Quake-hit Christchurch Residents having to return home

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some Canterbury residents are returning to homes damaged in last year's 7.1 earthquake, because they can't afford to live anywhere else.

Parties uncertain about special tax for earthquake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The country's political parties are uncertain about whether a special tax might be needed to help pay to rebuild Christchurch after this week's devastating earthquake.

Canterbury Earthquake - Parliament adjourned after earthquake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament was adjourned as news of the earthquake came through. Party leaders made statements to the House as the seriousness of the situation became clear.

Prince to speak at next week's memorial service

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Prime Minister says Prince William will speak at next week's national memorial service being held for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake.

Earthquake Authority gets wide powers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A stand-alone government department will be vested with the wide ranging powers the Government gave itself after last year's quake, to oversee recovery efforts in Canterbury.

Thousands gather at Parliament for two minutes silence.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A large crowd gathered outside Parliament to pay their respects to the people of Christchurch after last week's 6-point-3 magnitude earthquake.

New Zealander survives 3 big quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A New Zealander who was in Christchurch for both the September and February earthquakes, has spoken about experiencing her third major quake - this time in Japan.

Christchurch residents pick up smoking again after earthquake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Many people in Christchurch have taken up smoking again or are going through more cigarettes a day since earthquakes began rattling the region.

170 Christchurch City Council jobs gone

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More than 170 people employed by the Christchurch City Council have been told their jobs are gone as a result of the earthquake in February.

Residents frustrated waiting for EQC claims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People in Canterbury with homes damaged by the February 22nd earthquake have less than six hours left to lodge a claim with the Earthquake Commission.

Man who broke neck in quake walks in front door

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Ken Hird is back home today for the first time since breaking his neck during an earthquake aftershock in Christchurch.

Earthquake commission on delays

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission says 95 percent of the invoices it gets from contractors repairing houses in Christchurch are paid out within two to three weeks.

Greens say Christchurch suburbs plan needs a hurry up

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee is defending the time it's taking to get robust information for a full report on the matter.

Third Canterbury council in insurance strife

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch city and Waimakariri District councils have from today got no insurance cover for future earthquakes after their existing policies expired at 4pm.

Jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store Ballantynes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Thirty to fourty jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store, Ballantynes, because of earthquake damage to it's central city shop.

Way of setting excesses for commercial properties changes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Commercial property owners are facing not just higher insurance premiums following the Christchurch earthquakes, but also the prospect of much higher excesses.

Some Christchurch earthquake victims are angry

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The families of some Christchurch earthquake victims are angry disappointed the Government is refusing to pay for lawyers for them at the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Students return to Shirley Boys High School

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Students at Christchurch's Shirley Boys High School were upbeat about their return today to their old school, for the first time since the February earthquake.

Christchurch City Council questioned over russian roulette

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council has been questioned over whether it was playing russian roulette with its citizens with its rules on earthquake prone buildings.

Christchurch has been hit by a swarm of earthquakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first one struck just before 2 this afternoon and measured 5 point 8 on the Richter scale, and was eight kilometres deep.

Markets douse rumours of interest rate cuts in quake's wake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Financial markets have backtracked on expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake. Economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, reports.

John Key gives rundown of widespread damage in Canterbury

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An emergency Cabinet Meeting is being held at Parliament as reports begin to come in of the damage in Canterbury caused by this afternoon's earthquake.

Burial service held for soldier killed in Afghanistan

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan last week has been laid to rest in Hamilton but without full military honors because of the Christchurch earthquake.

Prime Minister calls for two minute silence

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In the last hour the Prime Minister, John Key, has called for a two-minute nationwide silence on Tuesday, exactly one week on from the Christchurch earthquake.

Parliament pays tribute to victims and rescuers and adjourns

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament has adjourned for two weeks following the declaration of a national emergency after yesterday's devastating Canterbury earthquake. The leadership of the various parties took turns to acknowlege the disaster and pay tribute to it victims and heroes.

Seismic engineer on the quake's effect on buildings

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A seismic engineer says many of the Christchurch buildings destroyed in Tuesday's quake weren't designed to cope with such intense forces - and it's possible damage from the September 4th earthquake went undetected.

Eastern suburbs complain of lack of services

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Labour Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel says the city council has made a terrible decision about how it organises help for earthquake victims and it needs to be changed urgently.

Laundry service set up for earthquake victims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With many people in Christchurch still without power and water and the streets covered in a thick layer of silt, getting clean clothes is proving difficult.

PM announces a national memorial service for Chch quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More now from today's post cabinet news conference where the Prime Minister announced that a national memorial service to mark the Christchurch earthquake will be held in the city on Friday March the 18th.

Canterbury Earthquake - David Neal

Audio, Radio New Zealand

David Neal is the national programmes manager for the Red Cross. The Christchurch Red Cross response team is out with the fire service, searching buildings for people who might be trapped.