News archive by Section

Hearing Beginning 7 November 2011

The Commission will conduct a public hearing in the weeks of 7 and 14 November 2011 in which it will consider evidence and submissions on:

The legal requirements for buildings that are “earthquake prone” under section 122 of the Building Act  2004, including:

The requirements for existing buildings that are not “earthquake prone” but do not meet current legal and best practice requirements for the design, constructi ...

Technical Reports - Heritage Earthquake Prone Building Strengthening Cost Study

EQC staff numbers and rates

Extra post-quake support for Canty DHB

Tony Ryall | Earthquake Recovery

Update from Roger Sutton, Chief Executive: 7 September 2011

All-weather ASB Football Park set for October opening

Ministers praise Christchurch court staff

Simon Power | Earthquake Recovery

Canterbury’s latest economic data promising

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

Draft Recovery Strategy released for review

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

Most of Port Hills land now zoned green

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

New and extended Trades Academies for Canterbury

Anne Tolley | Earthquake Recovery

Most of Port Hills land now zoned green

Draft Recovery Strategy released for review

Canterbury’s latest economic data promising

Community Fanzones travelling east

Quake anniversary a time for thanks

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

Brendon's earthquake update: 2 September 2011

Media briefing - Friday 2 September 2011

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

The Commission has received a report written by Associate Professor Rajesh Dhakal of the University of Canterbury. The report, which was offered to the Commission, provides 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 - 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 the light of the damage sustained to stairs and access ramps in the Christchurch earthquakes a review is need of the way in which 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.  This report should be of interest to practicing structural engineers.

Technical Report - Preliminary Observations from Christchurch Earthquakes

John Hare, in consultation with other structural engineers, has put together a list of observations made on the performance of buildings in the Christchurch earthquakes.  The list includes suggestions for factors which should be considered for amendment in design codes/standards, together with a number of aspects which require research and structural testing to be carried out to enable engineers to understand why the behaviour of structural elements in the buildings differed from that obser ...

Terms of reference

These Terms of Reference may be downloaded below in either a Microsoft Word (DOC) or Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version or view HTML version of text below:

Video: Dr Jan Kupec (CERA chief geotechnical engineer) explains options for rebuilding

The Canterbury Earthquake Authority (CERA) has launched a series of videos aimed at helping people understand what earthquakes have done to the land around Christchurch.

Media Statement - Quakes Royal Commission Releases Soils Report

1 September 2011

DBH Technical Investigation

On 16 March 2011 the Minister for Building and Construction the Hon. Maurice Williamson announced the Department of Building and Housing would undertake a technical investigation into the performance of key buildings in Christchurch.

Technical Reports - Foundations on Deep Alluvial Soils

This report prepared by Associate Professor Misko Cubrinovski of the University of Canterbury and Ian McCahon of Geotech Consulting Ltd discusses the nature of the soils in the Christchurch CBD, and their susceptibility to liquefaction. 

Video: Dr Jan Kupec (CERA chief geotechnical engineer) explains sink holes

The Canterbury Earthquake Authority (CERA) has launched a series of videos aimed at helping people understand what earthquakes have done to the land around Christchurch.

Christchurch Labour MPs Earthquake bulletin edition 103

EQC reassures claimants over revised liability

EQC's earthquake liability revised upwards - Finance Minister Bill English

New Zealanders can have confidence in EQC - Minister Gerry Brownlee

New Zealanders can have confidence in EQC

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

EQC's earthquake liability revised upwards

Bill English | Earthquake Recovery

Hearings

The Commission will hold public hearings on that arise under our .

Update from Roger Sutton, Chief Executive: 29 August 2011

About Counsel Assisting

His principal areas of practice are:

Delegation to address insurance issues

Gerry Brownlee | Earthquake Recovery

EQC will pay claims

This morning the Minister of Finance announced that EQC’s liability from the Canterbury earthquakes has increased by $4 billion to about $7 billion.

Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild news 5

New mobile unit in Christchurch will bring greater assistance to EQC customers

CBD red zone cordon reduction

Submissions

Please email submissions to or post to PO Box 14053, Christchurch Mail Centre 8544.

Media releases and media contacts

Media Release - Quakes Royal Commission Hearings Start 17 October

 ENDS

Technical Reports

The Commission has engaged leading New Zealand and international technical experts to produce technical reports as part of its inquiry into building failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes. The Commission is also sourcing and reviewing technical reports produced by other organisations.

All these reports will be published on this website. This will make the contents contestable in the Commission’s hearings. People who have lodged an Expression of Interest ...

Technical Reports System of Building Controls

(.PDF) 493kb

Technical Reports - Canterbury Earthquake Sequence and implications for Seismic Design Levels

1.  (.PDF) 1.5mb

Technical Reports Inelastic Response Spectra for the Christchurch earthquake records

This report by Professor Emeritus Athol Carr, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury  is intended to assist structural engineers in the task of interpreting the observed performance of buildings in the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. 

Approach

Reporting requirements

The final report will be delivered by 11 April 2012.

How the Commission will work

We have also identified a list of .

Notice of issues

Six principal issues arise under Commission’s . Public Expressions of Interest have been sought from parties interested in these issues. We have also commissioned on a number of them. These reports will be independently peer reviewed by eminent experts in the relevant fields and then published on this website as they become available. 

The adequacy of the current legal and best-practice requirements for the design, c ...

Cantabrians’ views help find a way forward for recovery

Cantabrians have provided a wealth of information and direction to CERA for the development of a Recovery Strategy for the region.

Work begins on Kaiapoi’s residential rezoning

Nick Smith | Earthquake Recovery

Lianne Dalziel Earthquake Information Update Number 20

It is hard to believe that as I write these words, it is 6 months since the February earthquake when I was sitting in my electorate office in New Brighton, putting the final touches on my Earthquake Information Update Number 12, (on Variation 48 & s72 of the Building Act).  Much has happened since then, so it is not surprising that people are experiencing a range of emotions in light of the government’s decisions about the future of some of our land and the offer they have made to ...

Useful links

The following websites contain useful information about the Canterbury earthquakes.

Please note the Commission is independent from government and all other organisations.

About the Commissioners

Justice Mark Cooper studied law at the University of Auckland, graduating LLB (Hons), MJur (Dist) and winning the Fowlds prize in law in 1979.

He commenced practice with the firm Butler White & Hanna, which later merged into Simpson Grierson, and was principal legal advisor for the Auckland City, North Shore City and Rodney District Councils, advising on a wide range of laws affecting local government, including resource management, rates and valuati ...

Further legal representation for quake victims’ families announced

Christopher Finlayson | Earthquake Recovery

About the Terms of Reference

We are not investigating:

Canterbury earthquake building failure

Further information see:  (Stuff website)*