Seismic engineer on the quake's effect on buildings

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A seismic engineer says many of the Christchurch buildings destroyed in Tuesday's quake weren't designed to cope with such intense forces - and it's possible damage from the September 4th earthquake went undetected.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Tuesday 1 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Church bells toll and thousands stand in silence to commemorate the Christchurch earthquake. Petrol prices go up, but the quake damaged city is spared and what was found under a statue in Cathedral Square?

PM announces a national memorial service for Chch quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More now from today's post cabinet news conference where the Prime Minister announced that a national memorial service to mark the Christchurch earthquake will be held in the city on Friday March the 18th.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Monday 7 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A national memorial service marking the Christchurch earthquake is announced. It could take more than a year for all the victims to be identified and Rocky raises 60 thousand dollars for the relief fund.

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.

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.

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.

Caravan dwellers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

When Christchurch couple Maree Mockford and Bruce Vincent's home was badly damaged by the February earthquake they shifted into a caravan on their property. Six months later they're still roughing it, using a chemical toilet and showering off site.

Tenants return to HSBC

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first of Christchurch's high-rise buildings to close after the February earthquake has reopened. All the tenants of the12-storey HSBC Tower are now back in the building which has been extensively checked by engineering experts.

Your Place - Rolleston

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Rolleston is a town in the Selwyn District of Canterbury, just outside the Christchurch City boundary. It was close to the epicenter of the September earthquake last year, but suffered little damage because it sits on very stable rock.

Christchurch to stick with 2007 houses values for rates

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Council rates in Christchurch city will continue to be calculated using the 2007 house valuations for up to two more years, allowing time for the earthquake's impact on property prices to be assessed.

Canterbury Television's Emily Cooper

Audio, Radio New Zealand

CTV journalist Emily Cooper was out filming when the Canterbury earthquake hit. Fifteen of her colleagues are unaccounted for.

Filipino caregivers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Filipino caregivers, after working long hours in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, are now being denied work permits.

Tenants' rights after the earthquake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Helen Gatonyi is the Manager of the Christchurch Tenants Protection Association, whose own office was destroyed in the quake.

Politics with Matthew Hooton and Sue Bradford

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Matthew Hooton and Sue Bradford on politics including the political implications of the Christchurch earthquake.

Christchurch design challenge

Audio, Radio New Zealand

We cross live to Christchurch to talk to one of the entrants, Roger Dennis, in a 48 hour design challenge to come up with a new look for part of the earthquake hit city's central business district.

Lack of engineering assessments investigated

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A lack of building inspections and the engineers to carry them out has come under further scrutiny at the Royal Commission of inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes.

Christchurch residents gather to mourn

Audio, Radio New Zealand

This morning tens-of-thousands are expected to gather to mourn the lives lost in Tuesday's earthquake. We hear from the Anlican Bishop of Christchurch.

Rebuilding Christchurch will take time and money

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The task of rebuilding Christchurch is being compared to what was required to restore the Japanese city of Kobe after its massive earthquake in 1995.

Government to unveil quake economic package today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Economics Correspondent Nigel Stirling talks about expectations from the Government's economic package to be announced this afternoon to help meet the cost of the Christchurch earthquake.

Christchurch trying to convince foreign students to stay

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The private education sector in Christchurch is working on how to convince foreign students to keep coming to the city after last week's earthquake.

Are Wellington and Gisborne ready for a big earthquake?

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquake has other cities reviewing how well they are prepared for a similar shake.

Are Wellington and Gisborne ready for a big quake?

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquake has other cities reviewing how well they are prepared for a similar shake.

Treasury forecasts quake to slow economic activity

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Treasury is forecasting the Christchurch earthquake will slow economic activity, taking about 15 billion dollars out of the economy over the next five years.

Relative, friends of quake lost describe pain of waiting

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Friends and relatives of those missing after the Christchurch earthquake have described the pain of not knowing the fate of their loved one

Grand Chancellor deconstruction underway in weeks

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As for the demolition of the building, The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority deconstruction manager, Warwick Isaacs, says while it will be managed carefully, it is still risky.

Philippines follows Chinese in call for extra compensation

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Philippines government is asking for extra compensation for its citizens killed in the Christchurch earthquake, a similar plea is being made by China.

UK rugby fans stay positive about uncertainty over Cup

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In the UK, fans and travel agents are staying positive about any changes to the Rugby World Cup schedule forced by the Christchurch earthquake.

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.

Christchurch council grilled over buildings at quake commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council has faced tough questioning at the Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes over its role in ensuring buildings are earthquake strengthened.