Midday News for 29 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Details of the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority are announced and Senior Labour MPs meet in Dunedin.

Homeowners unhappy about Government payout scheme

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Homeowners in Christchurch have told earthquake authorities they face heavy losses under the Government's property payout scheme.

Finding the CEO of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority

Audio, Radio New Zealand

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie is helping to recruit the new head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

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.

Reports swirl of new head of Earthquake Recovery Authority

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A senior Wellington public servant is reported to be the new head of the authority that will oversee the Canterbury earthquake recovery effort.

Bob Parker looks forward to working with Earthquake Authority

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch mayor, Bob Parker joined Morning Report.

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.

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.

Government makes concessions on quake recovery legislation

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Meanwhile, the Government has made concessions on its Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority legislation after complaints from the Labour Party.

Quake panel paid too much - Labour

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Labour says an independent panel set up to oversee the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is being paid too much.

Christchurch councillors want CERA to talk about power handover

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch city councillors wants to know what the Earthquake Recovery Authority's plan is to hand back power to the council.

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.

Head of CERA describes view of Christchurch from the air

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Roger Sutton, flew over the quake-hit city after today's first shake.

Anger, frustration and tears at Sumner residents meeting

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Sumner residents whose properties have been condemned have vented their frustrations at a meeting with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

GNS's quake risk assessment questioned by US expert

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An American quake expert has criticised the risk assessment done following the Canterbury earthquake, and suggested authorities are being too cautious.

CERA closing its doors after five years.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Five years after being created the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, commonly known as CERA, will officially close its doors on Monday.

CERA wants insurers to give homeowners clearer time lines

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority wants private insurers to provide homeowners with clear timeframes for when earthquake repairs will be carried out.

"Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also move…

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

In this paper, we consider how religious leaders and Civil Defence authorities might collaborate to establish a two-way information conduit during the aftermath of a disaster. Using surveys and in-person interviews, clergy in different Christian denominations were asked about their roles in the earthquake, the needs of their congregations and the possibilities and obstacles to deeper collaboration with Civil Defence authorities.

Christchurch's controversial chief executive breaks his silence

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The chief executive of the Christchurch City Council says there's no pressure from Treasury officials or the Earthquake Recovery authority to sell assets.

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.

Key rules out extra compensation for China quake victims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government's ruled out extra money for families of Chinese victims of the Christchurch earthquake while Chinese authorities continue to push for special consideration.

Up to 50 additional buildings damaged in red zone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority says today's aftershocks have caused up to 50 additional buildings in the city's redzone to collapse or partially collapse.

Christchurch couple told they can't use driveway

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch couple told they can't use part of their property because the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) might need access to it.

Canterbury Residential Rebuild

Other, National Library of New Zealand

Information on damage caused by the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, for homeowners, tenants, insurers, lawyers, realtors, builders, developers, engineers and building consent authorities.

Business leaders happy with plan for Christchurch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The creation of a new unit within the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority to oversee the rebuilding of central Christchurch is being welcomed by business leaders.

Labour to get locals to govern CERA if elected

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Labour Party wrapped up its Canterbury Recovery Package in Christchurch today, announcing it would appoint qualified locals to govern the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

CERA could take over running of Chch within days

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Responsibility for dealing with the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake could pass from Civil Defence to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority within a matter of days.

Govt mounts quake rebuild roadshow

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will be travelling the length of New Zealand this week to drum up investment in the rebuild of Christchurch's city centre.

Nisbet, Alastair, 1958- :"So Roger...two years in the job...how does it fe…

Images, Alexander Turnbull Library

Roger Sutton, former chief executive of the the power lines company, Orion and since June 2011 Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury Earhquake Recovery Authority, is shown in a straitjacket, raving. An unseen interviewer asks him how it feels after 'two years in the job'. Roger Sutton's work in leading the Earthquake Authority after the February earthquake was extremely stressful, considering the magnitude of the task. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Christchurch Hospital to make changes after quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch Health authorities say they will never put acutely unwell patients on top floors again after having to evacuate them after the 22nd of February earthquake.