News archive

Editorial: Christchurch penalty a lesson for all councils

The rest of the country long ago grew wary of complaints from the Christchurch City Council that it was excluded from decisions on the city's reconstruction. A Government-appointed authority may have been given the leading role in the revival but the council kept responsibility for building consents. Now it has lost even that role.

EQC negotiates $3.25b in reinsurance cover

The Earthquake Commission will pay an unprecedented $160 million for increased reinsurance cover for the 2013-14 year.

Govt to move on consent debacle

The Government is stepping in to solve the Christchurch City Council consenting debacle, with a crisis meeting being held today to discuss intervention options.

Govt mum on frame money

The Government will spend over 80 per cent of the money allocated to the new "frame" around the central city on land purchases.

Consents: Marryatt must front

Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt needs to front up on the council's consenting issues after the Government announced it was stepping in, a city business leader says.

Consents: Marryatt needs to front up

Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt needs to front up on the council's consenting issues after the Government announced it was stepping in, a city business leader says.

EQC - Timeframe for settlement of under $15,000 claims

EQC update - Canterbury FAQs

The change involves the addition of a new section on cash settlements where claims are under $15,000.  You can find them toward the bottom of the page, or click on the link just below to continue reading them on the blog.

Passing on free red-zone houses in Christchurch

Family homes in Christchurch are being given away for free. Why? While the red zone is uninhabitable, some of the homes in it aren't.

Govt will propose solutions to consenting issue

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Day 861 - consents debacle a failure of epic proportions - Dalziel

Christchurch residents now free to roam red zone

Christchurch residents are now free to roam the CBD following the lifting of the red zone cordon yesterday.

Christchurch city council loses accreditation

The Christchurch City Council has confirmed it has lost the right to grant building consents.

Chch council will continue to grant consents

The Christchurch City Council is promising to continue to provide all building consent services, despite having its accreditation revoked.

Christchurch Council reeling over consent decision

The Christchurch City Council is promising to continue to provide all building consent services, despite having its accreditation revoked.

Christchurch school launches legal battle

A Christchurch school has today launched a last-ditch legal battle in a desperate bid to stay open.

Council consents: 'Critically important' that process is sped up

Cabinet ministers Gerry Brownlee and Chris Tremain will travel to Christchurch on Wednesday to try and broker a deal with Christchurch City Council over the building consent problems that are slowing the earthquake rebuild.International...

Christchurch council loses consent accreditation

The Christchurch City Council has lost its ability to approve building consents.International Accreditation New Zealand this morning issued a decision revoking the council's accreditation as a building consents authority.The drastic...

Red zone cordons lifted - Defence Force stood down

The final red zone fences have been removed from the centre of Christchurch, and the Defence Force has been officially dismissed from its deployment in the city.

Madras Street – Work starts today

Madras Street will be reduced to one lane between Kilmore Street and Salisbury Street. Work begins today and will continue for approximately 2 months. Parking will not be available next to the work area. One side of the street will …

Madras Street – Work starts Monday 1 July

Madras Street will be reduced to one lane between Kilmore Street and Salisbury Street. Work begins today (1 July) and will continue for approximately 2 months. Parking will not be available next to the work area. One side of the …

Fitzgerald and Bealey Avenue – Lane Closures from Monday 1 July

Lane restriction from Whitmore Street (the south end of Hills Road) onto Fitzgerald Avenue for approximately four weeks. Southbound traffic will be down to one lane past the worksite. As a result, the Bealey Avenue right turning lanes will be reduced …

Fitzgerald and Bealey Avenue – Lane Closures from today

Lane restriction from Whitmore Street (the south end of Hills Road) onto Fitzgerald Avenue for approximately four weeks. Southbound traffic will be down to one lane past the worksite. As a result, the Bealey Avenue right turning lanes will be reduced …

Park Terrace – Work starts today

Due to the unfavourable weather conditions work was delayed on Park Terrace and has started today. A lane closure will be in place on Park Terrace allowing Northbound traffic only. A detour route will be in place for southbound traffic …

Park Terrace – Work starts Monday 1 July

Due to the unfavourable weather conditions work was delayed on Park Terrace and has started today (1 July). A lane closure will be in place on Park Terrace allowing Northbound traffic only. A detour route will be in place for …

Park Terrace – Lane Closure

A lane closure will be in place on Park Terrace allowing Northbound traffic only. A detour route will be in place for southbound traffic during stage one and stage three. Stage one: Salisbury Street–Durham Street North–Kilmore Street. Stage two: Two-way …

Kaiapoi has high housing hopes

After the earthquakes left 1000 Kaiapoi homes red-zoned, business owners could be forgiven for feeling uncertain about their future.

Why subdivision could save river town

Gloucester Street bridge, Central City – Closed to all vehicles

Due to a structural issue staff engineers have recommended that the bridge be closed to vehicular traffic for urgent repairs. Christchurch City Council Transport and Greenspace Unit Manager John Mackie says, “In the interest of the health and safety of …

Green Stitch

Urban Archipelago

Green Buffer

Linear Corridor

Extending the Retail Precinct

US investors look at stadium

United States investors could help cover the multi-million dollar shortfall for a covered stadium in Christchurch.

US investors look at stadium

United States investors could help cover the multi-million dollar shortfall for a covered stadium in Christchurch.

Brownlee opposes bait to quit city

Gerry Brownlee says he does not want people being encouraged to leave Christchurch, admitting his "surprise" that a Government entity was doing exactly that.

Only at EQC and new contact details

I often feel as if I am beating a dead horse, but the things that happen at EQC are beyond the inexplicable.  Yesterday, I learned that EQC had sent thousands of e-mails to claimants in multi unit buildings telling them essentially that their claim is on hold because of the tremendous “complexity” of their claim.  Incidentally, many months ago I mentioned on this blog that EQC placed multi dwellings, and anything else that was not a multi dwelling but anyone might conceivab ...

Christchurch red zone cordon finally lifted

The final cordon around Christchurch's quake-damaged city centre was lifted today, bringing to an end the Defence Force's longest-ever domestic deployment.Hundreds gathered as the last barrier to the CBD red zone was officially...

Defence Force ceremony to mark 857 days service

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Defence Minister Dr  Jonathan Coleman have paid tribute to members of the New Zealand Defence Force for their dedicated service to Christchurch on the eve of their longest ever domestic deployment.

Day 860 - CKA takes on landscaping

The (CKA) often sends volunteers to help Addington Action with quake recovery work.

is a state in southern India.

To help get Garlands Rd depot up and running, CKA has taken responsibility for doing all of the landscaping work needed on the site over the next few months.

Today 7 CKA members came at 11.30 to carefully spread tree mulch around the existing planting of native shrubs on the road frontage. They have also offered to turn up during the 4 week build of the pole ba ...

Soldiers farewelled from central city

The last remaining members of the New Zealand Defence Force were farewelled in Christchurch today.

Defence staff farewelled from central city

The last remaining members of the New Zealand Defence Force were farewelled in Christchurch today.

Christchurch residents urged to say thanks

People in Christchurch are being urged to turn out to thank the Defence Force for its service in the city.The Army will end its 857 days of running the cordons, as they finally come down today.This afternoon around 120 members...

Soldiers thanked as Chch cordon lifted

More than 100 Defence Force personnel who aided the rebuild following the Christchurch earthquakes will be congratulated during a public ceremony today.

Defence Force ceremony to mark 857 days service

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Signing course key to the world of the deaf

Do you know someone who is deaf but have difficulties communicating with them? The local branch of the Deaf Association is running a New Zealand sign language evening course once a week for six weeks starting on Thursday, August 1. …

One Man’s Trouble With Fletchers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qlTmwMepTYM

Sumner surf club demolished

The Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club's building was taken down today, and locals can look forward to a stylish replacement.

Contingency plan for consents process

Government officials are preparing a contingency plan in case the Christchurch City Council is stripped of its consenting powers.

Poster child for quake recovery

Christchurch gift and homewares store Whare could be the poster-child of small-business post-quake recovery.

EQC's home repair milestone reached

Authorities are halfway through fixing 80,000 Canterbury homes damaged by earthquakes, the Government says.

Roofed stadium to cost $506m

The total cost of Christchurch's proposed stadium - $506 million - has been revealed in documents leaked to The Press.

Soldiers leave Christchurch red zone

The role of the New Zealand Defence Force in the aftermath of the devastating Christchurch earthquakes has ended.

Giving away a historic building

Christchurch property developer Antony Gough has a problem he hopes you might be able to solve.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden: ‘I don’t want to live in a socie

I am thrilled that Edward Snowden leaked the information about the US government’s mammoth spying operations on ordinary people.  This is definitely worth watching if you have any interest in preserving your own personal freedom.     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB3n9fu-rM

High Court Judge Orders EQC to Pay Legal Bills for Bryan Staples

Lifting of the cordon - a symbolic event

As the cordon around Christchurch CBD comes down, the army is leaving and residents are reacting.

Day 858 - big stockpile of food

Today, Sibash & Mike headed up the hill to Elaine's place to clean up 20 banana boxes of tinned food so they can go into storage to be used to feed volunteer workers good hearty lunches. The food had been donated from many sources since the quake including
The food includes
Elaine is co-ordinator of Friends of Addington Action and has kindly loaned a spare room to store the tinned food till the 124 Garlands Rd Depot opens.

There are also 8 cartons of dry biscuits yet to come to ...

Cordon lifts on Christchurch CBD

The soldiers who have watched over Christchurch's inner city red zone for the last two and a half years clocked off for the last time today.