The National Party wants to force councils to free up land for development in a bid to get more houses built. The party's proposal would give the government emergency powers modelled on those used to speed up house building in Canterbury following the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Party leader Judith Collins spoke to Corin Dann.
Working alongside the Earthquake Authority will be a cross party forum of local members of parliament.
The country's political parties are uncertain about whether a special tax might be needed to help pay to rebuild Christchurch after this week's devastating earthquake.
The Green Party has spelt out how it would impose an earthquake levy on higher earning taxpayers, to fund the rebuild of Christchurch, if it becomes part of the next Government.
Opposition parties fear a new department to control the rebuilding of Christchurch will be Wellington-centric and not allow the community to have its fair say in decisions. The Labour Party's spokesperson on the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Clayton Cosgrove, spoke to our political editor Brent Edwards.
Topics - A new two million dollar fund has been launched to urgently help community groups to meet increased demand after Canterbury's earthquakes. The Need Help Now Fund is part of a special 25 million dollar earthquake allocation set up (last year) by the Canterbury Community Trust. The Mana Party leader Hone Harawira is prepared to lose senior party figures such as founding member Sue Bradford over a proposed link with Kim Dotcom's Internet Party. And what about Gareth Morgan's idea of a Universal basic income? John Minto is proposing a universal basic income paid to every New Zealander, out of government tax revenue.
Labour Party leader Phill Goff has been in Christchurch all day.
Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ali Jones & Shane Te Pou to discuss: President Biden pardoning his son Hunter, and Avian Flu outbreak in Otago and news from the Labour party conference. Ali Jones is a communication adviser / writer/Broadcaster/ Christchurch earthquake claims preparer. Shane Te Pou is a former labour party activist and CEO of Mega
Labour Party leader Phil Goff is outside the Pyne Gould building - where people are trapped inside.
A selection of the week's news including a former New Zealand cricketer demanding answers over how his name has been linked an investigation into match-fixing, the Act Party leader announces he is quitting as party leader and will leave parliament next year, the biggest drug haul in New Zealand history, the Auditor General apologises to Mangawhai locals for Audit New Zealand's failure to identify a 60 million-plus waste-water debacle, the Labour Party says its victory in the Christchurch East by-election is an indictment of the Government's response to the earthquakes, we hear from the author of a book about the building blocks of our words and literature and the national champion who will proudly represent New Zealand at an international competition in Perth.
Meanwhile, the Government has made concessions on its Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority legislation after complaints from the Labour Party.
The Labour party candidates in two of the closest-run election seats, Christchurch Central, and Waimakariri are refusing to accept defeat.
Parliament was adjourned as news of the earthquake came through. Party leaders made statements to the House as the seriousness of the situation became clear.
In the wake of last week's devastating earthquake in Christchurch, political parties put aside partisan differences as they offered support to the city.
The Labour Party wrapped up its Canterbury Recovery Package in Christchurch today, announcing it would appoint qualified locals to govern the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
The Prime Minister says the Labour Party is threatening to write cheques the country can't afford with its Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Package.
The Labour Party has accused the Government of sitting on money set aside to provide skills training needed for the Canterbury earthquake rebuild.
The fight to become the next mayor of Christchurch stepped up today with Labour Party's earthquake spokesperson, Lianne Dalziel, announcing she wants the job.
The Labour Party says its crushing victory in the Christchurch East by-election is an indictment of the National Government's poor response to the earthquakes.
Christchurch people who have had to battle insurance companies over the repair or rebuild of earthquake damaged homes are welcoming the Labour party's idea of an earthquake court to settle disputes.
Politicians have praised the courage and resilience shown by Canterbury residents following Saturday's earthquake. MPs from all the parties in Parliament had an opportunity to address the House this afternoon.
On the eve of the memorial service for the Christchurch earthquake, the Labour party is laying into the Government's handling of the city's ditching as a Rugby World Cup venue.
The former Christchurch East Labour Party MP, Lianne Dalziel, is now the Mayor of Christchurch and, as such, is set to work much more closely with her former political foe, Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee.
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.
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.
Labour MPs say it's important party sticks to strategy, Man shot dead by police near Napier, Thousands attend Westminister Christchurch memorial, Twickenham packed for Crusaders vs Sharks match, Doubt in Christchurch new earthquake agency worthwhile, and Canterbury aged care firms want certainty; families want beds.
Plumbers say EQC paying bills too slowly, Earthquake Commission defends its claim process, Events centre, not stimulus package, for West Coast, Harawira calls meeting to consider forming new party, Government, Auckland council split over development, Search work in Christchurch central city nears completion, Power in South Christchurch threatened by cut cable.
Legal aid changes incense legal fraternity, No eftpos available at Rugby World Cup, Japan says radiation declining but crisis matches Chernobyl, Government budgets $8.5 billion to rebuild Christchurch, Unanimous support over earthquake powers breaks down, and Maori Party MP says using police in oil protest extreme.
A new report says the financial cost of a major earthquake in Wellington would be much bigger than the Canterbury quakes. Opposition parties attack the asset sales plan after Bill English's "it's just a guess" comment and cuts to jobs, services, and profits, hard times at Qantas.
Angry reaction to Government energy strategy, Tizard questions Goff's ability to win election, Auckland agencies criticised for secrecy, Christchurch residents worried as winter approaches, Foreign language students scared off by earthquakes, Christchurch's tourism flickers to life but limited by quake, and Harawira aims for April 30th launch of new party.