNZ meets thrash metal?
Christchurch moteliers say this has been the hardest winter since the Canterbury earthquakes - and they are blaming both AirBnB and a lack of events. RNZ Christchurch reporter Logan Church spoke with Comfort Inn motel owner, Bob Cringle, about the state of the sector.
It's being called the worst winter for moteliers since the Canterbury earthquakes and the blame's being put squarely on Airbnb and a lack of events in Christchurch. Motels are reporting up to a third less business than last year - and that means some could have to close.
Two tragedies have brought two groups of young people from opposite sides of the world together for a special tree planting in Christchurch. Twenty-eight students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida -- the scene of a deadly shooting in February -- are spending the week with the Student Volunteer Army, established after the Christchurch earthquake. Jonathan Mitchell reports.
It's hoped a new art installation in Ōtautahi Christchurch can help people talk their worries away through a series of telephones by the riverside.
Twelve telephones have popped up across sites commemorating the city's devastating 2011 earthquakes.
The group behind the project is Flourish Kia Puawai.
Its associate director Sharon Torstonson spoke to Corin Dann.
Eye patients in South Auckland face threats to their eyesight because of long waits for treatment. But patients in central Auckland do not. The Auckland DHB doesn't have a backlog, but Counties Manukau has 4000 people waiting to see a specialist. Why is there such a difference? Simon Dean is head of ophthalmology at Counties Manukau. He tells Susie Ferguson the size of their department is the main problem at Counties-Manukau DHB. It was due for an upgrade in 2013 but was sidelined because of the needs around the Christchurch earthquake.
A very large earthquake in the central North Island could trigger a big lahar from Mt Ruapehu. In the recent past it's been eruptions that have led to lahars on the mountain. But scientists from Canterbury University have checking what else might cause cause mud and debris to spew out of the crater lake.
