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.
The country's largest local body has told its staff not to fundraise at work for victims of the Christchurch earthquake.
Christchurch City Council staff have been given the hurry up from councillors over the length of time it is taking to repair or replace earthquake-damaged council housing.
Construction delays and cost over-runs are prolonging the earthquake risks facing patients and staff at Christchurch hospital. Six major hospital buildings at the central city site have been listed as earthquake prone since May, but there is no safer space to shift patients into. Christchurch Hospital boss David Meates pron; Mates says the hospital is still basically a construction site. One earthquake prone building has roof tanks containing 75 tonnes of water. Mr Meates told RNZ reporter Phil Pennington removing the water from the tanks in the meantime is not an option.
The Social Development Minister says staff are having to be flexible when deciding what financial support those caught up in the Christchurch earthquake are eligible for.
Construction delays and cost over-runs are prolonging the earthquake risks facing patients and staff at Christchurch hospital. Six major hospital buildings at the central city site have been listed as earthquake prone since May, but there is no safer space to shift patients into. Phil Pennington reports.
Some Canterbury business owners say their employee's jobs are still in serious jeopardy, despite the Government extending its wage subsidy for another month.
The EQC Minister says she is concerned a threatening letter sent to the Earthquake Commission may have been sent by the same person who sent staff a bullet in the post two years ago. Police are investigating an anonymous threat in a letter sent to EQC staff on the 1st of May. The threat made reference to the Christchurch mosque attacks and has forced EQC to increase security at all its offices. Indira spoke with insurance advocate of 26 years, Dean Lester.
The government has announced hundreds of new carparks it hopes will solve the ongoing issues at Christchurch Hospital. Parking was significantly reduced after the earthquakes - forcing patients, visitors and staff to park far away and walk, or catch a shuttle to the hospital. The government's pledging a new building and extension of staff car-parking. Sally Murphy reports.
A Christchurch earthquake insurance specialist says a critical report of the Earthquake Commission is a good start but doesn't go far enough. The report by an independent ministerial advisor says EQC staff have no confidence in their own data, and that the organisation needs to dramatically improve the way it communicates with claimants. The advisor, Christine Stevenson, said EQC was unable even to tell her how many claims it's still dealing with from the Canterbury earthquakes. Dean Lester is a Christchurch insurance advocate and claims preparer. He talks to Susie Ferguson.
The most comprehensive survey carried out so far of Canterbury businesses following the earthquakes, has found the majority of sectors have had to lay off workers.
Some Christchurch business owners are criticising the government for winding down the earthquake support package. The Government has extended the package, which pays employees of quake effected business a wage subsidy for two more weeks.
Christchurch trades companies say they are struggling to find experienced staff as the earthquake rebuild begins.
David Neal is the Red Cross National Operations Manager and is making his way to Christchurch to coordinate efforts with his staff.
Christchurch City Councillor Ali Jones talks about what the cull of EQC staff will mean for life in the post-earthquake city.
Police officers and staff in Christchurch, who have been called the heroes of the February 2011 earthquake, have been honored today for their actions including a daring crane rescue.
A new report says the Earthquake Commission was ill-prepared for a major earthquake and had to use inexperienced staff to respond to the Canterbury earthquakes.
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.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority spent more than three million dollars on communications staff and consultants in the last financial year, up by a third on the previous year.
Treasury warns the Government's books will get worse because of the Christchurch earthquake and schools in Christchurch's eastern suburns fear they will have to lay off staff.
With earthquake damage worse than first, gallery staff are thinking laterally, and this weekend sees the beginning of the Rolling Maul Exhibition. Director Jenny Harper gives us an update.
A Christchurch city council manager has told the Royal Commission there was an element of chaos after the first earthquake in September 2010 as staff sought to get systems in place.
Two weeks after re-opening, the landmark Christchurch department store, Ballantynes has thanked staff, contractors and customers for their hard work and loyalty since the February earthquake forced it to close.
The Government is to provide income support to some workers who've lost earnings because of the earthquake in Canterbury. The support package will be offered to businesses with fewer than 20 employees, which are unable to operate or pay their staff.
Since the earthquake in February the university has faced spiralling insurance costs and a decline in student enrolments. Now 24 staff have agreed to voluntary redundancy effective next year and the vice chancellor, Rod Carr, says despite that, it's largely business as usual.
Police are investigating the origins of a letter which threatened Earthquake Commission staff and referred to the Christchurch mosque shootings. The Earthquake Commission has heightened security at all its offices in response. Renée Walker is EQC's deputy chief executive. She talks to Susie Ferguson.
Topics - A poll on the Stuff website has asked Christchurch residents whether they would stay or go, following the latest earthquakes there. Pupils and staff at Auckland's King's College have been offered counselling following the fourth death of a student in 17 months.
As the government eyes an EQC overhaul, Christchurch earthquake insurance specialist Dean Lester wants to see action, not hear more empty words. This after a report yesterday found EQC staff had no confidence in their own data, and the organisation needed to drastically improve its treatment of claimants. The minister in charge of the Earthquake Commission is calling for immediate changes to the organisation.
An elderly Christchurch couple are crying foul over EQC's site visit policy under alert level two. EQC says the measures, outlined in emails to clients, are crucial for staff and customer safety. But John and Frances van Petegem, who have been waiting years to have botched earthquake repairs put right, say EQC's rules are causing further delays and stress. Nick Truebridge has the story.
Exactly 75 years ago today, Superman made his debut in "Action Comics" No. 1. Campaigners for the restoration of the Christchurch Cathedral are "thrilled" that rebuilding the earthquake-damaged church remains on the table. The Press reports Christchurch's hotel shortage is so critical that at times visitor centre staff have had to put tourists up in their own homes.
Topics - Would you like a pay rise of $10,000 a year? That's what the lowest paid Auckland Council staff will get if a plan to implement a minimum wage of $18.40 an hour goes through. The Insurance Council has received a briefing today after a report revealed hundreds of properties on Christchurch's Port Hills are on unsafe land. The GNS Science report released yesterday shows a major rain or snow storm could cause land already loosened by the earthquakes to move.