MBIE survey of quake repairs criticised

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury homeowners are questioning the validity of a survey which was supposed to independently test the quality of earthquake repairs.

Repairs to quake-damaged homes start today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first permanent repairs to Canterbury homes damaged in September's earthquake will start today.

Chch homeowners waiting for repairs 7 years after quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's been more than seven years since the fatal 6.3 earthquake broke thousands of Christchurch homes, and yet many homeowners are still waiting for repairs, re-repairs, or to settle with EQC.

Repairs on the homes of vulnerable people took too long

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An audit of the Earthquake Commission's quake repairs in Christchurch has found many dissatisfied home owners and others being left in the dark.

Call for Royal Commission into shoddy quake repairs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Frustrated Christchurch home-owners have delivered a 3000 strong petition to the government, calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into shoddy earthquake repairs.

Council staff given hurry up over quake repairs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch City Council staff have been given the hurry up from councillors over the length of time it is taking to repair or replace earthquake-damaged council housing.

Canterbury cemeteries damaged in quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Christchurch residents fear there's a risk to the region's history if headstones damaged by September's 7.1 magnitude earthquake are not repaired.

Requests pour in for EQC to review repairs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission could have a big job on its hands fixing quake damaged Christchurch homes for a second time.

Engineer denies bar's quake repairs rushed for New Year's Eve

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A structural engineer has denied he rushed the inspection of earthquake repairs to a Christchurch bar so it could re-open in time for New Years Eve.

Repairs underway for quake-damaged statue of Antarctica's Scott

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The statue of the Antarctic explorer, Robert Falcon Scott, that toppled from its plinth and snapped at its ankles in the Christchurch earthquake is being repaired. all going well it will be reinstated later this year, just in time for the Antarctic summer.

'Needle not moving' as botched EQC re-repairs still coming in - Megan Woods

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some 10 years on from the devastating Canterbury quakes, the wait is still not over when it comes to law changes needed to improve the Earthquake Commission. The government will not get it done until 2021, if it's re-elected. Meanwhile cases of botched quake repairs needing a fix are still flooding into EQC, Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods told Checkpoint.

Christchurch homeowners upset at latest quake report

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Christchurch residents are angry they will have to wait almost three years before their severely earthquake damaged homes can be repaired.

Who will pay bill for new Christchurch quake repairs?

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More than 600 Christchurch home-owners face a wait of up to 18 months before its decided who foots the bill for earthquake repairs that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The problem - first revealed on Checkpoint in March - is that owners bought homes thinking all quake damage had been identified and fixed - only to find more problems that weren't addressed. The people affected cannot claim on their insurance - because the damage pre-dates them buying the house - and any grant from the Earthquake Commission is capped. EQC has publicly apologised to those affected but the Minster, Megan Woods, says it's unclear who will pay for the needed repairs.

Bill for quake damaged roads millions of dollars

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Transport Agency says initial repairs to State Highways damaged in the Canterbury earthquake could cost up to six million dollars.

Protest outside Chch Vero offices over quake repair delays

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A protest is underway outside insurance company Vero's Christchurch's office, with building owners dismayed to be still fighting for earthquake repairs 10 years on.  The protest was organised by the owners of an 11 unit apartment block in New Brighton, who says Vero is purposefully delaying progress to wear them down.  RNZ's reporter Rachel Graham is at the protest and spoke to Meriana Johnsen   

Owners of quake damaged heritage buildings in Chch briefed

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council says it needs Government money to help repair its earthquake damaged heritage and character buildings.

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.

Quake victims welcome idea of earthquake court

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Long wait for quake repairs for some Canterbury homeowners

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury earthquake victims with the most damaged homes could have to wait more than two and half years for their houses to be fixed - but one owner says her problems are nothing compared to the misery of the Pike River mine disaster.

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.

The Christchurch Arts Centre after the quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

While it's going to take several years and millions of dollars to repair earthquake damage, the Christchurch Arts Centre can count its lucky stars and look ahead to making the historic building better and stronger.

Plumbers say EQC paying bills too slowly

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Plumbers industry body says some plumbers helping Christchurch quake victims are struggling to stay afloat, because the Earthquake Commission is not paying out fast enough for emergency repairs.

1,600 Canterbury homeowners with EQC quake claims open

Audio, Radio New Zealand

There are 1,600 Canterbury homeowners with earthquake claims still open with EQC. About 100 homeowners turned up to a meeting organised by EQC Fix in Christchurch on Monday night - all with stories of home repair hell, botched repairs, or seemingly never-ending arguments with EQC, Southern Response, or their private insurer. They were all tired and wondering why they still had to fight more than nine years on from the first Canterbury Earthquake. Checkpoint video journalist Logan Church travelled to Christchurch to speak to those still fighting for what they believe they are entitled too.  

EQC defends handling of asbestos in quake rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A project manager for a company doing home repairs in the Christchurch earthquake rebuild says it is highly likely as many as 60-thousand people have been exposed to potentially lethal asbestos fibres.

Quake hit building owners given three month deadline to repair

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Property Council says an ultimatum from the Christchurch City Council to owners of earthquake damaged commercial buildings will add to the stress business people are already under.

Quake victims say pending rates rise will cripple them

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Shell shocked residents still picking up the pieces in one of the worst earthquake affected parts of Canterbury, say a looming rates rise to pay for repairs will cripple them.

Christchurch homeowners blindsided by quake insurer - lawyer

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People who've bought houses in Canterbury since the September 2010 earthquake and are still battling with insurance companies over repairs, have been told that if they want to take the matter to court, today is their last chance. Earthquake claims specialist Lisa Taylor from the law firm Anthony Harper joins us.

Seddon post-quake rebuild a different story to Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Residents in the Marlborough town of Seddon say they are relieved their post-quake rebuild hasn't been hit by the same delays as Canterbury. Eight months on from the Cook Strait earthquakes, repairs and remedial works are continuing apace in Marlborough.

Seven years on from quake, Christchurch still rebuilding

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's seven years today since Christchurch was rocked by the magnitude 6.3 earthquake. It killed 185 people, injured thousands more and led to whole suburbs and most of the central city being demolished. Seven years on, the rebuild is still underway and some residents are still struggling to get the repairs they want.

Christchurch contractors face financial pressure from EQC

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.