Midday News for 14 April 2014

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in Christchurch and the Solomon Islands escapes serious damage despite major earthquakes.

Policy on asbestos still being formulated after 2 years

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch builders are worried asbestos repairs in the earthquake rebuild will continue to cause problems for years to come.

Christchurch plan to get 20,000 in city centre looks set to fail

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch's plan to have 20,000 people living in the city centre within the next few years looks increasingly set to fail. Official figures from last year show the Central Business District's population hovering at around 7000, stubbornly lower than before the earthquakes struck more than a decade ago. Reporter Anan Zaki has more.

Anzac Dawn Service returns to Cathedral Square, first time post quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Anzac Day Dawn service returns to Christchurch's Cathedral Square tomorrow, the first time since the 2011 earthquake. The service will take place near the newly-restored Citizens' War Memorial at 5.30am, where traditional veterans will parade up Worcestor Boulevard towards the Square. Christchurch Memorial RSA president, Dennis Mardle, spoke to Corin Dann.  

The Panel with Barry Corbett, Denise L'Estrange-Corbet (Part 1)

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Topics - The Mayor of Christchurch says he's confident the city council will speed up the processing of building consents and won't lose its authority to grant them. Are Christchurch's frustrations with the Earthquake Commission a result of some kind of misunderstanding. Media hype's being blamed for skyrocketing house prices in parts of Auckland.

John Kelcher

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Radio New Zealand archivist reports on the earthquake recovery operation taking place in Christchurch to preserve this country's broadcasting history.

Fire Service honours teams for actions after February quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Fire Service is recognising fire crews who responded to the February earthquake at an event this evening in Christchurch.

Brownlee's list of post-quake achievements received poorly

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch residents are pouring cold water on the Earthquake Recovery Minister's efforts to celebrate post-quake recovery in the city.

Councils told to focus on quake prone buildings

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Insurance Council is mounting a legal challenge against the Christchurch City Council over its rules regarding earthquake-prone buildings.

Govt accused of exploiting quakes to push school closures

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The government is being accused of exploiting the Christchurch earthquakes to force through sweeping changes to schools in the city.

Economic recovery programme launched

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An economic recovery programme for Christchurch - including multi-billion dollar investments - has been announced by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister.

Richard Langston - Things Lay in Pieces

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Poet/Journalist Richard Langston's fifth collection 'Things Lay in Pieces' starts with a sequence about the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Farmers and rural businesses bring fresh water to city

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Farmers and rural businesses have been combining their efforts to bring desperately needed fresh water supplies to earthquake shattered Christchurch.

New agency to reduce quake impact on international students

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has created an agency to try to lure foreign students back to New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquake.

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.

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.

Casino workers back on job after quake hiatus

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Casino opens again tonight for the first time since February's earthquake left about 500 people out of work.

Earthquake recovery minister defends land-puchase plan

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Goverment has offered to pay out five thousand home owners in Christchurch of the most severely quake damaged properties.

Are Wellington and Gisborne ready for a big earthquake?

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquake has other cities reviewing how well they are prepared for a similar shake.

Are Wellington and Gisborne ready for a big quake?

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The devastation caused by the Christchurch earthquake has other cities reviewing how well they are prepared for a similar shake.

Auckland council discourages staff quake fundraising

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The country's largest local body has told its staff not to fundraise at work for victims of the Christchurch earthquake.

Workers rely on help from big businesses

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Big businesses are getting the thumbs up for the way they've looked after their workers after the Christchurch earthquake.

Heritage sector warns against rushed decisions

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The heritage sector says the earthquake recovery minister shouldn't be hasty when it comes to heritage buildings in Christchurch.

Evening Business for 5 May 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Bank of New Zealand has set aside 60 million dollars for potential credit losses from the earthquakes in Christchurch.

Tony Ryan

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Head of Music at Linwood College in Christchurch on status of school orchestra's European trip that was planned before earthquake.

Aiden Pons

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch-based 11 year-old piano player talks about the compostition he wrote in response to the Sepetmber 4 earthquake.

Jetstar cutting services partly due to ChCh quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The budget airline Jetstar is cutting back on some of its flights out of Christchurch partly because of the earthquake.

Latest quake throws up five times more silt than September

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The amount of silt and sand collected following the Christchurch earthquake is now almost five times more than September's quake.

Some families choose to keep quake inquests open

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Several families of Christchurch earthquake victims have chosen to keep their inquests open, despite the main hearing finishing up today.

Cantabrians turn to gambling to combat stress

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Problem Gambling Foundation says people in Christchurch are turning to gambling to combat stress after the city's major earthquakes.