People in Sumner are demanding answers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People in Sumner with earthquake-damaged homes are demanding answers from the Christchurch City Council about the future of their properties.

EQC deploys rapid assessment teams in Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Rapid assessment teams are being sent out across quake hit Canterbury with the Earthquake Commission promising that up to 180-thousand homes will be inspected within the next eight weeks.

HB farmers donate over 350 stock to raise $40K for chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Sheep and cattle farmers in Hawke's bay have rallied round to help raise over 40 thousand dollars for the Christchurch Earthquake Fund.

Preparation work paid off - ex Civil Defence controller

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A former Civil Defence controller for Canterbury says years of planning to reduce the impact of a major earthquake in Christchurch has proven its worth.

Jobs lost as Chch yarn plant closes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Almost 200 workers in Christchurch have lost their jobs with the closure of the Canterbury Spinners Plant - which the owners say was so badly damaged in last month's earthquake that it is beyond repair.

Law Society warns of backlog of cases in Chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Law Society is warning disruption to services following last month's earthquake in Christchurch is likely to lead to a massive bottleneck of court cases.

Firsthand quake experience for US PhD student

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A PhD student from the United States who moved to Canterbury to study earthquakes says his firsthand experience in Christchurch has been extremely useful.

New Zealander survives 3 big quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A New Zealander who was in Christchurch for both the September and February earthquakes, has spoken about experiencing her third major quake - this time in Japan.

Finance Minister says govt will borrow to cover quake costs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Finance Minister says the Government will cover the ten billion dollar cost of the Christchurch earthquake by borrowing more rather than cutting spending or putting up taxes.

Labour tries to make political hay out of World Cup loss

Audio, Radio New Zealand

On the eve of the memorial service for the Christchurch earthquake, the Labour party is laying into the Government's handling of the city's ditching as a Rugby World Cup venue.

Christchurch girls' school surprises Polyfest organisers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch kapa haka group took to the stage in Auckland today, surprising organisers who didn't expect they'd be able to perform after last month's earthquake.

Scientist explains 'trampoline effect' in Chch quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Scientists studying last month's earthquake in Christchurch say the shaking was exacerbated by a slapdown or trampoline effect that made the land under the city bounce up and down.

Business owners angry over Christchurch CBD access

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More than a houndred people with businesses in Christchurch's CBD have stormed a cordon into the Red Zone, in frustration at still not being allowed access to their buildings - one month on from the earthquake.

Former military man tipped to head recovery effort

Audio, Radio New Zealand

News that a former military man, Major General Martyn Dunne, is expected to head the first stage of earthquake recovery in Christchurch has reignited debate about how that recovery should be managed.

New earthquake authority announced

Audio, Radio New Zealand

"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.

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.

Jetstar cutting services partly due to ChCh quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The budget airline Jetstar is cutting back on some of its flights out of Christchurch partly because of the earthquake.

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.

Greens oppose quake authority Bill as too far-reaching

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament is debating under urgency the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill, but the Greens plan to vote against the first reading.

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.

Long wait for quake repairs for some Canterbury homeowners

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury earthquake victims with the most damaged homes could have to wait more than two and half years for their houses to be fixed - but one owner says her problems are nothing compared to the misery of the Pike River mine disaster.

Long wait ahead for owners of Canterbury's damaged sections

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The owners of more than three-thousand properties damaged by the Canterbury earthquake have been told the repair job could take nearly three years.

Last-minute claims flood into Earthquake Commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Last-minute claims for property damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake are flooding into the Earthquake Commission as the deadline looms. Homeowners have responded to an eleventh-hour hurry up, and the number of claims being lodged daily has almost quadrupled.

Evening Business News for 7 December 2010

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Australian-owned, ANZ Bank, is betting small and medium sized firms will drive earnings next year, bolstered by the Rugby World Cup and rebuilding of the earthquake-hit Canterbury region.

Report paints bleak picture for impact of earthquake on capital

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A new report by the Greater Wellington Regional Council paints a grim picture if the capital was struck by a 7 point 1 earthquake, similar to that which hit Canterbury in September.

Canterbury businesses push for cash assistance from Govt

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Businesses struggling after the Canterbury earthquake are vowing to keep up the pressure on the Government for more assistance.

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.