Questions to Ministers 1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with 57 percent of New Zealanders who, according to a recent UMR poll, support the introduction of a temporary earthquake levy to pay for the rebuilding of Christchurch? 2. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: What, according to the 2010 Investment Statement of the Government of New Zealand, was the average total shareholder return over the last five years from State-owned Enterprises and the average bond rate, and is that consistent with his statement that "it is the Government's intention to use the proceeds of those initial public offerings to actually invest in other assets that the Government would have to fund through the Government bond rate"? 3. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister for Infrastructure: What progress has the Government made on its infrastructure programme? 4. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement "this Government is not prepared to turn its back on our most vulnerable citizens when they most need our help"? 5. Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN to the Acting Minister of Energy and Resources: Is it government policy for New Zealand to become a "highly attractive global destination" for oil exploration, with expansion of the oil and coal sectors leading to a "step change" in the country's economic growth as set out in the document Developing Our Energy Potential; if not, why not? 6. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is the Government considering extending the business assistance package for employers and employees beyond the 14-week period currently signalled; if not, why not? 7. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Police: What reports has she received on the latest trends in the level of crime in New Zealand? 8. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Did he tell a meeting in Timaru last week "The entire time I've been Prime Minister I've had Treasury in my office week after week, month after month, telling me South Canterbury Finance was going bankrupt"? 9. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister for the Environment: What advice has he received on major resource consents being considered under the Government's new national consenting policy? 10. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Acting Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she agree that the joint scheme initiated by the Green Party and the Government, Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, is the best initiative in the Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy because it is providing hundreds of thousands of New Zealand households with warm, dry, energy efficient homes, and creating thousands of clean green jobs? 11. Hon SHANE JONES to the Minister of Fisheries: Does he still have no major concerns about the way foreign boats were used by New Zealand companies as the Nelson Mail reports he said last year? 12. TIM MACINDOE to the Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made regarding the Government's Housing Innovation Fund?
Intricate and imaginative are the knits which are pearled and planed away in an exhibition at the Dowse in Lower Hutt. Artist and Christchurch earthquake refugee Jacquelyn Greenbank talks to Lynn about her wonderful and whimsical contribution from her new home in Tauranga.
The Coroner will today hear more evidence about the more than 60 language students who perished in the Canterbury Television building when it collapsed in February's earthquake.
The inquest into many of the deaths in the Christchurch earthquake will today hear evidence about the more than 60 language students who perished in the Canterbury Television building.
Political Editor Brent Edwards reports live from parliament on the implications of the rising costs of the Christchurch earthquake for the EQC and the Government's finances.
The Earthquake Commission has increased its liability for the Canterbury earthquakes by 4 billion dollars to 7.1 billion dollars.
The impact of the Canterbury Earthquake on insurance and the EQC's finances.
The Canterbury earthquakes will wipe out all the funds held in reserve to cover claims to the Earthquake Commission.
The Earthquake Commission has more than doubled its estimate of costs from the Canterbury earthquakes, to 7-point-1 billion dollars.
A Christchurch support group says home owners will be alarmed at the blowout in earthquake repair costs.
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.
There were angry scenes at a Christchurch meeting last night as residents tried to stop a dump for earthquake debris being built in their suburb.
The number of speed camera tickets being issued skyrockets, police say it's about road safety, the AA's not so sure. Crisis talks in Europe over the Greek debt crisis... and its impact on the Eurozone and there were angry scenes at a Christchurch meeting last night as residents tried to stop a dump for earthquake debris being built in their suburb.
Are men with lower voices more attractive to the opposite sex; The Canterbury Earthquake insurance deadlock; Speed Camera tickets have doubled over the last year.
The Prime Minister says the Labour Party is threatening to write cheques the country can't afford with its Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Package.
Disgruntled Christchurch red-zoners who want the government to rethink its policy on quake-damaged homes are backing Labour's Earthquake Recovery Package.
The Christchurch-based insurer, AMI, says it won't be until June next year before it knows the final cost of earthquake claims, though the company's confident it won't need to draw on the government's backstop support package.
Christchurch resident Nigel Rushton recently cycled through Japan and spent a week helping with the clean-up of another earthquake ravaged region.
An international study looking at the Canterbury earthquakes is attracting loud criticism from New Zealand scientists.
Heritage supporters are hoping that serious earthquake damage wrought upon Christchurch cemeteries will be repaired- but the issue of who funds that work remains unresolved.
Concern about the demolition process of heritage buildings in Christchurch. With Anna Crighton - Chairperson of the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund Trust, which raises money, matched by the government, to save quake-damaged heritage buildings.
The families of some Christchurch earthquake victims are angry disappointed the Government is refusing to pay for lawyers for them at the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
Labour says an independent panel set up to oversee the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is being paid too much.
Thirty to fourty jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store, Ballantynes, because of earthquake damage to it's central city shop.
A researcher of the Israeli spy agency MOSSAD says the suspicious activity of four Israeli students during the Christchurch earthquake bears all the hallmarks of a classic intelligence operation.
The first of Christchurch's high-rise buildings to close after the February earthquake has reopened. All the tenants of the12-storey HSBC Tower are now back in the building which has been extensively checked by engineering experts.
The prime minister, John Key, has faced further questions about allegations of an Israeli spy ring operating in Christchurch at the time of the February earthquake.
Canterbury was shaken by a 5.1 earthquake just after 5.30 this morning.
Arts Voice Chrischurch is planning to create a 'river of arts' as part of Christchurch's post-earthquake rebuild.
The annual arrival of the godwits in Christchurch has been marked, despite the city's cathedral being out of action following February's earthquake.