Earthquake Authority gets wide powers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A stand-alone government department will be vested with the wide ranging powers the Government gave itself after last year's quake, to oversee recovery efforts in Canterbury.

Auckland Council votes two to one to fund extra RWC games

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Auckland ratepayers are to pay up to almost three million dollars to host three extra rugby world cup games relocated from earthquake damaged Christchurch.

New audio of Christchurch quake at the moment it hit

Audio, Radio New Zealand

When the destructive February earthquake hit Christchurch, one of our reporters, Bridget Mills, was recording an interview at the very moment the earth started shaking.

Demand for temporary homes expected to be high in Chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Demand for temporary accommodation in Christchurch for earthquake evacuees is expected to be intense once the rebuild work kicks into action in coming months - despite a slow start.

Report: steps taken to strengthen buildings with stairwells

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first report into the damage done to three large buildings in the Christchurch earthquake is recommending urgent steps be taken around the country to strengthen buildings with stairwells.

Fracking could be coming to the outskirts of Chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A controversial oil and gas drilling technique that some say is capable of causing small earthquakes, could soon be in use on the outskirts of Christchurch.

Royal Commission hearings start in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Royal Commission hearings into the Canterbury earthquakes started in Christchurch today, with a indication that questions will be raised about whether some of those trapped in collapsed buildings could have survived.

Family of CTV victim questions rebuilding in CBD

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A woman of a relative who died in the CTV building in the February earthquake says more needs to be done to identify unknown faultlines before rebuilding work can start in Christchurch.

Potential asbestos forces CERA to check paperwork

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is now double checking all of its paperwork following fears earthquake rubble dumped in a Christchurch land fill could have been contaminated by asbestos.

No insulation for earthquake-damaged homes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The company hired by the Government to carry out earthquake repairs in Canterbury is refusing to install insulation at the same time as it replaces old cladding on houses.

Inquest looks at PGC building collapse in February's quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first details surrounding the deaths of 18 people in the PGC building collapse in February's earthquake have been revealed at an inquest in Christchurch.

Christchurch's Orange Zone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People living in Christchurch's orange zone will have to wait longer than expected for a decision on whether they can remain in their homes, after the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority missed one of its deadlines.

Students return to Shirley Boys High School

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Students at Christchurch's Shirley Boys High School were upbeat about their return today to their old school, for the first time since the February earthquake.

Christchurch unveils $2 billion central city rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch has unveiled an ambitious $2 billion plan to re-create the central city as a green, people friendly, low rise zone, inside a garden. Almost six months on from the destructive February earthquake most of the centre still sits cordoned off, and half the buildings need to come down.

Authority has power to stop land prices sky-rocketing

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says it could step into the property market to stop land prices sky-rocketing but is confident it won't have to.

A third lawyer to help families at quake Royal Commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After an appeal from the families of Christchurch earthquake victims, a third lawyer is being appointed to the Royal Commission, to work specifically with them.

Christchurch has been hit by a swarm of earthquakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first one struck just before 2 this afternoon and measured 5 point 8 on the Richter scale, and was eight kilometres deep.

Some Christchurch earthquake victims are angry

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store Ballantynes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Thirty to fourty jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store, Ballantynes, because of earthquake damage to it's central city shop.

Tenants return to HSBC

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Canterbury DHB facing over $70-Million in repairs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury District Health Board is facing a bill in excess of $70-million to repair earthquake damage to more than seven and a half thousand rooms in two of its hospitals.

Way of setting excesses for commercial properties changes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Commercial property owners are facing not just higher insurance premiums following the Christchurch earthquakes, but also the prospect of much higher excesses.

The PM rules out Israeli spy action in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

This morning the Prime Minister was refusing to confirm or deny whether a group of Israelis in Christchurch at the time of the February earthquake were spies - saying it was not in the national interest for him to do so.

Canterbury schools to lose teachers because rolls have fallen

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch schools will lose the equivalent of 167 teaching jobs next year as the government removes support for schools that lost pupils after February's earthquake.

Christchurch's central city bus tour come with stark warning

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Public bus tours of Christchurch's red zone will start off with a warning that the passengers could be trapped by an earthquake and may not make it out alive.

A new inquiry into the quake rescue operation in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Relatives of the victims of February's earthquake in Christchurch are backing a new police inquiry into how people were rescued in the aftermath of the disaster.

Quake hearing told 300 more would have died

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An additional 300 people could have died in the February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch, if it wasn't for the earlier quake in September.

Officials put barriers in way of strengthening building - owner

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch businessman has told the Earthquake Royal Commission the city council was a nightmare to deal with when he was trying to strengthen his building before the September quake.

Green Party proposes nationwide earthquake levy

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Christchurch City Council questioned over russian roulette

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council has been questioned over whether it was playing russian roulette with its citizens with its rules on earthquake prone buildings.