Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage, with its spire reduced to rubble and the roof caved in. There were visitors inside the building when the earthquake hit, and it is still unclear whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble.

A story of hope from Newcastle

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A story of hope, at least when it comes to the rebuilding challenge ahead, particularly of Christchurch's badly damaged Cathedral. The Australian city of Newcastle suffered a major earthquake in 1989, and over the next few years put huge effort into rebuilding, virtually brick by brick, its ruined Cathedral. John McNaughton, who was the Lord mayor of Newcastle who oversaw the rebuild, joins us.

Engineers shocked by scenes of devastation

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A huge team of engineers is in Christchurch to assess the state of buildings damaged but still standing after Tuesday's earthquake.

Mother waits for news of rescued son

Audio, Radio New Zealand

One of the defining images of the Christchurch earthquake has been the photo of an ash covered Shane Tomlin, pulled alive from a bakery in Cashel Mall. His mother Doreen Tomlin, says she only realised her son had been rescued when she saw his photo on the front page of The Press.

Top Stories for Thursday 24 February 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Continuing coverage of the Canterbury earthquake.

Rugby World Cup organiser say tournament won't be transferred

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Fears the Rugby World Cup could be relocated to Australia in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake are unfounded say tournament organisers.

Tourists forced to stay in marae, arts centre in Wellington

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of tourists have spent the night in makeshift accommodation in Wellington after fleeing earthquake hit Christchurch. The tourists were flown to the capital by the Royal New Zealand Airforce, many without passports, money and belongings left behind in hotels.

Christchurch Cathedral

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Dean of Christchurch Cathedral Peter Beck talks about what the people of Christchurch are going through in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Hundreds of engineers assess damage in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of engineers are on the ground in Christchurch, assessing the damage in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake and are heading into the CBD en masse for the first time.

Farmers and rural businesses bring fresh water to city

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Farmers and rural businesses have been combining their efforts to bring desperately needed fresh water supplies to earthquake shattered Christchurch.

Death toll passes 100

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Almost three days on from the 6 point 3 earthquake that shattered central Christchurch and Lyttleton and searchers are continuing to find more bodies but no more survivors in the rubble.

Quake clean-up begins in Avonside for a second time

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In Avonside, one of the suburbs most badly affected by the September 4th earthquake in Christchurch, a second massive clean-up operation is underway.

Expectant, new mums escape disruption of Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Pregnant women and new mothers are escaping the disruption and risk of Christchurch in the wake of Tuesday's earthquake.

Adelaide mourns today for sister city Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Today's memorial for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake is also being marked in Adelaide.

Christchurch's quake bigger than thought

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The size of Christchurch's devastating February earthquake and its aftershocks have been revised upwards.

Top Stories for Monday 4 April 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Angry reaction to Government energy strategy, Tizard questions Goff's ability to win election, Auckland agencies criticised for secrecy, Christchurch residents worried as winter approaches, Foreign language students scared off by earthquakes, Christchurch's tourism flickers to life but limited by quake, and Harawira aims for April 30th launch of new party.

Disaster recovery lessons from Hurricane Katrina

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Admiral Thad Allen was the principal federal official in charge after Hurricane Katrina battered the US Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing many more. Prime Minister John Key says the structure of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was decided upon after an examination of the way other governments responded to disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

Day in the life of Canterbury Chamber of Commerce head

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The head of the the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, Peter Townsend, says the effects of the Christchurch earthquake will dominate business in Canterbury for at least the next three years.

New agency to reduce quake impact on international students

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has created an agency to try to lure foreign students back to New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquake.

Government appoints experts to look at building collapses

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has appointed the panel of experts that will investigate why so many buildings collapsed during Christchurch's February earthquake.

Search for quake rupture continues in Port Hills

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Scientists have been scouring the outskirts of Christchurch in search of geological evidence of the February earthquake.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

There's disagreement about whether a Royal Commission of inquiry into building collapses in the Canterbury earthquakes should apportion blame.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People caught up in February's earthquake in Christchurch want to know why a Royal Commission of inquiry isn't going to apportion any blame for building collapses.

Midday News for 4 September 2010

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Extensive coverage of the earthquake in Christchurch.

Quake chief happy, despite $200,000 pay cut

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Despite taking a 200-thousand dollar pay cut, the new head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says he's delighted to have the job.

Thousands of Christchurch residents attend expo on rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Thousands of Christchurch residents have shared their views on how the central city should be rebuilt after February's catastrophic earthquake.

Quake Authority sets deadline to speed up city rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Demolition companies and building owners in central Christchurch hope efforts by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will speed up the city's rebuild after it's been languishing for weeks.

Scandinavian inspiration aids Christchurch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council is looking to Scandinavia for help with the earthquake re-build. Two Danish based urban design experts are working with the Council over the next four weeks to develop a draft plan for rebuilding the central city.

Chch churches face tough decisions over rebuilding

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As part of the future of Christchurch it is expected a third of all Catholic and almost half of all Presbyterian churches damaged in Christchurch's February earthquake might not be rebuilt.

Inquest for next five quake victims to be held today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An inquest into another five victims of February's earthquake begins today in Christchurch.