Cabinet Paper and Minute of Decisions on the report and recommendations of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission

Public consultations on quake-prone buildings begin

Public consultation meetings will be held across New Zealand this month as the Government looks to make changes to its system for dealing with earthquake-prone buildings.

NZ Army to explain civil defence failure

Media Release: Rik Tindall, ECan In Exile

CBD building owner: Alan Reay criticism ‘unfair’

The owner of a Christchurch office block, designed by the same man behind the ill-fated CTV building, says the engineer has been unfairly targeted.

Council may be unaware of buildings similar to CTV

The Christchurch firm that designed the ill-fated CTV office block which collapsed in the February 22 earthquake, killing 115 people, may have built similar buildings that the council does not know about and have since gone unchecked 

Council will cooperate with any police investigation over CTV

The Christchurch City Council has apologised to those affected by the CTV building collapse and promised to cooperate with any police investigation.

CTV building errors laid bare in report

A series of engineering, construction and council-related errors over 20 years led to the catastrophic collapse of the CTV building in the second major Christchurch earthquake, a Royal Commission has found.

Govt to carefully consider Royal Commission report

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

PM welcomes Royal Commission report release

John Key | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Families welcome CTV findings

Families of Canterbury Television building collapse victims have welcomed the findings of a royal commission into the building's collapse.

Report into CTV building collapse due

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission's view of the CTV building collapse is going to be made public.

Govt should release CTV report this week

The Government must urgently release part three of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Report which includes a section on the collapse of the CTV building, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson and MP for Christchurch East, Lianne Dalziel.

Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Reports

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Earthquakes Royal Commission Vol 4 released

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Thousands of quake-prone buildings identified by Govt

The Government estimates there are as many as 25,000 earthquake-prone buildings around New Zealand.

Most NZ buildings to be quake assessed

Every building in New Zealand, except single-storey homes, will be assessed for earthquake risk and the results made public under Government proposals released this morning.

CTV inquiry wraps in Christchurch

The coronial inquiry into the collapse of Christchurch’s CTV building has wrapped up this afternoon.

'This is what you train for all your life'

'Improvements will be made' - fire official

A Fire Service official has promised the widow of a CTV victim that major changes will be made to rescue efforts in the future.

CTV inquest: High-tech equipment failed

High-tech cameras designed to probe collapsed buildings and search for signs of life failed on February 22 and have since been replaced, an inquest was told today.

CTV collapse: Widower asks for answers

The widower of a woman who died in the Canterbury Television (CTV) building says he just wants answers, not fingers pointed.

Inquest into CTV earthquake deaths resumes

A coroner's inquest into deaths at the CTV building is resuming on Monday with footage available online.

Government receives final part of Canterbury earthquakes report from Royal Commission

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Earthquake Royal Commission – California's Safety Assessment Program

The Royal Commission has made available a copy of the California Emergency Management Agency’s  It can be downloaded from .

Earthquake Royal Commission – more evidence relating to the CTV building has been published

The Royal Commission has published more of the evidence provided for the hearings on the CTV building. 

Technical Reports - Peer Review - Canterbury Earthquake Sequence and Implications for Seismic Design Levels

The Commission received the following advice from Professor Ralph Archuleta of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The paper reviews the technical report by GNS Science.

Technical Reports - Base Isolation and Damage-Resistant Technologies for Improved Seismic Performance of Buildings

The Commission sought the advice of Professor Andrew Buchanan, Holcim Adjunct Professor Des Bull, Associate Professor Rajesh Dhakal, Associate Professor Greg MacRae, Dr Alessandro Palermo and Associate Professor Stefano Pampanin from the University of Canterbury on new technologies to improve seismic performance of buildings.

Technical Report - Stairs and Access Ramps Between Floors in Multi-storey Buildings

This report, which was written by Des Bull of Holmes Consulting Group, indicates that in light of the damage sustained to stairs and access ramps in the Christchurch earthquakes a review was needed into the way these items are designed.  It is clear that inadequate allowance has been made in the past for the relative movement that occurs between floors in a major earthquake. 

Technical Report - Structural Design For Earthquake Resistance Past, Present and Future

The Commission received a report written by Associate Professor Rajesh Dhakal of the University of Canterbury. The report, which was offered to the Commission, provided an indepth discussion of the way in which the current approach to seismic design has developed, and how this may change in the future.

Technical Report - Preliminary Observations from Christchurch Earthquakes

Technical Report - Peer Review - The Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm

CTV inquest: Chaotic scenes at Air force base caused delays

Chaotic scenes on the tarmac of a Royal New Zealand Air Force base meant critical search and rescue experts and specialist equipment were delayed arriving in Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake, an inquest heard today.

CTV inquest: Bomb rescue techniques used

A search and rescue expert used Oklahoma City bombing terrorist attack rescue techniques to take control of the CTV Building collapse site, an inquest heard today.

CTV rescuers refused to take a break

Christchurch rescue crews urged to take a break from the earthquake response told bosses: "Get stuffed, this is our city".

CTV inquest: Rescue gear did not arrive until day after collapse

Specialist search and rescue gear did not arrive at the CTV Building collapse site until the day after it came down, killing 115 people, an inquest was told today.

Using diggers at CTV 'unacceptable'

CTV inquest: 'Smoke was pouring out of gaps'

Firefighter Manu Clarkson told the CTV inquest today he was inside a narrow void in the collapsed building when aftershocks struck and he was yelled at to get out.

Fire Service not prepared for quakes - officer

An inquest into the CTV building collapse following the February quake has heard the Fire Service wasn't prepared for the building collapse

Fire Service not prepared for CTV disaster

The Fire Service was not prepared to deal with an emergency like the Canterbury Television (CTV) collapse and little has changed since, an inquest has heard.

After Christchurch quake, tough calls for USAR at CTV site

The head of USAR denies he faced political pressure to resume searching the CTV building a day after the quake.

Officer defends moving USAR teams off CTV site

A USAR officer at the CTV collapse has defended his decision to send search and rescue teams elsewhere.

Inquest hears texts from trapped CTV victims

Four students trapped in Christchurch's collapsed CTV building after the 2011 February earthquake tried to contact family and friends before they died, an inquest has heard.

Officer blames USAR for CTV delays

A senior police officer's taken a shot at Urban Search and Rescue's approach at the devastated CTV building in Christchurch.

CTV rescue efforts 'hampered' by USAR

Police faced a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation when trying to save survivors of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapse, an inquiry has heard.

CTV inquest expects more harrowing testimony

More harrowing testimony is expected as a coroner's inquest into the deaths of eight CTV Building victims continues today.

CTV rescue stats questioned

The number of foreigners known to be alive but not rescued in the CTV building has risen from six to eight.

Dramatic footage shown at CTV inquiry

An inquest in Christchurch has been shown dramatic footage from last year's February quake showing rescues and some bodies recovered.

CTV coroner's inquest resumes

A coroner's probe into the deaths of six people who survived but could not be rescued from the CTV Building collapse in last year's killer February earthquake has resumed in Christchurch.

CTV coronial inquest restarts 13 months on

More than a year after it was adjourned, a coroner will resume the hearings into the deaths of people in the CTV building.

Earthquake Royal Commission – eight more technical reports on representative city buildings

Earthquake Royal Commission – technical reports on representative city buildings

From the Royal Commission’s website:

Canterbury earthquakes Royal Commission extended final reporting date announced

Christopher Finlayson | Attorney-General

Second quake report handed to Govt

The second part of a royal commission's report on the Canterbury Earthquakes is being considered by the Government.

Aussie cops to investigate CTV builder

Police in Australia will investigate claims the man who supervised the construction of the CTV building stole another man's identity.

158 buildings may share CTV flaw

Royal Commission reconfirms CTV hearing complete

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s terms of reference requires it to inquire into the performance of buildings in the Canterbury earthquakes including why the CTV building failed.

Pressure on commission to revisit role of Shirtcliff

Pressure is building on the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission to have a closer look at a Christchurch fraudster who appears to have misled the commission.

Commission confirms CTV hearing complete

Families call for perjury charges against Shirtcliff

Press newspaper’s expose of CTV builder’s fraudulent qualifications