Brownlee says flooding made worse - not caused by - quakes
Audio, Radio New Zealand
The Earthquake Recovery Minister is denying that Christchurch flooding has become worse since the quakes, and says it's not the government's mess to fix.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister is denying that Christchurch flooding has become worse since the quakes, and says it's not the government's mess to fix.
Many Christchurch trades people are refusing to carry out quake repairs unless the homeowner agrees to pay the bill, saying it takes too long to get the money out of the Earthquake Commission. Some contractors say they still haven't been paid for jobs done after the quake in September and the amount of debt some businesses are carrying are putting them in jeopardy.
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.
Seismologists studying the Canterbury earthquakes say aftershocks from the September 2010 quake were so unusually strong because of the type of rocks along the faultline.
An additional 300 people could have died in the February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch, if it wasn't for the earlier quake in September.
The founders of a post-quake farmers market in Christchurch have taken the idea to Kaikoura, and has set up shop in the earthquake hit town.
Victorian Authorities are warning residents of significant aftershocks following on from the magnitude 5.8 earthquake which shook Melbourne around 9am yesterday, causing significant structural damage across the city. The University of Melbourne's Dr Mark Quigley is a professor of tectonics, who became a familiar voice and face through the Christchurch quakes. Our producer Matthew Theunissen asked him how yesterday's quake compared to those he experienced in Christchurch.
The large aftershock rattled nerves in Christchurch last night but it was not the destructive earthquake that had been predicted by self-styled quake forecaster Ken Ring.
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.
Geoff Robinson in Christchurch, where the Dean of Christchurch leads the observance of two minutes silence as a mark of rememberance for those lost in the quake.
The Earthquake Commission has already received about 7,000 claims from last week's Kaikoura quake. EQC expects the number of claims to be fewer than in Christchurch.
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.
Nearly seven years on from the Christchurch earthquake, some quake damaged homeowners with unresolved insurance claims say they are being driven to the point of complete exhaustion.
The names of each individual killed by the Christchurch earthquake were read one after the other at a memorial service to commemorate the quake's seventh anniversary today.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From tomorrow, the Government is winding down the subsidy that allows earthquake-damaged businesses in Canterbury to keep paying their workers' wages.
Provincial towns and rural communities around the country say they will be financially ruined under proposals to strengthen buildings following the Christchurch earthquakes. Dale Williams is Mayor of Otorohanga, Dave Cull is Mayor of Dunedin and Lawrence Yule is Mayor of Hastings and president of Local Government NZ.
Earthquake damaged Christchurch homes written off by insurance companies are becoming hot property for investors wanting to make money renting them out.
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.
A Canterbury business leader says local firms are worried that the earthquake rebuilding effort is in danger of losing its way.
The first day of a coroner's inquest in Christchurch has heard harrowing details of the final moments of some of those who died in February's earthquake.
Economics Correspondent Nigel Stirling talks about expectations from the Government's economic package to be announced this afternoon to help meet the cost of the Christchurch earthquake.
Some parts of central Christchurch may have been hit by rogue seismic energy during last week's earthquake, amplifying the level of destruction.
The Treasury is forecasting the Christchurch earthquake will slow economic activity, taking about 15 billion dollars out of the economy over the next five years.
Christchurch Health authorities say they will never put acutely unwell patients on top floors again after having to evacuate them after the 22nd of February earthquake.
The number of people injured in the earthquake in Christchurch more than two weeks ago is still unknown.
The head of the stock exchange, Mark Weldon, is leading the Government's fundraising efforts for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.