Tower offers $50,000 more to red-zoners

An insurance company locked in a High Court battle with a red-zoned Christchurch couple has increased its settlement offer by $50,000.

Quake-maker shakes Christchurch

Undamaged asbestos may be left behind

Earthquake-hit homeowners getting asbestos removed from their houses may have no choice but to leave some of the dangerous substance behind.

Christchurch subdivisions prosper as views change

Earthquake fears and a stressed housing market are forcing house-hunting Cantabrians to rethink subdivisions previously seen as "too American".

App shows Chch pre- and post-quake

There are new apps that enable users to point their phone at an empty plot of land and see what used to be there and what will be there in the future.\

EQC targets millions in quake fraud

Cantabrians who have made false claims to the Earthquake Commission will be investigated by a special team that has already uncovered millions of dollars' worth of fraud.

Warnings over quake-strengthening changes

The cost of quake-strengthening buildings will be too much for many building owners, especially in small and rural towns, the Government has been told.

Christchurch Japanese remember quake in homeland

Around 50 members of the Japanese community in Christchurch have turned out to remember those who suffered in their homeland's quake and tsunami.

Museum upgrade 'not cheap'

A massive and costly project to protect Canterbury Museum's $700 million worth of assets could see the popular attraction shut for two to three years and officials say if the improvements are not made the museum could become an international pariah and no overseas museum will risk lending it their collections.

Ferrymead Bridge delays frustrate

The repair of a bridge in Christchurch is taking longer than it took to construct San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

Earthquake costs a 'white elephant'

The Property Council has repeated its call for government assistance on earthquake-strengthening costs for commercial buildings as part of its submission on proposals for handling earthquake-prone buildings.

Garrick Park pitches to be restored

Quake-damaged football pitches and community centres will be repaired thanks to new grants totalling $700,000.

All the pod cons for $250/wk

An Auckland property developer believes shipping container apartments are the answer to supplying worker accommodation for the rebuild.

Assessments of land damage scrutinised

Land-damage assessments at red-zoned Christchurch properties have gone under the microscope at a High Court insurance wrangle.

All the pod cons for $250 a week

An Auckland property developer believes shipping container apartments are the answer to supplying worker accommodation for the Christchurch rebuild.

Engineer denies skewing numbers

An engineer who assessed a red-zoned Christchurch house at the centre of a High Court insurance case, has been challenged.

New supermarket for the east

Construction of a new supermarket in Christchurch's eastern suburbs will begin mid-year.

Editorial: Let common sense dictate earthquake upgrades

People have until the end of the week to tell Building Minister Maurice Williamson what they think of a plan drawn up in response to the Christchurch earthquake that would bring all commercial buildings up to a specified strength.\\

Heritage loss a big concern

Probe into illegal dump sites

Demolition contractors tearing down condemned Christchurch houses are being investigated for burying debris onsite instead of dumping the material.

Experts divided on repair suggestions

Engineers suggesting repairs for an earthquake-damaged home at the centre of a landmark High Court case admit they have little experience with the repair methods.

EQC insulation turnaround 'incompetence'

A Christchurch woman is lamenting an opportunity lost after being denied the chance to have insulation installed in her earthquake-damaged home during repairs.

Dirty demolition contractors face callbacks

Demolition contractors tearing down condemned Christchurch houses are being investigated for burying debris onsite instead of dumping the material.

Man's 'shoot' remark spurs police action

A Christchurch man sparked an armed police callout after suggesting he "might as well go and shoot himself in the head" during a telephone call to the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

Marmite gift as shortage ends

A few lucky Christchurch families have tasted Marmite two weeks before the rest of the nation.

Marmite gifted as shortage ends

A few lucky Christchurch families have tasted Marmite two weeks before the rest of the nation.

Grace, chaos in urban village designs

No record of Williamson's conflict instruction

The government department that regulates the building industry has no record of instructions that the minister responsible for the sector says he made to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

Protect lives, not property: Forum

Government should set a minimum seismic building-strength standard to protect lives rather than the properties themselves, according to most intellectual property respondents canvassed by Bayleys Research.

Quake claim 'wildly over' top estimates

A red-zoned Christchurch couple's claim for an insurance payout nearly $1 million above their home's rateable value was "wildly over" the most optimistic cost estimates, a court has heard.

Cathedral factions invited to help form view

Christchurch city councillors could wade into the growing debate over how to make the Christ Church Cathedral safe.

Operators asked for rebuild-zone visit ideas

Earthquake tourists may soon have the chance to see Christchurch's off-limits city centre from a new perspective - on foot, on a Segway, in a tuktuk or by stretch limo.

Claim 'wildly over' top estimates

A red-zoned Christchurch couple's claim for an insurance payout nearly $1 million above their home's rateable value was "wildly over" the most optimistic cost estimates, a court has heard.

Couple may leave 'little Bosnia' section

A high-profile Lyttelton couple are planning to quit the town after losing their fight to build a modern port-inspired house to replace the historic home they lost in the February 2011 earthquake.

Red-zoners back down on claim

A red-zoned Christchurch couple challenging their insurance payout in the High Court has reduced their claim by more than $230,000 overnight.

Labour announces Christchurch policy

Labour is promising to change the balance of power in Christchurch if they win the 2014 election.

Labour 'will put Cantabs at centre of recovery'

Labour is pledging to give Cantabrians more voice in decision-making if they get back into Government.

Wellington eyes Christchurch rebuild opportunities

Hundreds of Wellington businesses attended the WellCan forum in the capital yesterday to find out how they could work on the $30 billion-plus rebuild in Christchurch.

Insurance company called inflexible in court

Scarborough paddling pool condemned

The popular Scarborough paddling pool is damaged beyond repair.

Tower Insurance in court over quake payout

A stoush between a Christchurch couple and insurers Tower over earthquake damage payouts has gone before the High Court.

Quake insurance dispute goes to court

A landmark case is underway in Christchurch between a retired couple and their insurance company over earthquake damage payouts.

Canterbury economy 'hot' - bank

Canterbury has climbed further up the regional economic performance rankings, with the rebuild from earthquake damage sparking the local economy back to life, according to a new survey.

Red zone test case goes to court

When Valerie and Matt O'Loughlin decided to take their insurance company to court, they had no idea what a big deal it would become.

Labourers lose jobs to prisoners

A Kaiapoi business fired five of its labourers two days after employing 11 convicts - and then made the workers train the inmates who were to replace them, current and former staff say.

Cost of quake standards 'outweighs the benefits'

A former adviser to the Reserve Bank and World Bank says the cost of bringing in tougher tests for earthquake-prone buildings would far outweigh the benefits.

Wellington has tools to help the rebuild - mayor

When Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown takes a collaborative view of how her region can contribute to the Canterbury rebuild she includes her own family in the equation.

Council housing to reopen

'Neglected' Cantabs say people, not buildings priority

Engineers at odds over safety of rebuilding Chch Cathedral

The Anglican Church's plans for the Christchurch Cathedral site will be revealed this month, but campaigners are still battling to save the quake-damaged building.

Insurance pitfalls for unwary

What is happening? Insurance companies are changing home insurance policies from open-ended "replacement" policies to "sum insured" policies. In future they will only pay up to the sum insured that you choose, not for open-ended...

Call for action on Christchurch CBD

Urgent action has been called for to stem the loss of businesses from central Christchurch, with construction of enough buildings to house half its office work force already under way outside the rebuild zone.

Call for action on city centre

Urgent action has been called for to stem the loss of businesses from central Christchurch, with construction of enough buildings to house half its office work force already under way outside the rebuild zone.

EQC workers bullied

Angry Cantabrians, frustrated with the speed of the rebuild, are threatening to blow up earthquake repair hubs and shoot staff.

Church tied by terms of deed, court told

Anglican leaders cannot spend insurance money from the Christ Church Cathedral on the new cardboard cathedral, the attorney-general has told the High Court.

IT sector draws employees with better pay, conditions

Employers in Christchurch's information and communications technology sector are offering higher salary and contract rates and, increasingly, offering relocation costs and initial rental accommodation to attract skilled staff.

IT sector draws employees with better pay, conditions

Employers in Christchurch's information and communications technology sector are offering higher salary and contract rates and, increasingly, offering relocation costs and initial rental accommodation to attract skilled staff.

New Regent reopening pushed back again

New Regent St's cobbled footpaths and pastel facades will remain behind cordon fencing for at least another month as the reopening date is pushed back for the fourth time.

Urban Village project finalists chosen

Village greens, vege gardens and vibrant laneways are among the features being touted for a new residential development in Christchurch's city centre.

Flexibility in recovery housing market needed

The housing market in Christchurch will need to adapt over the next 15 years as the city goes through different stages of recovery.