Late Edition for 6 June 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Waikato primary school refuses to back down and re-enroll a violent eleven year old and the country's largest general insurer defends changes to home insurance policies in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes.

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.

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.

New Chch Mayor builds relations with Quake Recovery Minister

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The former Christchurch East Labour Party MP, Lianne Dalziel, is now the Mayor of Christchurch and, as such, is set to work much more closely with her former political foe, Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee.

New Chch City Council has first meeting with EQ Minister

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The newly elected Christchurch City Council had its first meeting with the Earthquake Recovery Minister last night, and councillors say it was the beginning of a much better working relationship.

Law with Toni Collins

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Toni Collins is a Canterbury University PhD researcher in law, who is investigating how commercial leases could be written to better deal with the aftermath of earthquakes, and how cases of disputes could progress through the courts.

Christchurch councillor won't resign over 'woeful' record

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City councillor in charge of council housing says he accepts trenchant criticism from the Earthquake Recovery Minister that the council has been woeful in fixing its quake-damaged housing stock.

Human response to earthquake shaking: Analysis of video footage of the 201…

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

None

Are there signs before earthquakes?

Other, National Library of New Zealand

Website of scientist Dr N.E. Whitehead. Includes tabulated raw data from an online survey, a report based on the data, a link to the scientific paper written by Dr Whitehead and Professor Motoji Ikeya.

Tomorrow will be the same... but not as this is

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Earthquakes are one of the few natural disasters Australia seldom experiences. We find out from curator Felicity Milburn how our neighbours have responded to an exhibition of earthquake related art direct from Christchurch.

Fiona Farrell: Writing the Quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Fiona Farrell has been awarded the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer's Fellowship to research and write twin books, one fiction and one non-fiction, inspired by her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes and the rebuilding of the city.

Minister says he has faith in Fletchers to prevent fraud

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says he is confident that Fletchers is vigilant about fraud and is doing what it can to prevent it in the Christchurch rebuild after accusations from New Zealand First.

Professional groups say no legal action for CTV engineers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It now seems unlikely that 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.

Insurance Council responds to claim quake insurance too complex

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Overlapping claims and general confusion are delaying money payable to New Zealand for damage from the Canterbury earthquakes. The money involved is payable through reinsurance schemes taken out by insurance companies in this country, with firms overseas.

Residents fear they have lost say in CBD rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Nearly two years' after Christchurch's February earthquake and almost 6 months after the blueprint for the city centre was revealed, many questions remain about how much it will cost and who will pay for it.

Engineering bodies tell Govt their hands are tied on CTV

Audio, Radio New Zealand

It's emerged that engineers involved in the most serious building collapse of the Christchurch earthquake are unlikely to face any external action, with the profession's two top bodies telling the Government their hands are tied.

Council allays public fears of sewerage damage to CHCH waters

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Experts trying to restore Christchurch's busted sewerage system have faced up to concerned residents about what happened when raw sewage was allowed to flow directly into the sea in the months after the February earthquake.

Top Stories for Monday 22 July 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The latest news and updates on last night's earthquake; a former resident of a Christchurch complex, where a woman was found dead over the weekend, says altercations are common; NZ says law change on asylum seekers justified; doubts Kiwisaver tweaks would help first home buyers; and veterans want answers about exposure to radiation.

The Vault - Avon Loop

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Conversations between one-time residents of an historic riverside community - in the 1970s the late Elsie Locke and Rod Donald helped to create one of Christchurch's strongest riverside communities. The Avon Loop now subject to post earthquake re-classifation and demolition.

EQC level assessments questioned

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Canterbury homeowners say their houses have dropped in value because the damage to their properties was inadequately assessed by the Earthquake Commission after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Independent land surveyor, Adrian Cowie, and a Burwood homeowner affected by the quakes, Selwyn Stafford, talk about the issues facing them.

Top Stories for Thursday 25 July 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) criticised for misleading and inadequate measurements on housing foundations when assessing damage to Canterbury homes; Wellington historic building champions vow to save heritage structure in the capital; the spread of didymo in Fiordland; Defence Force sentencing today after drowning last year; the censorship of Maniac, arty audiences only please, and; the PM changes tack on working with NZ First.

Ideas for 1 September 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones as they’re commonly known, are suddenly everywhere. Conservationists and academics are using them to map our rivers; engineers surveyed the interior of the earthquake damaged Christchurch Cathedral with one; and then, of course, there's the military drones used to such lethal affect in Pakistan and Yemen. Ideas visits Palmerston North's Skycam UAV – New Zealand's leading manufacture of UAVs; talks to the interim president of the Association of Unmanned Operations – a union of US drone pilots; and Professor James Cavallaro tells us about the findings of a report he co-authored: 'Living Under Drones: Death, Injury, and Trauma to Civilians from US Drone Practices in Pakistan'.

Late Edition for 22 February 2013

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The debt stricken state-owned enterprise Solid energy is in crisis talks with the Treasury and its banks, two years after the Christchurch earthquakes, insurance companies are blamed for delays in the rebuild, and in dateline pacific Papua New Guinea is building up its military to build roads.

Red Zone hold outs want answers from the Government

Audio, Radio New Zealand

We're broadcasting today from Christchurch on the second anniversary of the six point three magnitude earthquake which devastated this city. One hundred and eighty five died in the quake and today at midday a memorial service will be held in Latimer Square. After two years, the pace of the rebuild is growing, but for some, so is frustration. More than seven thousand property owners in the residential red zone received a buyout offer from the government. Most of those have taken it - but there are a few who haven't.

Real recovery, Canterbury New Zealand

Other, National Library of New Zealand

Information site provided by Christchurch residents group formed to advocate and protect the rights of home owners in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes. Provides articles and legal advice on getting fair compensation and dealing with government beaurocracy.

Revitalising Maori Language provision in a City Post Earthquakes: Educatio…

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

None

Lost Christchurch

Other, National Library of New Zealand

After the shock and dust settled from the earthquakes, two friends, Helen Solomons and Wendy Riley, felt so strongly over the loss of the city's historic heart, they decided to put their skills to use and create this living tribute to it on the web.