News archive

Governors Bay Road Weight restriction lifted for some vehicles-Updated 4.15pm

Governors Bay Road between Rapaki and Dyers Pass Road should reopen by 6pm tonight to: Class 1 vehicles only (under 44,000kg) It will remain CLOSED to vehicles requiring overweight or overdimension permits. This restriction supersedes area wide permits for this …

Inconvenience Store: proposals now welcomed, due 18 Feb

Call for Proposals Due: Tuesday 18 February, 9am Gap Filler is creating a hybrid between a store and an art project or residency to explore the theme of (in)convenience as it relates to our city, and we’d like you to be a part of it. Thanks to Life in Vacant Spaces (LIVS), we are temporarily […]

UPDATE: Inconvenience Store: new proposal deadline, due 19 Feb @ 9am

Download the application form here (but ignore the stated deadline): Inconvenience Store – Call For Proposals Call for Proposals Due: Tuesday 18 February, 9am Gap Filler is creating a hybrid between a store and an art project or residency to explore the theme of (in)convenience as it relates to our city, and we’d like you […]

UPDATE: Inconvenience Store now open (March 4)

Find info about the Call for Proposals below. The Inconvenience Store project page can be found HERE!   Download the application form here (but ignore the stated deadline): Inconvenience Store – Call For Proposals Call for Proposals Due: Tuesday 18 February, 9am Gap Filler is creating a hybrid between a store and an art project […]

Young achiever

Art and planters enhance Edgeware site

History has been recaptured in artwork at a vacant site in Edgeware Village.

Real-time travel information turned on

Motorists on State Highway 1 and 76 driving into and around Christchurch have access to real-time travel information from today (Friday, 31 January) 

Quake land could be used for parks - Key

The Government will soon start talking to Christchurch City Council about what to do with red zone land that can't be built on.

Southern Response not appealing Rout Rebuild judgement

Routs win $673,330 over Southern response offer of $263,205

Public to have say on red-zone future

Worcester Boulevard closure for Charter Parade Sat 1 February

Worcester Boulevard between Montreal and Cambridge Tce will be closed on Saturday 1st Feb from  11am to approx 2pm for a Charter Parade. The Parade will start at approximaately 1230 to 1240pm at Christ College and will march from Christ …

Recovery milestone reached today with final flat land red zone settlements

As the final settlement day is reached for flat land residential red zone property owners, a significant milestone can be marked in the recovery, says the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive Roger Sutton.

Dalziel to Govt: pick up the tab

The Government should pick up the $1 million-a-month tab for maintaining essential services in the red zone, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says.

D-day for Christchurch red zone residents

Christchurch in 2014: How will it look?

Christchurch is about to enter the fourth year of its Earthquake Recovery Programme.

Gaiety Hall and Mona Vale Homestead to be restored

A popular Christchurch heritage attraction and a well-loved community facility on Banks Peninsula are another step closer to re-opening after Christchurch City Council today (Thursday 30 January) agreed repair and strengthening work should go ahead.

Orion advises new prices reflecting ComCom decision

Under the Commerce Act, the Commission regulates Orion’s prices. In November 2013, after review of the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on Orion, the Commission announced future price and quality levels for Orion that the Commission considered appropriate and in the best long term interest of electricity consumers in the region.

Vero settles Ministry of Education claim

Vero New Zealand, the lead insurer on the Ministry of Education claim in Christchurch, is pleased to announce the $200 million settlement.

Canterbury in home-building boom

More than 13,000 consents for new homes have been approved in Canterbury since the earthquakes first hit.

CRASH – Governors Bay Road – CLOSED – Updated as at 4pm

Governors Bay Road between Dyers Pass Rd and Omaru Road is closed due to a crash involving a truck rolling earlier today.

Reid Stiven interviewed on Newstalk ZB

Floor Area of your property

The term floor area has a legal definition as per the New Zealand building code. 

$200m payout for quake damaged Christchurch schools

The Ministry of Education is to receive a $200 million payout from insurer Vero for quake damage to Christchurch schools allowing rebuilding to pick up pace, ministers said this morning.

No appeal in Rout v Southern Response

There is to be no appeal from the High Court decision in Rout v Southern Response.  The effect is that the judgment’s comments about the need to restore a house to its “as new” floor level remain unchallenged.   This is positive for insureds in their disputes with insurance companies and EQC.  It now makes 

$200 million settlement for Canterbury schools

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

How not to repair a heritage building in the Christchurch CBD part 137

Locked out of undamaged factory for 1075 days – (since Feb 2011) Do we still own our building????    

'No tenants left for the CBD'

Property developers warn buildings with "A-grade" rentals in the central business district cannot compete for tenants against cheaper, already-completed developments elsewhere. The warning comes as some developers and investors take their plans and money elsewhere in the face of high construction costs, reluctant tenants and uncertainty over car parking.

Animals Matter in a Disaster

Animals Matter in a Disaster

House-hunting: A year on with Malcolm and Nigel

The story of two men in their 50s who have the mental age of toddlers resulted in an outpouring of love and respect for Alison, their mother.

Final chemical storage tank removed

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel has today welcomed the removal of the final plastic chemical toilet disposal tank from Christchurch City.

NZ First calls for full quake payout

New Zealand First is calling on the Government to make a full buyout of properties owned by Christchurch residents who were not insured or owned bare sections.

New shops planned for Ferrymead

Two new shopping complexes are planned for Ferrymead in Christchurch as the neighbourhood gets back on its feet.

Technology should improve design

 What do the following have in common: Brunelleschi's Dome in Florence, the Empire State Building, and the Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and Jaguar XK sports cars of the 1950s?

Quake repairs two-thirds done

The Earthquake Commission is two-thirds of the way through repairing houses damaged by the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes in a contract managed by Fletcher Building.

Christchurch flushes away toilet tanks

Council fund plunges $175m

The cash-strapped Christchurch City Council has almost depleted a special $225 million fund established post-quake to pay for better facilities, roads and footpaths.

Council quake fund plunges $175m

The cash-strapped Christchurch City Council has almost depleted a special $225 million fund established post-quake to pay for better facilities, roads and footpaths.

Bank sees increase in building

A lull in the number of consents for commercial and industrial buildings in Canterbury late last year is temporary, according to ASB Bank, which is forecasting a rapid rise in commercial construction over the next two years.

Lights out Moorhouse/Blenheim/Deans – take care

The light signals at the intersection of Moorhouse Ave, Deans Ave and Blenheim Rd are currently not working. A contractor is on the way but please drive with care through this intersection.

Red zoners apply to Govt for extension

Residents still living in Christchurch's red zone have just three days left to leave their homes.

Lichfield Street – temporary closure of entry to Re-start carpark – access via Tuam St

Due to roadworks, the Re-start Car park entry on Lichfield Street will be closed from Monday 27 January for approximately one week. A temporary entry/exit will be on Tuam Street.

Pod Oasis – our Ellerslie Show garden 2014

We have been encouraged to make a garden that will feature at Ellerslie International Flower Show in Hagley Park this February, and after de-construction there, move it to  a city site to be enjoyed bu the public. 

EQC managed repairs pass 50,000 mark

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

EQC managed home repairs pass 50,000 mark

Smoke and Mirrors Response from Southern Response

RISE exhibition most successful in Museum’s history

Canterbury Museum is celebrating

Poto Williams: Labour's election promises

Christchurch Labour East MP Poto Williams speaks to Newstalk ZB's Chris Lynch about the party's election promises

Govt cool on new stadium deal

The Government is reluctant to consider a fresh funding deal for a new Christchurch sports stadium despite the financial woes facing the Christchurch City Council.

Local tourism shows regrowth

There are signs of green shoots in Canterbury's quake-hit tourism industry with smaller operators starting new businesses in and around Christchurch.

Drones used in Christchurch Port Hills demolitions

The complex job of demolishing dangerous homes on Christchurch's Port Hills has finally begun.

Last chemical toilet disposal tank to be removed from Christchurch

On Wednesday 29 January 2014 Christchurch City Council will remove the 

Dust a post-earthquake hazard

Insurer wants final settlement before repair

Insurer wants final settlement before repair

Andrew Keeley: CTV

CTV manager Andrew Keeley talks to Newstalk ZB's Chris Lynch about new things coming up on the channel

Quake refugee kids can stay in Sydney

The Family Court of Australia has rejected an attempt by New Zealand authorities to secure the return of two boys who were unlawfully taken to Sydney by their mother after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, finding that the children would be further traumatised if they were ordered home.

Students show off rebuild designs

Bree Morgan and Jessica Hulme devised a series of triangle buildings inspired by a saw-tooth roof and Maori patterns. Christian Burgos and Therese Samson broke the grid pattern of a standard block with an angled cut incorporating a pond overlooked by multi-storey buildings.

Boys taken after ChCh quakes to stay in Australia

Two boys whisked away to Australia by their mother in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes will be allowed to stay in the country.

UC students helping construction companies’ health and safety systems

An entrepreneurial University of Canterbury (UC) student team has created a health and safety mobile phone system to help construction companies.