Silence observed around New Zealand
Audio, Radio New Zealand
While thousands gathered in Christchurch, the first anniversary of the earthquake has also been marked by hundreds of people around the rest of the country.
While thousands gathered in Christchurch, the first anniversary of the earthquake has also been marked by hundreds of people around the rest of the country.
It's one year today since a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch.
Ready or not for an earthquake, many former Christchurch residents have left canterbury for what they describe as more stable pastures.
Dealing with the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes is a challenge unlike any New Zealand has faced in its history.
After a year's earthquake-enforced absence, the New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival is back and opens in Christchurch this evening.
An international expert in earthquake recovery who's touring New Zealand says it's inconceivable to think that a building as magnificent as Christchurch Cathedral won't be rebuilt.
New assessment guidelines are reclassifying houses which were previously written off as being repairable, leaving owners up to $180,000 worse off. Kathryn talks to Leanne Curtis, spokesperson for the Canterbury Community Earthquake Recovery Network, and Renee Walker, spokesperson for IAG New Zealand.
Seismologists studying the Canterbury earthquakes say aftershocks from the September 2010 quake were so unusually strong because of the type of rocks along the faultline.
On October 23, 2010 Christchurch's Hagley Park hosted one of the biggest ever free concerts in New Zealand, following the first big earthquake to shake the city a month earlier.
A new temporary housing village for residents with earthquake-damaged homes in Christchurch has opened in the east of the city.
The Fire Service may have announced another investigation into its response to last year's deadly February earthquake in Christchurch, but there are already claims it won't go far enough although some feel it will indicate the need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says the language describing building safety is unhelpful and is worrying people needlessly. The Authority's CEO, Roger Sutton, joins the programme.
A review of the week's news including: The aftermath of New Zealand's worst aviation disaster since Erebus, Ports of Auckland industrial negotiations break down again while a report calls for privatising ports, the earthquake recovery minister is offside with the Christchurch business community, how safe is hunting in new Zealand? notorious criminal Dean Wickcliff behind bars again, turning Wellington's white knuckle flight arrivals into an opportunity, and something different for the kids these school holidays... adopt a pony.
Canadian expert on the development of healthy communities in British Columbia is in New Zealand to explore possibilities for contributing to the rebuilding of a resilient Christchurch following the earthquake and aftershocks.
Highlights from Radio New Zealand National's programmes for the week ending Friday 6th April. This week... we look at the commercial deals some media personalities are making these days, a documentary on the history of New Zealand's psychiatric hospitals, a new social phenomenon - the increasing number of people who choose to live alone, a new book and interesting findings about our national icon the kiwi, With the aid of advanced functional MRI scanners, scientists are getting closer to being able to read your mind, the opening of a public art project by the Christchurch Art Gallery to try and ensure art continues to have a presence in the earthquake hit city.
A structural engineer has denied he rushed the inspection of earthquake repairs to a Christchurch bar so it could re-open in time for New Years Eve.
The man who documented the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes with the film 'When A City Falls' says this week's plan for a new Christchurch CBD will forge a new path for the damaged city.
A new slew of Christchurch businesses are in limbo after Merivale mall was closed because of earthquake risks.
New research suggests about half the Christchurch businesses which left the central city after the Canterbury earthquakes are unlikely to return.
New research shows the Canterbury earthquakes generated eight million tonnes of waste - forty times what would normally come from local households in a year.
The Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes has been told of new deficiencies in the structure of the CTV Building.
DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement "I am deeply concerned about every child in New Zealand who is in poverty"; if so, why has the number of children living in material hardship grown under his watch? TODD McCLAY to the Minister of Finance: What measures has the Government taken to support vulnerable New Zealanders through the aftermath of the domestic recession and global financial crisis? METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: When he said "we don't want to see any New Zealand child suffer … children don't get to make choices, they're often the victim of circumstance" does that mean he will take tangible steps to ensure children don't suffer because of circumstances beyond their control? Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the Minister of Immigration? Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Compared to 2012, does the Reserve Bank forecast the New Zealand dollar (as measured by the Trade Weighted Index) to strengthen or weaken in the next two years, and does he believe this will make New Zealand exporters more competitive or less competitive? DAVID BENNETT to the Minister for Economic Development: How is the Government encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources to support jobs and grow the economy? Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied with the state of children's health in New Zealand; if not, why not? COLIN KING to the Minister of Energy and Resources: What recent announcement has he made about Block Offer 2012? EUGENIE SAGE to the Minister for the Environment: Does she agree with the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society in relation to freshwater that "failure to act with decisiveness and urgency risks further environmental degradation and erosion of our international environmental reputation"; if not, why not? Hon LIANNE DALZIEL to the Minister for Building and Construction: How quickly will he respond to the building performance, assessment and construction recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes? NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Building and Construction: What is the Government doing in response to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission's full report? CLARE CURRAN to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?
The creation of a new unit within the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority to oversee the rebuilding of central Christchurch is being welcomed by business leaders.
Topics - the latest twist in the Kim Dotcom saga is that the police have announced they're investigating the Government Communications Security Bureau's illegal surveillance of the internet mogul. New research has shown that membership of all mainstream Christian denominations has fallen to historic lows - except for Catholicism. New research has uncovered the role underground rock structures played in stopping the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake from linking up with the Port Hills faultline and causing greater damage to Christchurch.
A new report says a major earthquake in Wellington would leave a bill of nearly 40 billion dollars, almost twice as much as that of the Canterbury quakes.
The National Recovery Coordinator for Red Cross Emergency Services in Australia, who has researched disaster recovery practices around the world including the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, London bombings and Sichuan earthquake. She is visiting New Zealand ahead of the first anniversary of the February earthquake in Christchurch.
Retired Christchurch people affected by the earthquakes are disappointed they have been left out of new rules aimed at giving people in retirement villages better payouts after natural disasters.
One of five Maori social service providers losing a Family Start contract is choosing not to fight the decision in court - and will instead attempt to win back the business; Maori business leaders who've recently returned from China say the trip has already resulted in new export deals - including a five-tonne shipment of mussels to a Chinese town; A new Maori education group says iwi are sleeping giants that have woken up to help tamariki do better at school; A new study into the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes on Maori mental health patients is promising to offer a unique perspective on how Maori live after devastating events.
Maori business leaders who've recently returned from China say the trip has already resulted in new export deals - including a five-tonne shipment of mussels to a Chinese town; One of five Maori social service providers losing a Family Start contract is choosing not to fight the decision in court - and will instead attempt to win back the business; A new Maori education group says iwi are sleeping giants that have woken up to help tamariki do better at school; A new study into the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes on Maori mental health patients is promising to offer a unique perspective on how Maori live after devastating events.
A review of the week's main news: sex offender slips through net to teach in a number of New Zealand schools, government says it's not to blame for spreading industrial unrest, Turangi teen sentenced to 10 years jail for raping five year old, Rena captain and navigational officer plead guilty to altering ship's documents, government targets sole parents, unemployed teens, widows and women alone in welfare reforms, Otago Rugby Union fights to stave off liquidation, government promising clampdown on mistreatment and underpayment of foreign crews working on fishing boats chartered to New Zealand companies, structural engineer breaks down at Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission and Bret McKenzie earns an Oscar for a Muppet of a song.