Work begins replacing lost rest home beds

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Health officials in Christchurch have today begun work on a recovery plan for how they will replace hundreds of beds lost in rest homes because of the recent earthquake.

Two minutes of silence for quake victims marked

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Church bells tolled around the country at exactly 12.51 this afternoon - one week on from the deadly Christchurch earthquake, which may have claimed as many as 240 lives.

Opposition warn National not to rush through policies

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The declaration by the Finance Minister that all spending is now under review has prompted warnings that the Christchurch earthquake should not be used to push through unpopular policies.

Botany to elect new MP tomorrow

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The voters of Botany will elect a new MP tomorrow, but last week's earthquake in Christchurch has meant the last few weeks of the campaign have been very subdued.

Plumbers say EQC paying bills too slowly

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Plumbers industry body says some plumbers helping Christchurch quake victims are struggling to stay afloat, because the Earthquake Commission is not paying out fast enough for emergency repairs.

Almost 100 jobs to go at Grand Chancellor Hotel

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Almost 100 people are losing their jobs at Christchurch's Hotel Grand Chancellor this Friday, the latest in a series of significant job losses in the wake of the earthquake.

Scientist explains 'trampoline effect' in Chch quake

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Scientists studying last month's earthquake in Christchurch say the shaking was exacerbated by a slapdown or trampoline effect that made the land under the city bounce up and down.

AMI stadium owner may not insure pitch against further damage

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The owner of Christchurch's AMI stadium is refusing to guarantee it will insure its playing field in future, despite taking a multimillion-dollar taxpayer handout to fix earthquake damage.

Report: steps taken to strengthen buildings with stairwells

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The first report into the damage done to three large buildings in the Christchurch earthquake is recommending urgent steps be taken around the country to strengthen buildings with stairwells.

Potential asbestos forces CERA to check paperwork

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is now double checking all of its paperwork following fears earthquake rubble dumped in a Christchurch land fill could have been contaminated by asbestos.

Mossad expert - activities have hallmarks of spy training

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A researcher of the Israeli spy agency MOSSAD says the suspicious activity of four Israeli students during the Christchurch earthquake bears all the hallmarks of a classic intelligence operation.

ChCh mayor urges heritage building owners not to tear down city'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The mayor of Christchurch is urging owners of heritage buildings damaged in the earthquake, not to tear down the city's treasures without first considering if they can be saved.

Understanding Loss

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Part of the Kiwi brain drain to Australia, Christchurch artist Mike Hewson prepares to show his new countrymen the impact of the earthquakes on his hometown and his art.

Reaction to proposed charter schools

Audio, Radio New Zealand

More now on the charter schools which the Government is planning to trial in South Auckland and in some parts of Christchurch, which were hit badly in the earthquake.

Trev's BBQ

Audio, Radio New Zealand

An Ashburton couple who cooked barbecues for earthquake-weary Christchurch residents for nine months following the February quake have been named the joint winners of the Trustpower Community Awards.

CTV designer apologises to families for the first time

Audio, Radio New Zealand

For the first time the man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed when it collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake.

Community stunned at council CEO's 14-percent pay rise

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A payrise of nearly 70 thousand for the Christchurch City Council's chief executive has stunned people in the community, many of whom have been struggling financially since the earthquakes.

Chch locals fed up with late night noise

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The agency in charge of fixing earthquake damaged pipes and roads in Christchurch was last night issued an excessive noise notice after keeping residents awake in the early hours.

27 named on the Special Honours List for Bravery Awards

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some of the men and women who risked their lives to save others in the aftermath of the February 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch have been recognised for their bravery.

Hope and Wire

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Lyttelton singer-songwriter Adam McGrath talks about songwriting, free concerts after the Christchurch earthquakes, and lending his song - and its title - to TV mini-series Hope and Wire.

Canterbury mayors luke warm on new rate for stadium

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury mayors say their ratepayers are already paying for earthquake recovery, roading, water and storm water infrastructure, so a shiny new Christchurch stadium is way down the priority list.

50 year old message in a bottle found in Chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A message in a bottle, hidden under the floor of a Christchurch home for over fifty years, has been discovered during earthquake repairs and its writer's been tracked down.

Survivor Stories

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Kiwi director Christopher Dudman on his television documentary The Day that Changed My Life, which features those who survived in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, 22 February 2011.

EQC says it has enough money to respond

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The EQC says it has enough staff and money in the kitty to respond to the latest earthquakes, despite still having work to do in Christchurch - five years after on.

Chch school says it's been blindsided by proposal to shut it down.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch school says it's been blindsided by a proposal to shut it down. Redcliffs School has been running out of a deaf education centre in Sumner since the earthquakes.

Student Volunteer Army organisers to help Japan

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Two students who helped organize the 10,000 strong student volunteer army during the Christchurch earthquake are going to Japan to help students there mobilize an army of their own.

Nothing to fear over buildings identified as potentially weak

Audio, Radio New Zealand

People will be told by Christmas if they are in unsafe buildings that have the same flaw as the CTV building, which collapsed killing 115 people in the Christchurch earthquake.

Mother Earth and the Quakeia Babies

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A book written by two Christchurch women to help the region's children deal with the stress of the earthquakes has been endorsed by the director of Civil Defence, John Hamilton.

Lyttelton Port Expansion Worries some Banks Peninsula Residents

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Lyttelton Port near Christchurch is now almost three and a half hectares larger than it was before the earthquakes - as earthquake rubble is dumped in the harbour to reclaim land.

Summing up today in Tower earthquake insurance case

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Both sides are expected to sum up their cases today in the legal battle between Tower Insurance and a Christchurch couple, over the amount owed on an earthquake damaged home.