Earthquake engineers working on the rebuild of Christchurch have been told they are in the most painful part, two years on.
The Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett, says there are thousands of unemployed people in Christchurch who could help rebuild the city.
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.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker (right) talks to media about architectural plans for Christchurch's rebuild following the September 4th earthquake. From left, architects Richard Dalman and Ian Athfield with Mayor Bob Parker".
The aftermath of three earthquakes has forced Christchurch to re-plan and rebuild. New perspectives of a sustainable city have arisen granting Christchurch the chance of becoming an example to the world. This work is centred on bioclimatic landscape design as a base for greening strategies. It deals with strategic landscape design adapted to a specific climate, from a user’s perspective. The investigation will be applied to Christchurch’s urban centres, assessing cultural adaptability to the local climate and implications for landscape design. Climatic data shows that humidity is not a local problem. However, the wind is the determinant. In Christchurch the solar radiation and the prevailing winds are the most important microclimatic variables, the latter intensifying the loss of surface heat, decreasing the radiant temperature and affecting thermal sensation. The research objective is to explore design parameters at the street-scale and identify ways to maximise thermal comfort in outdoor spaces through design-based strategies. The investigation will apply methods of participant observation, depth interviews, climatic data collection and design experimentation based on thermal comfort models and computer simulation tools. Case study sites chosen for investigation are places with current levels of activity that may be anticipated in the rebuild of the central city. The research will have two main outcomes: improved understanding of local urban culture adaptation to microclimate, and a demonstration of how design can enhance adaption. These outcomes will inform designers and city managers about good design practices and strategies that can be used to ensure a long term liveable city.
Christchurch CBD earthquake rebuild lit in the last fading golden glow of the day - taken with 70-200 F4 IS from Mt Pleasant. I count at least three big cranes!
Cantabrians are still surrounded broken buildings and empty spaces on the 10th anniversary of the devastating 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The disaster forced 70 percent of the CBD to be demolished. The Government launched an ambitious recovery plan to help it recover in 2012. The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, dubbed the "blueprint" would dictate the rebuild of the central city. To support it, the Government would complete a series of "anchor projects", to encourage investment in the city and make it a more attractive place to live in. As Anan Zaki reports, the anchor projects appeared to weigh down the progress of the rebuild.
This report is the output of a longitudinal study that was established between the University of Auckland and Resilient Organisations, in conjunction with the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), to evaluate the ongoing resource availability and capacity for post-earthquake reconstruction in Christchurch.
More on allegations from the Earthquake Commission that some contractors have been filing false invoices for work done on the Christchurch rebuild.
The Japanese earthquake may have an impact on plans by the government to borrow more to meet the earthquake rebuilding in Christchurch.
About 700 people packed Christchurch's Cardboard Cathedral last night to hear from a panel of experts on why, four years after the big earthquake, they're still waiting for their homes to be rebuilt.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Gunyah homestead was badly damaged during the September 4th 2010 earthquake, but the Cotterill family are picking up the pieces and rebuilding".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Gunyah homestead was badly damaged during the September 4th 2010 earthquake, but the Cotterill family are picking up the pieces and rebuilding".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Gunyah homestead was badly damaged during the September 4th 2010 earthquake, but the Cotterill family are picking up the pieces and rebuilding".
A video of the removal of the earthquake-damaged Medway Street bridge from the banks of the Avon River. The video shows members of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team removing the bridge and preparing it for transport to the Ferrymead Heritage Park. It will remain at the park until a permanent home can be found for it as an earthquake memorial.
A video of an interview with Lianne Dalziel about her decision to run for the mayoralty of Christchurch. Dalziel talks about resigning as a member of parliament, creating a sounding board for community, businesses, and the political spectrum at the Christchurch City Council, and the importance of uniting the Council.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Gunyah homestead was badly damaged during the September 4th 2010 earthquake, but the Cotterill family are picking up the pieces and rebuilding".
"Extraordinary powers for extraordinary times."The Government says that's what it's giving to the new Christchurch earthquake authority it's set up to lead the rebuild.
A video of an address by Scott Noyes, Energy Management Specialist for Schneider Electric NZ, at the 2014 Seismics and the City forum. This talk was part of the Building Connectivity section, and focused on collaborative and innovative initiatives relevant to the rebuild of Greater Christchurch.
Christchurch and its surrounding towns are slowly starting to be rebuilt after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Our political editor Brent Edwards has been in Christchurch to find out whether the rebuild debate will dominate the election campaign in the city.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is denying accusations he's about to engineer a central government takeover of the rebuild of central city Christchurch.
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The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
The CBD is slowly being opened up and this is the post - earthquake result of Cashel Mall. A vibrant, fresh look with high end shopping in colourful container shops. A really good step forward for the city.
Earthquake bus survivor, Mike Ardagh - Christchurch Hospital, Reporter Erina O'Donohue live from Christchurch, Where to obtain water, Murray McCully thanks international community, Cowles Stadium welfare centre closed, Man escapes from 12th floor of Forsyth Barr building, Aussie medics set up field hospital, Schools need significant rebuilding and Fourteen supermarkets closed in Christchurch.
A decision on the future of Christchurch's red zoned land could be made within a year. That's the hope of the man at the helm of Regenerate Christchurch, one of two organisations charged with taking over the city's rebuild from the Earthquake Recovery Authority, which shuts its doors in just three days.