There's been widespread dismay at the decision not to prosecute anyone for the deaths of 115 people in the CTV building collapse during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Police say it was a tough decision - they wanted to hold someone to account but there simply wasn't the evidence to warrant a prosecution.
Emergency personnel using a crane to check the Forsyth Barr building for people trapped after the 22 February earthquake. On the intersection of Armagh Street and Colombo Street below, police and fire service personnel are gathered. The road below is severely warped.
A video of a press conference with Mayor Bob Parker, Roger Sutton (CEO of Orion), Superintendent Dave Cliff (Christchurch Police), and Chief Fire Officer Dan Coward. The speakers talk about the work that is being done to bring power back to Christchurch residents, and to assess the safety of buildings in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph looking west down Cashel Street from the intersection of Colombo Street. A member of the New Zealand Police is sitting on an armchair near the intersection. Behind him is a HireQuip generator. Several signs from nearby businesses are on his left and right. In the background there are large piles of rubble from earthquake-damaged buildings on the street.
A PDF copy of The Star newspaper, published on Thursday 24 February 2011.
A photograph of a cardboard sign outside St Paul's Church in Dallington. The sign reads, "St Paul's Parish Mass, Sunday 10am, Marian College Hall, North Parade". In the background police tape is draped around the building.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Ambrose Heal Furniture on the corner of Barbadoes Street and Edgeware Road. The brick walls have cracked and crumbled, exposing the inside of the building. Police tape has been placed around the property as a cordon.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch City Council Civic Offices and surrounding buildings. The photograph has been captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The River Avon runs through this photograph and marks the western edge of the red zone".
The policing of building safety systems is being cut back nationwide. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reducing its monitoring of the building warrants of fitness scheme that covers 16 crucial safety systems including fire measures. This coincides with it having to do more checks on what councils are doing regarding fences around pools and earthquake-prone buildings. The cutback is despite ministry reviews which show many councils do little to audit the building warrants they issue. An inspector of building safety systems and adviser on warrants, Charlie Loughnan of Canterbury, told our reporter Phil Pennington that less monitoring is not a good idea.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices and surrounding buildings.
Members of the public speaking with police officers on the corner of Durham Street and Armagh Street in the aftermath of the 22 February earthquake. On the right the timber section of the historic Provincial Council Chambers can be seen, including the clock tower which has collapsed onto the road. Armagh Street leading into the city has been cordoned off by red tape.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These pictures were taken of The New Zealand Army, along with Police, minding the cordons. This was beside The Press building, and behind the Christchurch Cathedral. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to The Painted Room on Colombo Street. The ceiling of the building has collapsed into the store, smashing the front window. Wire fencing and police tape has been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Asko Designs on Victoria Street. The brick wall of the facade has crumbled, and the bricks have fallen to the pavement below, taking the awning with them. Wire fencing and police tape have been placed around the building as a cordon.
Damaged buildings on Manchester Street, seen from the Tuam Street intersection. Police emergency tape cordons off the street. The photographer comments, "This was taken shortly after the 4th September earthquake. Police allowed us free access past the cordon and simply advised us to watch out for falling masonry. The access situation was much different after the February aftershock".
Looking through the gutted building on Gloucester Street which formerly housed the On the Spot dairy, with the Police kiosk in Cathedral Square visible in the background.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
The September Canterbury earthquake. These buildings have since been demolished. Note: these photos were taken on a cellphone; mind the quality.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Kudos Hairdressers on the corner of Papanui Road and Mansfield Avenue. The façade of the building has crumbled, the bricks falling to the footpath. Police tape has been draped around the building as a cordon.
After a damning report into the CTV building, how many other Christchurch buildings had faults when the earthquake struck? Police investigate the tragic death of a five year old and when so many businesses are struggling, how did the country's big banks increase profits by a quarter?
Page 3 of Section C of the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 1 March 2014.
Scaffolding in front of the damaged building that housed Satchmo Hairdressing on Victoria Street. The street has been cordoned off with Police and Army personnel guarding the entrace.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Asko Designs on Victoria Street. The brick wall on the right side and part of the front façade have crumbled. Bricks and other rubble have fallen onto the footpath below. Wire fences and police tape have been placed around the building as a cordon.
A graffiti-style recruitment advertisement for the NZ Police, depicting police officer Nao Yoshimizu comforting the grieving relative of an earthquake victim. The image has been further graffitied to hide the officer's uniform, and the original advertisement text ("You too can do something extraordinary. Become a cop.") altered to read "You too can do something ordinary. Become a human".
Some of the families of the 115 people who dies in the CTV building during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake protested in Latimer Square yesterday over the police decision not to prosecute the designers of the CTV building. They say they do want to see a prosecution go ahead, and they are seeking legal advice about what their options are.
Page 4 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Thursday 8 November 2012.
A photograph of the i-SITE Visitor Centre in Kaiapoi. The foundations have lifted at the back of the building giving it a forward lean. Tape has been placed across the footpath and road as a cordon.
A photograph of the i-SITE Visitor Centre in Kaiapoi. The foundations have lifted at the back of the building giving it a forward lean. Tape has been placed across the footpath and road as a cordon.
Damage to a row of shops on Barbadoes Street. The brick facades have collapsed, crushing the awnings. The building is cordoned off with road cones and police tape.