Questions over measure used to judge quake resistence

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes has heard evidence questioning the measure used to judge how resistant a building is to earthquake damage. It's come on the second day of hearings into why unreinforced masonry buildings collapsed in Christchurch during the February 22nd earthquake, killing 40 people.

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.

Submissions on Chch schools call for less competition

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The government has been told to rein in competition between Christchurch schools and create hubs where they can cooperate. The call comes in some of the 230 submissions the government has received to help it draw up a plan for the renewal of education in the city in the wake of February's devastating earthquake.

Court Theatre set to reopen in a shed in Addington

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In Christchurch the Court Theatre is about to reopen, more than nine months after the earthquake ruined its inner city premises. The country's most successful professional theatre, which used to be in the 19th century gothic style Arts Centre, has moved to a shed in the suburbs.

Midday Business News for 25 November 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch earthquake costs shake Tower's bottom line.

National touts earthquake successes as reason for Chch seats

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Labour party candidates in two of the closest-run election seats, Christchurch Central, and Waimakariri are refusing to accept defeat.

Royal Commission looks at PGC building collapse

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquakes continues today with the focus on the Pyne Gould Corporation building, where 18 people were killed.

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.

PGC property manager defends lack of detailed assessment

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has heard the property manager of the Pyne Gould building did not organise detailed engineering assessments after the first quake in September.

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.

Canterbury Uni: projected budget deficit of $17-million

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Since the earthquake in February the university has faced spiralling insurance costs and a decline in student enrolments. Now 24 staff have agreed to voluntary redundancy effective next year and the vice chancellor, Rod Carr, says despite that, it's largely business as usual.

Quakes Royal Commission wraps up PGC hearing today

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes concludes its hearing into the collapse of the Pyne Gould building today.

Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral runs for council

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral says he's stepping down so he can better serve the city during the earthquake recovery.

Paul Millar - CEISMIC Thinking

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Paul Millar, associate professor at Canterbury University, is concerned that future generations won't have access to the full picture of the Canterbury earthquakes, so he got the CEISMIC Project under way. The project is an archive of earthquake-related digital material and includes resources from the National Library, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Christchurch City Libraries, Te Papa, NZ On Screen, the Canterbury Museum and the Ngai Tahu Research Centre. Paul says the aim is to document the impact of the disaster and the process of recovery, and make all that material available for free.

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

Brash and Cunliffe react to latest deficit figures

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The damage from the Christchurch earthquakes is now being felt in the government's books.

Christchurch casino reopens bringing jobs, life to city

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Casino reopened its doors last night for the first time since the February 22nd earthquake.

1 in 4 chance of another big Canterbury quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Government scientists say there's almost a one in four chance of a magnitude seven earthquake striking Canterbury in the next year.

Earthquake property inspectors earning $750 a day

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Seven $750 a day - plus expenses. That's the sum being earned by more than 414 people employed by the Earthquake Commission to carry out property inspections in Christchurch.

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.

Inquest into deaths of 106 of quake victims get under way

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The inquest into the deaths of over a hundred of February's earthquake victims will get underway in Christchurch today.

Seismologist discusses latest Christchurch quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two weeks ago government scientists warned there was almost a one in four chance of a magnitude six to seven earthquake striking Canterbury within a year.

More damage to risky buildings in centre of Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority's manager of demolitions, Warwick Isaacs.

Earthquake minister outlines government's response

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, is leading the government's response to the latest round of earthquakes.

Midday News for 14 June 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Thousands in Christchurch still without power and water supply after yesterday's earthquakes and the government will soon decide which suburbs must be abandoned.

Christchurch residents consider leaving as aftershocks continue

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Many people in this city are, yet again, cleaning up after a major earthquake. An increasing number of householders, especially in the badly hit eastern suburbs, say they're close to hanging up their spades and shipping out.

Work continues to restore water supply to homes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

For the latest on the damage caused by Monday's earthquakes, we're joined by the Christchurch City Council's water and waste unit manager, Mark Christison.

Recovery head says demolition process will be sped up

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Roger Sutton is in our Christchurch studio .

Catholic community faces tough decision over Cathedral

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Catholic basilica in Christchurch was further damaged in Monday's earthquake making its demolition all but inevitable.

Clean up continues in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

In Christchurch power is back on for all but a small number of customers after Monday's earthquakes, but the city council is warning it could be six months before water supplies return to normal.