Quakes Royal Commission wraps up PGC hearing today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes concludes its hearing into the collapse of the Pyne Gould building today.

Radio NZ presenter honoured at quake ceremony

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Radio NZ's Vicki McKay among those honoured at an awards ceremony in Christchurch for heroism, service or acts of kindness by organisations and individuals during the Canterbury earthquakes.

Inquest into 144 Christchurch quake deaths continues

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The inquest into many of the deaths in the Christchurch earthquake will today hear evidence about the more than 60 language students who perished in the Canterbury Television building.

Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee on Quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government responded to Canterbury's plight by putting through Parliament emergency legislation to give special powers to the Earthquake Recovery Minister to deal with the effects of the quake.

Quake-hit Christchurch Residents having to return home

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Canterbury residents are returning to homes damaged in last year's 7.1 earthquake, because they can't afford to live anywhere else.

Community law centre expecting flood of quake cases

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch's community law centre is expecting many cases to be lodged as people struggle to cope with the effects of the Canterbury earthquake.

Canterbury quake expected to hit NZ economy in short term

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Economists and business leaders predict the Canterbury earthquake will lead to a rash of business failures and cut economic growth this year.

Quake chief happy, despite $200,000 pay cut

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Despite taking a 200-thousand dollar pay cut, the new head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says he's delighted to have the job.

Quake inquiry looks at whether heritage outweighed safety

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Witnesses before the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission have been questioned over whether preservation of heritage buildings was given more consideration than preserving human lives.

Firsthand quake experience for US PhD student

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A PhD student from the United States who moved to Canterbury to study earthquakes says his firsthand experience in Christchurch has been extremely useful.

Christchurch council grilled over buildings at quake commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council has faced tough questioning at the Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes over its role in ensuring buildings are earthquake strengthened.

Almost six months after quake, some remains unidentified

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Almost six months after the devastating earthquake which killed 181 people in the Canterbury, there are still human remains yet to be identified and buried.

Minister says recovery process from quake moving quickly

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Kaiapoi looks to rebuild buisness district following quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A plan to revitalise the centre of the small rural service town of Kaiapoi will be fast-tracked in the wake of the Canterbury earthquake.

Quake affected residents say they are being neglected

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More than two weeks after the massive earthquake that rocked Canterbury, some living in one of Christchurch's worst hit suburbs are feeling neglected and abandoned.

Earthquake Authority gets wide powers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A stand-alone government department will be vested with the wide ranging powers the Government gave itself after last year's quake, to oversee recovery efforts in Canterbury.

PGC property manager defends lack of detailed assessment

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard the property manager of the Pyne Gould building did not organise detailed engineering assessments after the first quake in September.

Greens oppose quake authority Bill as too far-reaching

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament is debating under urgency the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill, but the Greens plan to vote against the first reading.

Avalanche of legal cases emerging in wake of quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch's community law centre is braced for an avalanche of cases as people confront legal issues associated with the Canterbury earthquake.

Quake victims should use consumer legislation to get help

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Commerce Commission says Canterbury earthquake victims, struggling with mortgage and credit card repayments, should use consumer legislation to get help.

Calls for asbestos register in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An Earthquake Commission policy of covering over asbestos in quake-damaged Canterbury houses and not making that information publicly available, is being described as shortsighted and potentially harmful.

PGC building owner says he did all he could to make it safe

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Pyne Gould building tenants in Christchurch have told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes hearing they didn't feel safe there after the September quake.

Almost four weeks after quake, Kaiapoi still struggling

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Overseas experts to give evidence at quake inquiry

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes continues today, with overseas experts critiquing a New Zealand report that calls for a two-billion dollar upgrade to strengthen earthquake-prone buildings.

Redcliffs School reopens after years of perseverance since Canterbury quak…

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's been dubbed Canterbury's little seaside community who never gave up. Nine years in the making, it was Redcliffs School''s grand re-opening today after earthquake damage rendered the old site unsafe. The occasion was marked with tears, hugging, singing and some very special guests. Katie Todd filed this report.

Research shows quakes produced millions of tonnes of waste

Audio, Radio New Zealand

New research shows the Canterbury earthquakes generated eight million tonnes of waste - forty times what would normally come from local households in a year.

Cabinet to decide on govt's contribution to quake clean up

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Cabinet will today decide how the Government will contribute to the clean up in Canterbury following Saturday's massive earthquake.

Top Stories for Tuesday 7 September 2010

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Strong aftershocks felt in Canterbury, Quake firms to seek government wage subsidy, More services, access to buildings being restored in Christchurch, Minister for Earthquake Recovery discusses plans, Heavy rain causes flooding and road closures in Lower North Island, Building codes minimised quake's injuries and damage, Glass supply freezes as Christchurch companies clean up.

What was hiding under a statue in Cathedral Square

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury Museum says because of the earthquake it's likely to be weeks before they can open a sealed time capsule found under a statue brought down by the quake.

Social impact of Chch quakes similar to Hurricane Katrina

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury's health officials say an increase in binge drinking, not taking medicines, and domestic violence are signs of the ongoing effect of the region's earthquakes.