The increase began after Christchurch's 2011 earthquakes, but the District Health Board is expecting to face even more challenges following effects of the Port Hills fires and last year's earthquake in Kaikoura.
The Christchurch City Council is proposing a rate increase of more than 7 percent to help cover the rebuild of the city's earthquake damaged infrastructure.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is denying accusations he's about to engineer a central government takeover of the rebuild of central city Christchurch.
One of the Christchurch suburbs badly hit in the Canterbury earthquakes is being rebranded as the Sydenham Quarter - a future haven for artists, artisans and industrialists alike.
In today's news, the last two former directors of Bridgecorp are sentenced, and details on the fate of more Christchurch earthquake damaged land.
Sam Harvey says that holding on to grace is one of the things that keeps him striving towards his calling to help others. He's a young pastor of the Beach Campus of Grace Vineyard Church in Christchurch, and moved to the city on the eve of the first earthquake. Sonia Sly finds out what it takes to adhere to the faith during difficult times, and candidly asks about God's voice, New Zealand's attitude to Christianity, and the process of healing through exorcism.
The destruction of the Radio Network building in Christchurch has prompted hopes that explosive demolition could be used to bring down other earthquake-damaged buildings.
Sumner residents whose properties have been condemned have vented their frustrations at a meeting with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
The first part of the Royal Commission's report into the Canterbury earthquakes has been released - and includes 70 recommendations.
Some Christchurch residents are frustrated at the time it's taking to work out what sort of foundations their homes will require when earthquake repairs are carried out.
Chief Executive of the Earthquake Commission, Ian Simpson, responds.
Maureen Garing talks with Vaughan Milner, chief executive of Presbyterian Support in the upper South Island, about the Church's role in responding to community emergencies. The conversation deals particularly with the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake and was recorded prior to the Pike River mine tragedy.
In Christchurch, 75 police officers from across the country remain on the beat, bolstering the local contingent following February's earthquake.
A lack of affordable space after Christchurch's earthquake threatens to fracture the city's arts community.
The unidentified remains of the victims of the Christchurch earthquake will finally be interred just before the first anniversary of the February quake.
Christchurch trades companies say they are struggling to find experienced staff as the earthquake rebuild begins.
The Minister for Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, is due to give the government's response to the Christchurch City Council's draft central city plan tomorrow.
A second round of earthquake simulations, using explosives are to begin in Christchurch today; upsetting some residents in the area.
The Christchurch City Council's control of the earthquake recovery plan has been taken out of its hands, to the delight of business leaders, but to the chagrin of some local councilors.
The spire of Christ Church Cathedral once stood 20 storeys high but was reduced to less than half that by last year's earthquake. Its temporary replacement's construction began yesterday with the first sod turned.
Frustrated Christchurch residents are banding together to take on their insurance companies, who they say are taking too long to process their earthquake damage claims.
Several hundred people gathered in central Christchurch yesterday to voice their anger at a growing list of complaints about local and central government's response to the earthquake.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority's chief executive, Roger Sutton.
Christchurch hotels lost a million guest nights in the year following the February earthquake, but tourism in the city is now picking up again.
The Re:Start container mall was one of the first things to pop up in the city's derelict central business district after the February 2011 quake, but now it's preparing to close up shop, as Maja Burry reports.
Six years on from the Christchurch earthquakes, one in five residents of the city say the disaster is still taking its toll. The latest wellbeing survey by the Canterbury DHB found people living in north-east and east Christchurch were the most likely to be suffering from issues such as anxiety, from ongoing aftershocks, being in a damaged environment, and surrounded by construction.
The immediate aftermath of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake and its ongoing impact on residents' mental health is being described as a recovery of two halves. The latest wellbeing survey from the Canterbury District Health Board shows that one in five people, predominantly those living in the eastern suburbs, say they experience stress most or all of the time.
There have been dramatic scenes at the America's cup in Bermuda with Team New Zealand capsizing at the start of its second race of the day against the Bristish team Ben Ainslie Racing. Our America's Cup correspondent Todd Niall was at the Team New Zealand base. Transport Minister Simon Bridges has been caught trying to block an Official Information request for details about a proposed new 50 million dollar Auckland railway line. Kiwirail argued it was legally required to release the information, but the idea of releasing that information was making Mr Bridges 'extremely uncomfortable.' A man believed to be an Algerian student has attacked a police officer with a hammer outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Our correspondent Peter Allen says there is still a heavy police presence. The Labour Party says the government is short changing the health sector to the tune of $2.3 billion. The party's leader Andrew Little says funding hasn't kept up with the growing population and changing demographic. The United States secretary of state Rex Tillerson used a fleeting visit to Wellington yesterday to emphasise the importance of the Asia Pacific region and denying the US is stepping back from involvement here. Foreign affairs minister Gerry Brownlee says the US pulling out of the TPP doesn't prove anything. The immediate aftermath of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake and its ongoing impact on residents' mental health is being described as a recovery of two halves. The latest wellbeing survey from the Canterbury District Health Board shows that one in five people, predominantly those living in the eastern suburbs, say they experience stress most or all of the time. Nicky Wagner, the Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration, says the city has a good quality of life when compared to the rest of the country, despite a new survey showing one in five people say they experience stress most or all of the time. Ms Wagner, says 82 per cent have a good or very good quality of life in Christchurch, which compares with 81 percent nationwide. She says the east side of the city is very low lying and suffered the most damage and work is still being down in that area.
The Cathedral has been in a state of limbo since the Christchurch earthquakes. Now roosting pigeons are adding to the damage.
Academics have done some number crunching and decided where 10, 000 words sit on a happiness index. What the Panelists Tim Watkin and Selwyn Manning have been thinking about. Ros Rowe of the Leg Up Trust talks about funding cuts which are affecting her horse therapy business which helps disadvantaged young people. The Cathedral has been in a state of limbo since the Christchurch earthquakes. Now roosting pigeons are adding to the damage. Are you keen on the Pokemon Go craze? Pakistani social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been killed by her brother in a so-called honour killing.