A Wish by Amy Huang

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Amy Huang wrote this as a Year 12 student at Rangiruru Girls' School in Christchurch as a response to the earthquake and it was a finalist in a short story competition. For ages 8-18.

Christchurch mayor defends council's performance

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says officials have tried for months to help the Christchurch City Council but it's consistently failed to make the necessary improvements and is still taking far too long to process applications.

Christchurch council refuses to consider asset sales

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Despite Government pressure on the Christchurch City Council to sell off some of its assets to help fund its 40% share of the city's earthquake repairs, the council has instead decided to raise rates, and rents.

Fletchers assures taxpayers over Christchurch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The company that has the main contract for repairing houses in Christchurch, Fletcher Earthquake Recovery, is assuring taxpayers it's doing everything it can to avoid any fraudulent behaviour.

Engineer points finger at 'widespread malaise' in industry

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It is unlikely engineers involved in the most serious building collapse of the Christchurch earthquake will face any external action, with the profession's administrators telling the Government there's nothing more they can do.

John Key's last speech - funny and sad in equal measure

Audio, Radio New Zealand

John Key farewells Parliament by remembering the funny and the proud moments of being Prime Minister, but also the heartbreak of the Christchurch earthquakes, the Pike River disaster and the deaths of troops in Afghanistan.

Playing Favourites with Peter Marshall

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Peter Marshall is managing director of architectural firm Warren and Mahoney, part of the team selected to carry out the task of the redesign of Christchurch after the earthquakes. (This version of the audio does not include music)

Christchurch shops still feeling effects of quakes 3 years on

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Three years on from the Canterbury earthquakes there is a huge focus on getting the central city back up and running, but some suburban shopping areas are also struggling to attract customers.

Christchurch rebuild largest economic event in NZ history

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The earthquakes in Canterbury may have brought tragedy and economic hardship for many, but Christchurch business leaders say they're now seeing renewed signs of improving business confidence.

Breakdown in communication - unsafe building collapsed in quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission has heard that a breakdown in communication between structural engineers, a property manager and owner led the tenants of a building to wrongly assume their shop was safe.

Construction of 35 million dollar bridge to take 2 years

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The construction of the first bridge in Canterbury to be built to the new earthquake design codes is going to take nearly two years and cost over 30 million dollars.

Police air their frustrations at inquiry into CTV response

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first police officer at the scene of the collapsed and burning CTV building has recounted harrowing details of his efforts in the hours after the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.

Best of the Week - 25 February 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Highlights from Radio New Zealand National's programmes for the week ending Friday 25th February . This week.......we have coverage of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Christchurch on Tuesday 22 Febraury.

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.

Govt set to make announcement about future of AMI

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has confirmed it is closely monitoring the insurer, AMI, whose $1 Billion in reinsurance and capital is believed to have been exhausted by the two Canterbury earthquakes.

Priorities for the new Christchurch 'Disaster Czar'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Roger Sutton, the chief executive of networks company Orion has taken up a five-year contract as the CEO of the Christchurch Earthquake Reconstruction Authority, the top bureaucrat in the post-quake city.

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.

Christchurch residents to learn today if they stay or go

Audio, Radio New Zealand

This afternoon the Government will announce its initial package to deal with land badly damaged by earthquakes in Christchurch, including offering a pay out to households who want to take the cash.

Salvation Army

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Salvation Army has been helping earthquake victims find food and shelter, as well as providing support to distraught and fearful people around Christchurch. Chris talked to Major Campbell Roberts, who is co-ordinating the Sallie's national response.

Earthquake Minister on shift to recovery operation

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Families of people still missing after last week's Christchurch earthquake have been told there is now officially no hope of finding survivors, though searchers are still insisting they are not ruling out a miracle.

People being allowed into cordoned-off city this morning

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As we go to air, Christchurch property and business owners people are being allowed into the cordoned-off central city for the first time since the earthquake twelve days ago.

EQC responds to criticisms about alow payment

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Chief Executive of the Earthquake Commission, Ian Simpson, talks to the programme about how payments are being made to Christchurch earthquake claimants and what if anything can be done to speed up the payment process.

Fewer receiving Christchurch Employer Support Subsidy

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Unemployment figures released yesterday may have showed little change in the nation's jobless rate, but it appears there's a gaping hole in the statistics when it comes to earthquake struck Christchurch.

Insurers worry about dealing with earthquake claims well

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A new survey shows New Zealand insurers are worried the industry's reputation could be ruined if it does not deal well with the huge number of claims from the Christchurch earthquakes.

Earthquakes cause profit losses at Air New Zealand

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand is warning that it may need to cut some domestic and international routes as it tries to recoup some of its expected losses from the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes.

Evening Business for 30 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Tourism is in for a short, sharp shock as fewer people visit New Zealand after the earthquakes in Japan and Christchurch and Genesis Energy says customers have no one to blame but themselves when electricity prices spiked last Saturday.

GNS faces tough questions at Royal Commission hearing

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Scientists from GNS Science have faced tough criticism at the Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes, being accused of funneling resources into the wrong areas and giving vague advice on earthquake risks.

GNS questioned on amount of warning given prior to quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The warnings, or lack of them from the government's scientists about the likely size of aftershocks following the first Canterbury earthquake have been a focus of the Royal Commission into the quakes.

Expert says developers should be required to submit soil rpts

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A geotechnical expert from the United States has told the Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes, developers should be required to submit soil reports before building on land prone to liquefaction.

Ballantynes celebrate reopening of Christchurch store

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two weeks after re-opening, the landmark Christchurch department store, Ballantynes has thanked staff, contractors and customers for their hard work and loyalty since the February earthquake forced it to close.