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.
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.
Tonight Christchurch's Bread & Circus Buskers festival is swinging into action, and its promising to lure the biggest crowds to the central city since pre-earthquake times. But organisers admit the festival hasn't escaped its dire financial past, despite new management and a rebrand as the Bread and Circus Festival last year. And it it will still be running at a loss until about 2022. Katie Todd reports.
Building plans signed off by the Christchurch City Council show one of its own structural engineers was involved in the design of a new multistorey building that is unstable. The eight-storey office building at 230 High Street is off-limits as it is too weak and might 'rupture' in an earthquake. But the council insists the planning documents are wrong and its engineer had only a minor role. Phil Pennington reports.
Gary Luff's home was destroyed in February earthquake in Christchurch and he faced scenes of devastation in his work with the fire service. He and his partner struggled to find somewhere to stay in the aftermath and ended up living on a borrowed boat. They've enjoyed the surprise lifestyle change so much they're thinking of making it permanent - but it hasn't all been plain sailing.
The only Christchurch street still closed following the 2011 earthquake will reopen later in 2018 only to close again in 2019 so the council can extend the route for the tram. The proposal has raised the ire of fledgling businesses along High st worried about the disruption the road works will cause them and wanting the work done now, before they open their doors to the public.
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.
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.
Hundreds of camper vans are now ready for the earthquake displaced residents of Christchurch, but the demand for what is cramped and slightly claustrophobic accommodation is yet to be proven.
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.
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.
Radio New Zealand has had to abandon the Christchurch building that was it's base and the home of Sound Archives - Nga Taonga Korero. Deborah Nation tells its earthquake story through audio - starting with the interview Brigette Mills was recording at 12:51pm on 22 February 2011.
Elric Hooper is a recognisable face in Christchurch theatre both on and off stage. He spent his early years with Dame Ngaio Marsh, the influential woman for whom the theatre at The University of Canterbury was named after. The theatre was damaged during the Christchurch earthquakes and is now under threat. But is it worth keeping it?
Christchurch is home to many diverse ethnic groups whose voices have sometimes gone unheard in the aftermath of the earthquakes and the city's rebuild plans. Katy Gosset visits a gathering in Christchurch's battered eastern suburbs to hear their thoughts on post-quake life and the future of their adopted home.
A scheme called Crack'd for Christchurch wants to make a beautiful memorial out of the fine china broken in the earthquake. Jenny Cooper is one of a group of people who plan to create an inner-city mosaic that is an art work in its own right, but also acts as a memorial to old Christchurch.
Plumbers say EQC paying bills too slowly, Earthquake Commission defends its claim process, Events centre, not stimulus package, for West Coast, Harawira calls meeting to consider forming new party, Government, Auckland council split over development, Search work in Christchurch central city nears completion, Power in South Christchurch threatened by cut cable.
Strong aftershocks felt in Canterbury, Quake firms to seek government wage subsidy, More services, access to buildings being restored in Christchurch, Minister for Earthquake Recovery discusses plans, Heavy rain causes flooding and road closures in Lower North Island, Building codes minimised quake's injuries and damage, Glass supply freezes as Christchurch companies clean up.
Twenty seven men and women who risked their lives to save others after the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch have been recognised for their bravery. Joining us is a Christchurch firefighter, Paul Rodwell, one of the first on scene at the CTV building and who has been awarded a medal in the awards.
Hundreds of Christchurch homeowners have discovered extensive damage to the on-sold properties they purchased after the 2010/2011 earthquakes. Licenced Building Practictioner Dan Paltridge talks to Logan Church about what people need to look out for, and what they need to do before buying a home in the city.
Four years ago Christchurch City Council vowed to get tough on the owners of 30 central city buildings left derelict since the 2011 earthquake. A wander through central Christchurch shows many of the buildings, nicknamed the dirty 30, still look unchanged. There are boarded up windows, tarps covering gaping holes, and containers keeping bricks from falling on passers by. But council says progress is finally being made on most Rachel Graham has more.
As Wellington debates the future of its earthquake-damaged central library, and Christchurch enjoys its new high tech one, it's the perfect time to really think about libraries of the future.
A group of business owners in the Christchurch suburb of Sydenham fear the new crematorium there will drive people away from the area, which is trying to revitalise after significant earthquake damage.
Almost three days on from the 6 point 3 earthquake that shattered central Christchurch and Lyttleton and searchers are continuing to find more bodies but no more survivors in the rubble.
The Rangiora Earthquake Express was the brain child of Brendan Malone and his mate Chris who, on Wednesday last week, came up with an idea to help the citizens of East Christchurch.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Before the earthquakes, Sarah Miles ran a psychotherapy practice in Christchurch. During the recovery phase she was astounded to find that when it comes to issues of real importance to the citizens â€" welfare, policyholder protection, economic security and education â€" politicians are conveniently deaf, dumb and blind. She’s written a book intended to expose the Government and the insurance industry's failure, she says, to protect the citizens of Christchurch and draw attention to the need for change to ensure that there is not a repeat of what she describes as the fiasco that happened in her city. Sarah Miles’ book, The Christchurch Fiasco â€" Insurance Aftershock and its Implications for New Zealand and Beyond, is published by Dunmore Publishing.