Parliament throws full support behind earthquake bill

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament has unanimously supported legislation giving Government ministers the power to make exemptions to almost every law on the statute books, to help fast-track reconstruction efforts in Canterbury.

Taxi drivers almost crushed by rubble tell story for first time

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two taxi drivers have spoken out for the first time about their brush with death when they narrowly escaped falling rubble during the Canterbury Earthquake.

Christchurch earthquake bride

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch earthquake was obviously a huge story this year, and for one couple it will always be particularly memorable. Christchurch lawyer Katherine Ewer and her husband David got married that day.

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.

James Jameson

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Former Christchurch restaurateur James Jameson ran a cafe in the Christchurch Arts Centre until the Canterbury earthquakes of 2011. Last year, James moved to Mt Lyford – the area hit hard and isolated by this month's earthquakes.

Government wage subsidy will help earthquake hit businesses

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A government package to help small businesses affected by Monday's earthquake will help according to one of the groups administering it , Enterprise North Canterbury, which has been through it before.

RNZ Christchurch Reporter Belinda McCammon

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The quake stricken city has come through the latest round of earthquakes relatively unscathed. However there is disappointment that some homes were burgled after residents evacuated. The police say they will investigate.

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.

Royal Commission to hear plea for upgrade to old buildings

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission will hear this week that the cost of upgrading the city's unreinforced masonry buildings is more than the buildings are worth.

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.

Chch schools seek special NCEA marking for all students

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Christchurch schools are so worried about the impact of February's earthquake on their students that they want special consideration to be given in their exam marks.

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.

Rural Recovery - A Quake Aftermath

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Cosmo Kentish-Barnes finds out how the rural recovery is going near the epicentre of the Canterbury Earthquake that shook the province in the early hours of September 4th.

Emergency powers being put in place in Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has already put in place ten orders-in-council under emergency powers rushed through Parliament this month to deal with the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake.

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.

Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee on Quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government responded to Canterbury's plight by putting through Parliament emergency legislation to give special powers to the Earthquake Recovery Minister to deal with the effects of the quake.

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.

New quake claim could push residents higher up queue

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury residents who haven't seen hide nor hair of a Earthquake Commission inspector have been told they might need to make a fresh claim to get noticed.

Gerry Brownlee offside with Chch business community

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, is offside with the business community in Christchurch over the decision to permanently relocate nearly 500 public servants outside of the central business district.

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.

CTV building not inspected by engineer after Boxing Day quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two separate chances to inspect the Canterbury Television building were missed before the February earthquake saw it pancake to the ground last year, killing 115 people.

Heathcote locals congregate at church/pub

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A pub in a church might seem unusual, but then life in Christchurch after both the September and February earthquakes has been anything but normal.

Global insurance industry now wary of New Zealand

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The insurance industry says overseas insurers have become wary of New Zealand after Monday's earthquakes in Christchurch and higher premiums across the country are now almost inevitable.

Commission hears crucial evidence was destroyed

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard that evidence crucial to working out what caused the collapse of the Canterbury Television Building, was destroyed by the firm which oversaw its design.

High Court rules Brownlee wrong to use quake powers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The High Court in Christchurch has ruled the Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee was wrong to use his special powers to fast track housing development following the earthquakes.

Christchurch residents concerned about impact of asbestos

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch city council is reconsidering its plan to dump five thousand tonnes of asbestos contaminated rubble in Bottle Lake Forest Park landfill which has been reopened to take earthquake debris.

Chch homeowners consider legal action against State Insurance

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A group of angry Christchurch locals are considering legal action against one of the country's biggest insurance companies because they say their earthquake claims are taking too long to settle.