Tough post-quake economy behind Christchurch business closures

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some central Christchurch businesses are having to close their doors, blaming a tough economic climate. Retail spending in the central city is only 80 percent of what it was before the devastating 2011 earthquakes, while the number of people living in the area has shrunk by a third.

Christchurch plan to curb homelessness 'crap'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council's plans to to help curb a rising homeless population has left some people who live rough worried. The council is considering funding the Christchurch City Mission to employ outreach workers for the first time since the Canterbury earthquakes, and police are increasing central city patrols. Christchurch reporter Logan Church has the story.

Picton-Christchurch Coastal Pacific train to roll again

Audio, Radio New Zealand

KiwiRail's Coastal Pacific scenic journey will roll again between Picton and Christchurch from December 1, two years after the service was put on hold because of the devastating Kaikoura earthquake. KiwiRail's sales manager Alan Piper tells Susie Ferguson the details.

Hundreds spend a cold night after power cut

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With many in Christchurch still living in earthquake damaged houses, the cold snap has prompted a call for temporary emergency shelters. Daphne Lewis-Mannix lives in a quake-damaged home in New Brighton. Her power was out last night, and she's been shivering overnight, already sick with a cold before the storm hit.

EQC tells Chch homeowners focus is on mergency repairs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With Christchurch having its first real taste of winter , the Earthquake Commission is telling Christchurch residents that its focus is on emergency repairs.

Coroner says still months to identify last quake victims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two months on from the Christchurch earthquake, the remains of nine people are still to be formally identified.

Retail therapy another strand to Christchurch's recovery

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Shopping or retail therapy is helping some Christchurch residents return to normality after the February earthquake.

Canterbury Crusaders victory a win over adversity

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Despite being homeless following the February earthquake, the Canterbury Crusaders have made it through to the finals of the Super Rugby tournament.

Govt may face higher costs to strengthen infrastructure

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government seems likely to face higher costs as it looks to strengthen the country's infrastructure in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Top Stories for Tuesday 5 July 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More pressure on interested bidders in the Pike River mine to recover the bodies, from both the government and unions. The government's new plan to strengthen infrastructure after the Canterbury earthquakes, it's already criticised for not going far enough and the AA again attacks petrol companies for not cutting prices, despite falling oil prices.

Lianne Dalziel wouldn't be leaving if not for quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In her valedictory speech to Parliament, the Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel said she would not be leaving Parliament if not for the Canterbury earthquakes.

Brighter Future: Govt's Chch earthquake decisions

Audio, Radio New Zealand

'Is this the Brighter Future?': Rachel Graham looks at how the Government's decisions have impacted the lives of people in Christchurch.

Brownlee's list of post-quake achievements received poorly

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch residents are pouring cold water on the Earthquake Recovery Minister's efforts to celebrate post-quake recovery in the city.

Christchurch Community group cries foul over OIA fee

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission has been labelled obstructive after it demanded 24 thousand dollars to provide documents under an Official Information Act request.

Christchurch earthquakes unveil window into past

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury earthquakes succeeded in all but destroying modern-day Christchurch, but from the rubble has emerged a surprising bonus - an insight into the city's history.

Christchurch property developers under pressure

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two years ago today a seven-point-one magnitude earthquake shook Canterbury.

Two years after first quake, many still finding their feet

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It all started two years ago today at 4:36 in the morning, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Canterbury.

Roger Sutton discusses Christchurch's recovery

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In the wake of the February disaster, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was set up to coordinate the overall recovery.

Jane Bowron talks life in Christchurch's red zone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Jane Bowron is a newspaper columnist who lived in the red zone at the time of the earthquake.

Anger at Earthquake Authority's communications budget

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Community leaders in Christchurch are angry to learn the Earthquake Recovery Authority spent more than three-and-a-half million dollars on communications in the past financial year.

Roger Sutton says CERA's PR spend is worth it

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has spent more than three-and-a-half million dollars on communications in the past year. The Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive is Roger Sutton.

Christchurch MPs want inquiry into possible CTV fraud

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission says it will not re-open its inquiry into the CTV building collapse, despite fresh allegations against the building's construction manager.

Lawyer hopes inquest will highlight problems with rescues

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A lawyer for the husband of a woman who died in the Christchurch earthquake says a coming inquest will show rifts within the Fire Service did hamper rescue efforts.

Top Stories for Friday 19 October 2012

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Maori Council confirms it will go to court to try and stop the partial sales of power companies. Advocates for sexual assault victims say the police have been too slow to improve the way they deal with complaints and concern that management problems at the Fire Service hampered rescue efforts after Canterbury's deadly earthquake.

Protest march against Christchurch school changes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A rowdy protest was held in Christchurch yesterday over the Government's plan to revamp education in the earthquake-hit city.

Councils told to focus on quake prone buildings

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Insurance Council is mounting a legal challenge against the Christchurch City Council over its rules regarding earthquake-prone buildings.

Town close to first quake epicentre getting back to normal

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It was just a little under an hour and a half ago, two years today, that a seven-point-one magnitude earthquake shook Canterbury.

Former Christchurch residents have new lives in new cities

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Ready or not for an earthquake, many former Christchurch residents have left canterbury for what they describe as more stable pastures.

Christchurch schools two years on from the Sept 4 quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Schools are an important part of any community, and two years on from the start of the earthquakes in Canterbury many are still coping with damage to classrooms, and with dramatically reduced rolls.

Economics ensures a high level of Chch rubble recycling

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A year and a half after the February Earthquake, economics has ensured much of the waste material coming out of Christchurch's central city has been recycled.