News archive

V is for Value

We hear in the news today that up to 20 managerial positions at Christchurch City Council will be axed in order to reduce and remove the silo effect that has been created during the last 6 years. This brings up the idea of Value – are you the Ratepayers getting value for your hard earned […]

Major step forward for Council building consent processes

Proposed changes to the structure of the Council’s building control functions are designed to meet demand for building consents and see the Council regain and retain IANZ accreditation.

Johns Road – reduction to lanes between Sawyers Arms Rd & Harewood Road- expect delays

Johns Road, between Sawyers Arms Road and Memorial Ave is down to one lane north and south between  Harewood Road and Sawyers Arms for central median works. Road users should expect delays due to reduced capacity in the area.  

BLENHEIM ROAD – LANE REDUCTION eastbound Clarence St to Mandeville St over weekend of 12/13 October

Road users are advised that Blenheim Road between Clarence Street and Mandeville Street will be reduced to one lane eastbound from 6am Saturday 12 October 2013 until 6am Monday 14th October. Essential inspection works on a main service supply have …

Connecting Christchurch to the sea project a potential attraction for residents and tourists

Executive sees rebuild potential

A government-led design strategy is needed to inspire developers in the Christchurch rebuild, an international structural engineer says.

Council managers may lose jobs

Twenty Christchurch City Council managers are at risk of losing their jobs as the fall-out from the council's consenting crisis continues.

Accommodating NGOs in Rebuilt Christchurch

Voting in local elections closes soon

If you haven’t already voted get the papers in the mail by Wednesday to enable it to reach its destination.

Let's integrate 'grey' and 'green'

U is for Understanding

New Lyttelton Tunnel Control Building begins to take shape

The new Lyttelton Tunnel Control Building is beginning to take shape, with the foundations laid and construction of the basement walls nearing completion.

Insurance firm disputes $1.2m claim for house

An insurance company changed its mind to pay out a red-zoned couple for the rebuild of their home after a dispute over the amount offered, a court has heard.

SCIRT – Traffic Update from the 7 October

Travis Road drivers – change to roundabout at Frosts Road / QEII Travis Road drivers need to make sure of their routes city-bound through North New Brighton and Burwood. SCIRT work by Downer in the Frosts Road / Travis Road …

Quake to redraw boundaries in Christchurch

Census figures released today show how Christchurch has been re-organised following the quakes.

Gilberthorpes Road is CLOSED from Roberts Road to Waterloo Road

Gilberthorpes Road is closed from Roberts Road to Waterloo Road due to an accident. Orion are fixing the power cables and the duration of the closure is currently unknown.

Stanmore Road, Avonside – southbound closure between Haast St & Avonside Dr this week, 7.10.13

Stanmore Road Works – Detour in Place as part of initial stage of works Work begins 7 October  on Stanmore Road to install a new waste water system. The work, between Avonside Drive and Gloucester Street will be done in …

STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE: – ABC TV interview about ‘The Elephant in the Boardroom’

In Australia 26% of GP visits are for mental health issues,  mostly anxiety and depression, yet in six years of medical school trainee doctors receive very little focus on this subject.  The statistics are likely to be very similar here in New Zealand. This video clip of and interview with Graham Cowan discusses a study...

Lessons Learnt. A report on EQC’s response to the Canterbury earthquakes.

Highly critical report on EQC calls for law change

Red-zone couple battle rebuild bill

An insurance company changed its mind to pay out a red-zoned couple for the rebuild of their home after a dispute over the amount offered, a court has heard.

Red-zone couple battle rebuild bill

An insurance company changed its mind to pay out a red-zoned couple for the rebuild of their home after a dispute over the amount offered, a court has heard.

T for Transport

Transport in our ward has been immensely challenging these last 2 years with potholes, pothills and road cones as far as the eye can see! I want to help work toward making this necessary process as possible. I also want to work toward grabbing every opportunity to ensure we use the opportunities we have to improve cycleway and pedestrian safety and accessibility. 

Open visa call from migrant advocate

Migrant workers are not protected enough to be able to expose abuse from their employers, a migrant workers' advocate says.

Hard road back to normality

Christchurch residents are still struggling to regain their pre-earthquake quality of life, a poll shows.

Community centre planned for Aranui

S is for Schools

Cera not Christchurch's moral authority

 A strip bar and prostitution business is being acquired using government quake powers. Jarrod Gilbert argues moral judgment should not play a part.

Help us name our site!

EQC unprepared for Chch quakes

Donor gives $5M to Christchurch community

An anonymous donation of $500,000 is helping fund a new $5.9 million community centre in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui.

Christchurch City Council says it will build the first new community centre since the earthquakes with the support of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and Lions Club International Foundation.

The trust is contributing $ ...

R is for Resourcing

Resourcing our communities is something I am very passionate about! Whether it be from informing them of information regarding their community assets, walking alongside a residents association or making sure the community board is an open and accessible place for anyone with concerns to come and be heard. 

EQC disaster planning flawed, report finds

Fears over shaming bad rebuild contractors

Residents fed up with earthquake repair work need to be wary of naming and shaming "dodgy contractors" online, warns a defamation expert.

Fears over shaming bad rebuild contractors

Residents fed up with earthquake repair work need to be wary of naming and shaming "dodgy contractors" online, warns a defamation expert.

$15m grant to Christchurch projects

Small but shallow shock shakes Cantabs

Cantabrians have been shaken by a small but shallow quake this morning. 

Scirt awarded for two hard years

To most of us SCIRT is a catchy acronym for the hundreds of workers repairing our infrastructure. But it is much more, and is also this year's winner of the Champion Canterbury Supreme Award for a medium to large enterprise. MARTA STEEMAN reports.

Cathedral Junction reopens in style

Christchurch's Cathedral Junction reopened in grand style last night as fashion took centre stage. 

Small but shallow shock wakes Cantabs

Cantabrians have been shaken by a small but shallow quake this morning. 

Still problems handling asbestos in Christchurch - ministry

The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment says there are still problems with handling asbestos, for workers in Christchurch involved in its rebuilding.

Q is for Quality

Quality… a word we are using a lot these days… whether in reference to our EQC or insurance repairs or the type of aquatic facility we want restored in the east. We also need quality in our leadership… those charged with making the big and sometimes hard decisions…. business as usual doesn’t cut it anymore […]

Natural Environment Recovery Programme under way

Environment Canterbury announced today that it has adopted the Natural Environment Recovery Programme for greater Christchurch.

New Aranui youth and community facility planned

Christchurch City Council is to build a new facility for youth and community groups in Aranui - its first new community centre since the earthquakes - with the support of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and Lion's Club International Foundation.

Lack of valuation info riles landowners

Frustrated inner-city landowners are demanding information about how their properties are being valued but are drawing blanks.

Tremors exposed Earthquake Commission

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) planned poorly for a major catastrophe and therefore lacked the leadership and systems needed to cope with the Canterbury earthquakes.

Greater Christchurch Recovery Update - Issue 26 (October 2013)

[PDF 1.7MB]

Innes Road – Delays expected as work begins

Innes Road will be reduced to one lane between Nancy Avenue and Philpotts Road from Monday 7 October to install new wastewater pipes. The work started is expected to take approximately six weeks.

Antigua Street – Northbound closure between Tuam and Oxford and restrictions on St Asaph from 10 Oct

Antigua Street will be closed to northbound road users between Tuam Street and Oxford Terrace from Thursday 10th October for wastewater replacement work.

Minister welcomes Natural Environment Recovery Programme

Amy Adams | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Disaster-resilient infrastructure 'key to saving lives'

First respondents saved many lives following the Christchurch earthquakes, yet many survivors found they had little or nothing left. Homes were destroyed, and in many cases livelihoods, when local businesses struggled as the City’s infrastructure failed. So, what have we learnt?

AvON ‘over the moon’ with funding announcement

The Avon-Otakaro Network (AvON) is “over the moon” $15m has been committed to connect the city to the sea, along the Avon/Otakaro River corridor.

Cities gifting streets lamps to Chch for art work

Cities around the world are gifting streets lamps to Christchurch as part of the work of art entitled Solidarity Grid by German artist Mischa Kuball.

Concrete slab poured for new Waimairi Beach Golf Club

Well-loved Waimairi Beach Golf Club in Christchurch moved a step closer to becoming fully open again when the concrete slab was poured late last week for its new clubhouse.

Appeal Trust announces largest-ever grant

The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust today announced its largest-ever grant committing $15 million of Appeal funds towards great community projects that make a positive difference to the future of the eastern suburbs, with access and benefit to everyone who lives in or visits Christchurch.

Heathcote Bridge closure this weekend -CHANGE TO CLOSURE TIMES

Motorists are reminded that the Heathcote River Bridge on State Highway 76 will be closed to traffic again this weekend as part of the scheduled works until mid October. NOTE: THE CLOSURE TIMES WILL VARY FROM PREVIOUS WEEKENDS.   CLOSURE …

Media statement: Christchurch City Council Acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt allowance

Stanmore Road, Avonside – southbound closure between Haast St & Avonside Dr from next week, 7.10.13

Stanmore Road Works – Detour in Place as part of initial stage of works Work begins 7 October  on Stanmore Road to install a new waste water system. The work, between Avonside Drive and Gloucester Street will be done in …

Vote on $91k pay rise for acting Chch City Council boss

Acting Christchurch City Council boss Jane Parfitt may get a $90,000-plus pay rise today. The Star can reveal that city councillors will meet behind closed doors to vote on whether Ms Parfitt will get an extra $91,104 added to...

Oxford Terrace – Closures start 10.10.13

From 10 October 2013 the following restrictions apply: Oxford Terrace  Closed between Worcester Street and Gloucester Street Closed between Cashel Street and Hereford Street. Hereford Street at the Oxford Terrace intersection One way west bound No entry from Hereford into …