Disaster law
Audio, Radio New Zealand
University of Canterbury's John Hopkins and Toni Collins explain disaster law and shortcomings in NZ's legal system highlighted by the Canterbury earthquakes.
University of Canterbury's John Hopkins and Toni Collins explain disaster law and shortcomings in NZ's legal system highlighted by the Canterbury earthquakes.
UNESCO panel discussion with Jason Pemberton of the Student Volunteer Army in Christchurch, Qasim Aslam, a young Pakistani entrepreneur who set up systems to cope with the earthquake and floods there, and Muthiah Muthe who was involved with relief efforts in Indonesia.
Professor Lucy Easthope is one of the world's foremost disaster planners. Her first major job in emergency planning was responding to 9/11 and since then, her career has covered almost every major disaster; the Boxing Day tsunami, the London bombings, the Christchurch earthquakes, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down over Ukraine, the Grenfell Tower fire, Covid-19 and many more. It's her job to help get the bodies identified, repatriate survivors, return personal effects, look after the bereaved, and advise governments for the future. She speaks to Kathryn about her memoir, When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster.
The Government is considering introducing a new law to cover any natural disaster of a similar size to the Canterbury earthquake.
A new Bill looks to make life easier for people affected by major disasters, following the human disaster created by shortcomings of the Earthquake Commission in its response to the Christchurch earthquakes.
The National Recovery Coordinator for Red Cross Emergency Services in Australia, who has researched disaster recovery practices around the world including the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, London bombings and Sichuan earthquake. She is visiting New Zealand ahead of the first anniversary of the February earthquake in Christchurch.
In the wake of the February disaster, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was set up to coordinate the overall recovery.
Admiral Thad Allen was the principal federal official in charge after Hurricane Katrina battered the US Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing many more. Prime Minister John Key says the structure of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was decided upon after an examination of the way other governments responded to disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
Admiral Thad Allen was the principal federal official in charge after Hurricane Katrina battered the US Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing many more. Prime Minister John Key says the structure of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was decided upon after an examination of the way other governments responded to disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
Two years on from the Christchurch earthquakes, a local author says the insurance industry has failed in its response to the disaster.
Simon Manning is a Wellington funeral director who is part of the funeral industry's disaster response team, which is mobilising in Christchurch.
Labour is calling for the Government to rethink how the Earthquake Commission insures homeowners, in the aftermath of the disaster in Canterbury.
A professor studying the economics of disasters says Christchurch will struggle to ever fully recover from the earthquakes that have devastated the city.
Survivors of our biggest national disasters say new guidelines will better supporting families in the wake of future tragedies. The new "Public Service Commission Model Standards" - to be released at parliament today - addresses what survivors say have been consistent shortcomings in the treatment by government agencies of those most closely affected by disaster. The standards were co-authored by the Pike River Families Group after consulting with families of survivors caught up with events such as the earthquake and mosque shootings in Christchurch, the Aramoana massacre, the Cave Creek platform collapse and the Whakaari White Island eruption. Sonya Rockhouse, who lost her son Ben in the Pike River mine explosion 12 years ago, spoke to Corin Dann.
The Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee says it would be an absolute disaster for Christchurch, if the City Council stopped issuing building consents next week.
The head of an international team of engineers who design for disasters says Wellington should look closely at the lessons from the Canterbury earthquake.
Roger Sutton, the chief executive of networks company Orion has taken up a five-year contract as the CEO of the Christchurch Earthquake Reconstruction Authority, the top bureaucrat in the post-quake city.
The Japanese earthquake may have an impact on plans by the government to borrow more to meet the earthquake rebuilding in Christchurch.
The Earthquake Commission has more than doubled its estimate of how much it will pay out for Canterbury earthquake claims, from three billion dollars to seven billion dollars.
Insurance premiums look set to rise by up to a third and even more to meet the cost of the Christchurch earthquakes and other disasters overseas.
Relatives of the victims of February's earthquake in Christchurch are backing a new police inquiry into how people were rescued in the aftermath of the disaster.
The head of an international team of engineers who are expert in designing for disasters says Wellington should look closely at the lessons from the Canterbury earthquake.
The insurance company, Tower, has strongly criticised the time it's taking to settle Canterbury earthquake claims and says the insurance system for handling such disasters is broken.
The Canterbury earthquake authority has now been legally vested with the extraordinary powers given to the Government under the state of national emergency declared after the February disaster.
Retired Christchurch people affected by the earthquakes are disappointed they have been left out of new rules aimed at giving people in retirement villages better payouts after natural disasters.
American social-psychologist Tara Powell on the challenges of building confidence in children who have been traumatised by a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina or the Christchurch earthquake.
The family of a Christchurch earthquake victim wants the Royal Commission to investigate all Search and Rescue efforts during the disaster. The Government faces a higher-than-forecast Budget deficit.
Earthquakes are one of the few natural disasters Australia seldom experiences. We find out from curator Felicity Milburn how our neighbours have responded to an exhibition of earthquake related art direct from Christchurch.
John Key farewells Parliament by remembering the funny and the proud moments of being Prime Minister, but also the heartbreak of the Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River disaster and the deaths of troops in Afghanistan.
Parliament has adjourned for two weeks following the declaration of a national emergency after yesterday's devastating Canterbury earthquake. The leadership of the various parties took turns to acknowlege the disaster and pay tribute to it victims and heroes.