Scandinavian inspiration aids Christchurch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council is looking to Scandinavia for help with the earthquake re-build. Two Danish based urban design experts are working with the Council over the next four weeks to develop a draft plan for rebuilding the central city.

Chch churches face tough decisions over rebuilding

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As part of the future of Christchurch it is expected a third of all Catholic and almost half of all Presbyterian churches damaged in Christchurch's February earthquake might not be rebuilt.

Coroner's inquest hears details of victims final moments

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Harrowing details of the final moments of some of those who died in February's devastating earthquake have been spelled out at a coroner's inquest in Christchurch.

Quake inquest lifts load despite harrowing stories

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Inquest for next five quake victims to be held today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An inquest into another five victims of February's earthquake begins today in Christchurch.

Filipino caregivers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Filipino caregivers, after working long hours in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, are now being denied work permits.

Quake victim families want answers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The families of some of those killed by falling rubble in February's Christchurch earthquake are desperate to know why buildings that had been deemed safe collapsed.

Family of quake victim question safety of building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The family of a young man who died while protecting his sister during February's earthquake in Christchurch says the building they were in wasn't safe.

Christchurch's Court Theatre finds new temporary home

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch's Court Theatre devastated by February's earthquake has found a temporary new home - an old grain store in the suburb of Addington.

CTV building to be focus of next Inquests

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The remaining victims of the Christchurch's CTV building will be the focus of a Coroner's inquest next month, as families of those killed in the February earthquake continue to question the safety of buildings in the inner city.

Building collapse injures Christchurch firefighters

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The partial collapse of a Christchurch building in an overnight blaze has sent three firefighters to hospital, and raised a possible link to the February earthquake.

Southern Story for 19 May 2011 - Free meals in Lyttelton

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Elderly residents in Lyttelton have been enjoying free meals while their supermarket is closed and their town is being rebuilt. After February's earthquake, locals found that many of the community's older members felt isolated and had no means of buying groceries for themselves. Christchurch correspondent Katy Gosset finds that Lyttelton is a town that looks after its own.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 19 May 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Full coverage of the budget and the cuts to kiwisaver, working for families and student loans. Plans to raise between 5 and 7 billion dollars from partial asset sales and a new Earthquake Kiwi Bond to raise money for Christchurch.

Man who broke neck in quake walks in front door

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Ken Hird is back home today for the first time since breaking his neck during an earthquake aftershock in Christchurch.

Deadline looms for Christchurch quake claims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People have until midnight tonight to lodge a claim with the Earthquake Commission for property damaged in the February Christchurch earthquake.

Evening Business for 23 May 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Kathmandu has announced plans to build its new national distribution centre in the Christchurch suburb of Woolston, in a vote of confidence for the earthquake-damaged city.

Residents frustrated waiting for EQC claims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People in Canterbury with homes damaged by the February 22nd earthquake have less than six hours left to lodge a claim with the Earthquake Commission.

Immigrants sign up for citizenship in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two shattering earthquakes and a few thousand aftershocks haven't put off a hundred immigrants becoming New Zealand citizens in Christchurch.

Casino workers back on job after quake hiatus

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Casino opens again tonight for the first time since February's earthquake left about 500 people out of work.

Earthquake commission on delays

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission says 95 percent of the invoices it gets from contractors repairing houses in Christchurch are paid out within two to three weeks.

Broken China

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A scheme called Crack'd for Christchurch wants to make a beautiful memorial out of the fine china broken in the earthquake. Jenny Cooper is one of a group of people who plan to create an inner-city mosaic that is an art work in its own right, but also acts as a memorial to old Christchurch.

Insurance premiums set to rise by up to a third

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

An all-Christchurch Chapter and Verse

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury novelist Joanna Orwin has a new, futurist story of a New Zealand changed by cataclysmic volcanoes and tsunami, Sacrifice. And we hear about some of the stories in a post-earthquake Christchurch anthology, Tales for Canterbury.

First pictures of fresh quake damage to Chch CBD

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first media pictures have been taken of the most recent damage to Christchurch's central city in Monday's earthquake.

Bishop Victoria Matthews - Hope and Thanksgiving

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After more major earthquakes in Christchurch this week, Bishop Victoria Matthews fears her clergy, and the people, are facing 'exaustion of the spirit'. She says it's important to keep alive hope, and thanksgiving for all that we still have - even in the face of loss and crisis.

Gerry Brownlee says 12,000 Christchurch homes could go

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The number of homes likely to be demolished in Christchurch because of earthquake damage could be as many as twelve thousand.

Labour MPs demand details of land to be abandoned

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Labour MPs in Christchurch are calling on the Government to tell people now if their earthquake damaged land has to be abandoned.

Labour MPs pressure government to release land details

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Labour's four MPs in Christchurch are stepping up the pressure on the Government to front up quickly about what earthquake damaged land has to be abandoned.

Wait finally over for some Christchurch people

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The wait will finally be over for some Christchurch households when they find out whether their earthquake-damaged properties will be abandoned.

Christchurch residents to learn today if they stay or go

Audio, Radio New Zealand

This afternoon the Government will announce its initial package to deal with land badly damaged by earthquakes in Christchurch, including offering a pay out to households who want to take the cash.