Commission witnesses questioned about Cashel Street building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Witnesses before the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission have been questioned about why a building known to be earthquake prone was allowed to reopen, despite several red flags.

PGC property manager defends lack of detailed assessment

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard the property manager of the Pyne Gould building did not organise detailed engineering assessments after the first quake in September.

BeckerFraserPhotos September 2011 photograph 266

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "From Worcester Street looking north across The Press site to the Isaac Theatre Royal and the PricewaterhouseCoopers building in the distance".

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 113

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A doctor from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a Medical Team Leader preparing to evacuate Christchurch rest home residents affected by the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Quake hearing told building in use despite yellow placard

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A property manager has been questioned at the Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes about why he didn't tell tenants the building they worked in was unsafe.

Engineering profession is in crisis - engineer

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A structural engineer has told the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission that illegal building techniques are being used in the Christchurch rebuild because the engineering profession is in crisis.

PGC building owner says he did all he could to make it safe

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Pyne Gould building tenants in Christchurch have told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes hearing they didn't feel safe there after the September quake.

Engineers defend expertise at Earthquake Commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two engineers who prepared a critical report on the CTV building spent much of the day yesterday defending their expertise and credentials at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Fairfax Video October 2012 (3)

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of soldiers from Delta Company from 2/1 Battalion Royal NZ Infantry Regiment using the Environment Canterbury (ECan) building on Kilmore Street for a training exercise.

Nisbet, Alistair, 1958-: Prince William comes to Christchurch... 17 March …

Images, Alexander Turnbull Library

Text above reads 'Prince William comes to Christchurch...' A special royal portaloo has been arranged for the visit of Prince William to Christchurch; it is built to resemble a castle and has gold door fittings. On either side of the portaloo stands a sentry guard. The prince who is inside whispers 'I can't find the royal flush button' (wordplay on 'royal flush' and the 'flush' of a toilet) Context - Prince William visited the Civil Defence headquarters in Christchurch with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker on the 17th March to see the damage caused by the earthquakes of the 4th September 2010 and the 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

When Are They Going to Reveal the Secret?

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The dome of the Isaac Theatre Royal covered in sheeting and suspended in the backstage area. In the foreground, a small digger sits on the bed of a truck, and a crane is visible to the left. The photographer comments, "This is the 'dome' of the Isaac Theatre Royal's heritage stage. The front section of the theatre has stayed and so has the back, but the middle has been completely demolished. The best way to hide a secret is in plain sight. Could this really be an ancient UFO stored secretly in the old theatre for decades and now exposed by the earthquake? Is the waiting crane and transporter ready to whip it away to another secret location in the dead of night?".

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 404

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force refuelling a Iroquois helicopter in Hagley Park. The Iroquois helicopters were used to tour Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Vertical shaking from February earthquake not unique

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An earthquake engineer has told the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission that the intense vertical shaking during the February 2011 earthquake wasn't unique and was similar to events overseas.

Midday News for 15 April 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An Assistant Police Commissioner may have to give evidence in Kim Dotcom's compensation case and the Government accepts almost all the recommedations made by the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Christchurch Press 18 August 2012: Section A, Page 5 (South Island Edition)

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Page 5 of Section A of the South Island edition of the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 18 August 2012.

Digital Photograph: Decoration on Safety Fence surrounding the Royal Hotel…

Images, Canterbury Museum

One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 9 March 2011 showing a string of handmade bunting made from a cream woollen blanket with "KIA KAHA LYTTELTON" stitched onto the pennants in red wool. The Fence was located around the street frontages of the Royal Hotel on the Corner of Norwich Quay and Canterbury Street. Also visible in the photo...

Christchurch Press 11 December 2012: Section A, Page 4

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Page 4 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Tuesday 11 December 2012.

Christchurch Press Infographic: 17 December 2012 (1)

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A graphic listing the 14 people who died in the collapse of unreinforced buildings in the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Photograph by Paul Corliss 2956

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Gloucester Street and New Regent Street".

Photograph by Paul Corliss 2952

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Gloucester Street and New Regent Street".

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 403

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force refuelling a Iroquois helicopter in Hagley Park. The Iroquois helicopters were used to tour Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 594

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Aerial image of the Christchurch central city taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the Earthquake Commission. High Street can be seen in the middle of the image.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 164

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Aerial image of a residential area of Christchurch taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the Earthquake Commission. Porritt Park is visible on the right of the photograph.

Grand Chancellor checked for damage four times before February

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury earthquake's Royal Commission has heard that the Hotel Grand Chancellor was checked for earthquake damage - and cleared for use four times prior to the February 22nd earthquake.

Midday News for 6 March 2012

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The family of a Christchurch earthquake victim wants the Royal Commission to investigate all Search and Rescue efforts during the disaster. The Government faces a higher-than-forecast Budget deficit.

Overseas experts to give evidence at quake inquiry

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes continues today, with overseas experts critiquing a New Zealand report that calls for a two-billion dollar upgrade to strengthen earthquake-prone buildings.

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.

Overseas expert shocked at design of PGC building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An American engineer has told the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission he was shocked at the failure of builders to properly fix the floors of the PGC building to its walls.

Families react to firm destroying CTV design information

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The director of the structural engineering company that designed the CTV building came under fire yesterday over documents missing from evidence his firm submitted to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Role of engineer in inspecting Chch building under spotlight

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A structural engineer who ordered a building green stickered though he'd failed to do another thorough check on it has defended his inspections at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.