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SCIRT Investigations presentation

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A pdf copy of a PowerPoint presentation prepared for the Christchurch City Council and CPG New Zealand, providing an overview of the investigation work completed.

Lack of engineering assessments investigated

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A lack of building inspections and the engineers to carry them out has come under further scrutiny at the Royal Commission of inquiry into the Canterbury earthquakes.

Illegal dumping of earthquake rubble investigated

Audio, Radio New Zealand

At least five companies are being investigated by the Canterbury Regional Council for dumping or burning earthquake demolition rubble illegally.

Police investigate first cases of fraudulent earthquake claims

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch police have made their first arrest for false claims over earthquake damage, charging a local woman with obtaining by deception.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

There's disagreement about whether a Royal Commission of inquiry into building collapses in the Canterbury earthquakes should apportion blame.

Royal Commission into quakes won't investigate liability

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People caught up in February's earthquake in Christchurch want to know why a Royal Commission of inquiry isn't going to apportion any blame for building collapses.

Greendale Fault: investigation of surface rupture characteristics for faul…

The previously unknown Greendale Fault ruptured to the ground surface, causing up to 5 metres horizontal and 1 metre vertical permanent offset of the ground, during the September 2010 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake. Environment Canterbury commissioned GNS Science, with help from the University of Canterbury, to define a fault avoidance zone and to estimate the fault recurrence interval. There is little evidence for past movement on the fault in the past 16,000 years. However, because of the uncertainties involved, a conservative approach was taken and the fault has been categorised as a Recurrence Interval Class IV fault (a recurrence interval of between 5,000 and 10,000 years). A PhD study by a University of Canterbury student will work towards refining the Recurrence Interval Class over the next three years. Taking a risk-based approach, the Ministry for the Environment Active Fault Guidelines recommend that normal residential development be allowed within the fault avoidance zone for faults of this Recurrence Interval Class, but recommends restrictions for larger community buildings or facilities with post-disaster functions. The report is assisting Selwyn District Council in granting consents for rebuilding houses on or near the Greendale Fault that were damaged by permanent distortion of the ground due to the fault rupture in the September 2010 earthquake. The report provides specific recommendations for building on or close to the Greendale Fault, which are being implemented by Selwyn District Council. See Object Overview for background and usage information.

Earthquake Commission looks at increasing size of fraud team

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Commission is looking at increasing the size of the team investigating fraudalent claims in Canterbury.

Government appoints experts to look at building collapses

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has appointed the panel of experts that will investigate why so many buildings collapsed during Christchurch's February earthquake.

Christchurch Press 13 April 2011: Section A, Page 3

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

Page 3 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 13 April 2011.

Royal Commission excludes liability issues

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Survivors of February's devastating earthquake in Christchurch are astounded the Royal Commission won't investigate whether anyone should be held liable for the collapse of so many central city buildings.

Quake hearing told building in use despite yellow placard

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A property manager has been questioned at the Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes about why he didn't tell tenants the building they worked in was unsafe.

Concerns raised over training of NZ structural engineers

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Auckland structural engineer John Scarry is concerned that the series of investigations into earthquake related collapses of Christchurch buildings won't result in the changes needed to make the city safer.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Monday 18 July 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

NZ SAS troops involved in another gun battle in the Afghan capital Kabul. Another fatal police pursuit, this time, in South Auckland and Police investigate missing cheques for earthquake damage in Christchurch.

Man was killed by a falling concrete wall

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes has heard that the premises where a man was killed by a falling concrete wall was not inspected by structural engineers between the September and February quakes.