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.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Tuesday 22 February 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Suzie Ferguson, Mary Wilson and Hewitt Humphrey host rolling news coverage of the Christchurch Earthquake. The audio used comes from the start of the 6pm hour.

Markets douse rumours of interest rate cuts in quake's wake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Financial markets have backtracked on expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake. Economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, reports.

Two minutes of silence for quake victims marked

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Church bells tolled around the country at exactly 12.51 this afternoon - one week on from the deadly Christchurch earthquake, which may have claimed as many as 240 lives.

What was hiding under a statue in Cathedral Square

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury Museum says because of the earthquake it's likely to be weeks before they can open a sealed time capsule found under a statue brought down by the quake.

Eastern suburbs complain of lack of services

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Labour Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel says the city council has made a terrible decision about how it organises help for earthquake victims and it needs to be changed urgently.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Vault for 3 December 2010 - Homebush

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Deborah Nation dusts off a series of recordings made with successive generations of a Canterbury lineage whose family homestead was one of the casualties of the earthquake on 4 September 2010 .

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.

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.

Christchurch's Orange Zone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People living in Christchurch's orange zone will have to wait longer than expected for a decision on whether they can remain in their homes, after the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority missed one of its deadlines.

The Panel Christmas Special

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Panel Christmas Special in downtown Auckland atop the Tyler Street Garage, featuring many of the regular panellists from 2011. Due to a Checkpoint special covering the Christchurch earthquake, this was not broadcast.

Royal Commission hearings continue in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch city council manager has told the Royal Commission there was an element of chaos after the first earthquake in September 2010 as staff sought to get systems in place.

The Panel with Gary Moore and Joanne Black (Part 2)

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Are men with lower voices more attractive to the opposite sex; The Canterbury Earthquake insurance deadlock; Speed Camera tickets have doubled over the last year.

US search and rescue leader returns to Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The man who lead the US search and rescue in the aftermath of February's earthquake is back in Christchurch to accept a plaque of appreciation from the City Council.

Earthquake family tries to comfort traumatised children

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The days of aftershocks have got too much for the Wingfield family who are getting out of Christchurch in an effort to calm their deeply distressed children aged two and five.

Shaking Bricks : Jason Ingham

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Civil Engineer Professor Jason Ingham discusses his extensive projects investigating seismic retrofit of structures in earthquake regions he's been to over the past 12 months, Indonesia, Chile and of course, Christchurch.

The latest on the 7.1 earthquake in Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Thousands of people are being evacuated from the Christchurch city centre with Civil Defence officials saying its simply too dangerous for residents to stay there.

Hundred million dollars earmarked for Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Around a hundred million dollars has been earmarked by Cabinet as its initial contribution to Canterbury following the earthquake, but the Prime MInister says the final bill will be far higher.

Christchurch's central city bus tour come with stark warning

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Public bus tours of Christchurch's red zone will start off with a warning that the passengers could be trapped by an earthquake and may not make it out alive.

Green Party proposes nationwide earthquake levy

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Green Party has spelt out how it would impose an earthquake levy on higher earning taxpayers, to fund the rebuild of Christchurch, if it becomes part of the next Government.

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.

Small Canterbury businesses call for Government help

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce estimates up to 150 of the region's small businesses will fold if they're not given Government assistance to relocate from their earthquake-stricken premises.

Anglican Appeal

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Bishop of Christchurch has asked parishioners to think about the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Bishop Victoria Matthews is appealing to Canterbury Anglicans to give at least $100,000 for quake relief in Haiti.

Business owners decision on buildings' future

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Business owners have told the Christchurch City Council they are haemorrhaging thousands of dollars a week, while it decides whether or not to demolish their buildings following last month's earthquake.

Owner asked why he didn't strengthen building before quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The owner of a building that collapsed in last February's Christchurch earthquake - killing four people - has faced questioning about why he did not get recommended strengthening work done.

The latest from the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An earthquake engineer says designing buildings to resist earthquakes is as much an art as it is a science and you can never make a structure completely quake-proof.