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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Building panel explains just what went wrong with CTV building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An inquiry ordered by the Government has found the CTV building which failed massively in the February Christchurch earthquake did not meet building standards when it was constructed in 1986.

Chch students defy the odds in NCEA

Audio, Radio New Zealand

High School students in Christchurch have defied the odds and the ongoing disruption caused by the earthquakes and achieved better marks in last year's NCEA than students in the rest of the country.

Jobs to go at Sockburn meat works

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Workers at the Sockburn meat works in Christchurch say the announcement that the plant will close at the end of the season is a double blow after a year of coping with the aftermath of earthquakes.

ChCh mayor urges heritage building owners not to tear down city'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The mayor of Christchurch is urging owners of heritage buildings damaged in the earthquake, not to tear down the city's treasures without first considering if they can be saved.

House of the Year finalists announced

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The building industry is celebrating the best in home construction with the House of the Year awards tomorrow night. Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly says the finalists include designs that have taken lessons from the Christchurch earthquakes.

Midday News for 7 March 2014

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch homeowners are taking the Earthquake Commission to court for not doing enough to fix their homes, and a move by Crimean MPs to join Russia has been declared illegal by the European Union and the US.

Quake references a no-no in this year's NCEA exams

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Earthquakes disrupted schooling in Canterbury this year, but the region's teenagers can rest assured they will not be rattled by unexpected references to quakes in this year's NCEA and Scholarship exams.

PGC building owner says he did all he could to make it safe

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Pyne Gould building tenants in Christchurch have told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes hearing they didn't feel safe there after the September quake.

Smaller buildings to be quake commission focus this week

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The smaller buildings that collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake, killing those in them as well as passers by, will be the focus of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission when hearings resume today

Hundreds of Canterbury Businesses face closure

Audio, Radio New Zealand

There are fears more than a hundred businesses, particulary in the retailing and restaurant sectors, will have to close their doors as a result of the physical and economic damage caused by the earthquake.