Empty Churches - Father John O'Connor

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Catholic priest Father John O'Connor is of a mind that religion is not about to become extinct in NZ, especially in light of how people responded to last month's Christchurch earthquake.

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.

Chambers at 241

Audio, Radio New Zealand

From the ashes of the earthquakes which have destroyed so much of Christchurch over the past year, are starting to rise new venues and new opportunities for artisits.

Midday News for 3 January 2012

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Mayor says the city council will meet with GNS scientists to get some answers about the current sequence of earthquakes, which have sparked anxiety among residents.

Rubble scanner to sniff out quake survivors

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Scientists in Europe have developed a technology which could be used to find survivors buried in rubble from collapsed buildings in events like the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes.

Trapped

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Martin van Beynen is an award-winning journalist with the Christchurch newspaper The Press. His book, 'Trapped: Remarkable Stories of Survival from the 2011 Canterbury Earthquake' documents the experiences of 23 survivors.

Carpenter Chris Nutfield recieves bravery award

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch carpenter Chris Nutfield rescued three women from the collapsed PGC building. He's one of the many to receive a bravery and heroism award one year after the February 2011 earthquake.

Quake-affected homeowners unsure about future

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch owners worst affected by October's quake remain uncertain about their future, despite reassurance by the Earthquake Commission that many of the properties are safe to rebuild on.

Canterbury quake family gives thanks this Christmas

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch woman Lavina Pockson and her family live in a house with big cracks in it, on land that's among the most damaged from the big September earthquake.

Work underway to repair earthquake damaged cliff

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Those repairing an earthquake damaged cliff in Christchurch have had to wrangle with home owners who don't want to sell, and relocating a rare flightless moth. Rachel Graham reports.

Quake-hit state house tenant withholds rent

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A state house tenant in the Christchurch suburb of Avonside is withholding her rent, saying Housing New Zealand has left her in the lurch following the big earthquake.

Sewage restoration given top priority

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Plans for the reconstruction of earthquake damaged parts of Christchurch are slowly taking shape as priority is given to restoring fundamental services to residential areas of the city.

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.

Bereaved husband rejects CTV designer's apology

Audio, Radio New Zealand

For the first time Alan Reay, whose firm designed the collapsed CTV building, has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed in the Christchurch earthquake 18 months ago.

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.

Billy Bird - Ep 4

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Liam takes a work trip to Christchurch. Iris gets a part-time job but before she can start she gets a call from the school about Billy's reaction to an earthquake drill.

Aranui welcomes new community centre

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After Christchurch's devastating earthquakes, whole areas of the city, particularly out East, are starting from scratch - Aranui is one of them. Today, Lianne Dalziel cut the ribbon on the suburb's new community centre.

EQC considering legal action against Fletcher Construction

Audio, Radio New Zealand

EQC CEO Sid Miller says the agency is currently defending 316 legal cases over the Christchurch earthquakes, and is considering legal action against Fletcher's for its project management of the repairs.

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.

Limitation periods for Chch quake due to expire despite 'bloody mess'

Audio, Radio New Zealand

As IAG and Southern Response's limitation periods for claims resulting from the February, 2011 earthquake nears, Christchurch lawyer Peter Woods says the current situation is a "bloody mess".

The government's quake safety deadline

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With Andrew Cleland - Chief Executive of the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ. Dr Maan Alkaisi - Co-chair Christchurch Earthquake Families Group. Maurice Williamson - Minister for Building and Construction.

Not everybody in Chch excited about Council approvals

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister says the Christchurch City Council has wasted an opportunity in deciding to save the Town Hall, instead of building a new performing arts precinct.

More fraud cases expected in connection with Chch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A further round of fraud cases sent to the police by the Earthquake Commission may just be the beginning as the rebuild of Christchurch moves into high gear.

Chch East locals want an MP to breathe life into electorate

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Voters in Christchurch East say many are still suffering - three years on from the devastating earthquakes and want a new MP who will breathe life into the electorate.

Brownlee threatening to step in and override CCC

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Earthquake Recovery Minister has given the Christchurch City Council until this morning to approve a development plan, or else he says he'll do it for them.

Quake Authority sets deadline to speed up city rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Demolition companies and building owners in central Christchurch hope efforts by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will speed up the city's rebuild after it's been languishing for weeks.

English warns deficit will climb above 11 billion

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Treasury is forecasting the Christchurch earthquake will slow economic activity and the Finance Minister says the forecast 11-billion dollar Budget deficit this year will also climb.

Finance Minister says govt will borrow to cover quake costs

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Finance Minister says the Government will cover the ten billion dollar cost of the Christchurch earthquake by borrowing more rather than cutting spending or putting up taxes.

Demand for temporary homes expected to be high in Chch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Demand for temporary accommodation in Christchurch for earthquake evacuees is expected to be intense once the rebuild work kicks into action in coming months - despite a slow start.

Orange zoned residents worry further shakes will cause delays

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Some residents in orange zoned areas in Christchurch are worried the latest series of earthquakes will further delay the decision on whether they can remain in their homes.