Rachel Graham
Christchurch council signs off plan for rebuilt central city
Christchurch city councillors have signed off unanimously on a draft CBD rebuilding plan though a couple still have hesitations about it, including its price tag. Audio
Quake hearing told building in use despite yellow placard
A property manager has been questioned at the Royal Commission investigating the Canterbury earthquakes about why he didn't tell tenants the building they worked in was unsafe. Audio
Christchurch councillor says council too soft on prostitutes
A Christchurch City Councillor says his council doesn't have the courage to step in and deal with the problem of street prostitutes who have moved into suburban streets. Audio
Rash of government buildings closures could be tip of iceberg
The union for public service workers says it wants a more consistent approach taken to public buildings deemed to be earthquake prone. Audio
Engineer challenged over ethcial obligation to PGC tenants
An engineer who gave the all-clear to the Pine Gould building after the September earthquake, has been challenged over whether he fulfilled his ethical obligations to those returning to the building. Audio
Royal Commission told of lack of expert advice for manager
The man in charge of the hydro mining operation at Pike River has told the Royal Commission that he was promised support from experts in the field, but says that soon evaporated. Audio
Royal Commission hears of lack of training of Pike miners
A miner at Pike River at the time of the first explosion has told the Royal Commission that he wasn't able to get any training in hydro mining, despite being in charge of a crew carrying out the work.
…Mining consultant quizzed over what warnings he passed on
A mining consultant who says he quit Pike River because of his fears it would explode, has been challenged over who he passed those concerns on to. Audio
Pike River miner outlines words of warning to workmates
A former employee at Pike River - who was there until a month before the blasts - says he warned that the mine could explode at any time. Audio
Miner who feared for his life at Pike outlines problems
A Japanese miner who quit Pike River after three months because he feared for his life, has outlined a series of safety problems at Pike River Mine. Audio
Royal Commission told Pike River lacked strong leadership
A Japanese miner who quit Pike River because of fears it would explode, has said there was confusion over who was in charge of key projects, and a lack of strong leadership at the mine. Audio
Royal Commission told of pressure on Pike River workforce
The Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal disaster has been told that employees were under a huge amount of pressure to meet targets before the explosion. Audio
Royal Commission told of list of problems at Pike River
A mining consultant's told the Royal Commission inquiring into the Pike River disaster of a long list of problems - including no underground monitoring of gas levels - six months before the… Audio
Testy exchanges at Pike River Commission hearings
There were some testy exchanges at the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster today, as questioning continued of the mine inspector who oversaw Pike River at the time of the explosion. Audio
Christchurch City Council questioned over russian roulette
The Christchurch City Council has been questioned over whether it was playing russian roulette with its citizens with its rules on earthquake prone buildings. Audio
Royal Commission told council a nightmare to deal with
A Christchurch businessman has told the royal commission the city council was a nightmare to deal with when he was trying to strengthen his building before the September quake. Audio
Royal Commission told to make most of appetite for change
The Royal Commission has been told to seize on the public and political appetite for change in order to bring in tougher earthquake strengthening rules. Audio
Quake hearing told 300 more would have died
An additional 300 people could have died in the February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch, if it wasn't for the earlier quake in September. Audio
Royal Commission to hear plea for upgrade to old buildings
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission will hear this week that the cost of upgrading the city's unreinforced masonry buildings is more than the buildings are worth. Audio
Christchurch's central city bus tour come with stark warning
Public bus tours of Christchurch's red zone will start off with a warning that the passengers could be trapped by an earthquake and may not make it out alive. Audio