Civil Defence
Indonesia Sulawesi quake: Mass burials as recovery goes on
Mass burials are being held for hundreds of bodies recovered from the quake and tsunami which struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday. More than 800 people are confirmed dead in the city of… Audio
Waipu fire 'massive' - neighbour
A Waipu resident has described what it was like as the shop in front of his house went up in flames. Daniel Macdonald and his family live behind a pharmacy that was damaged by a fire that also burnt… Audio
Marlborough Sounds valleys drown further after quake
GPS monitoring in the Marlborough Sounds, which shows some areas dropped in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, has proven what some locals thought all along.
Selwyn District Council calls for new fire restrictions
The Selwyn District Council wants to bring in new fire restrictions as it tries to curtail the number of wildfires it combats every summer. The new rules would determine where new properties can be… Audio
Emergency response teams to be on 24/7 stand by
The Civil Defence Minister has announced the establishment of four fly-in teams which will be on constant stand by in the event of an emergency or disaster. Audio
‘There is no closure with EQC’ - minister
It's almost eight years to the day since the first Christchurch earthquake, and as anyone who lives in Christchurch knows, some insurance claims are still in dispute. Dodgy repairs are still being… Audio
Hundreds homeless after latest Lombok earthquakes
Up to 12 people have died and hundreds more homes have been destroyed in the two latest earthquakes on the island of Lombok. A 6.3 magnitude quake hit on Sunday afternoon followed by strong… Audio
'Work to do' in New Plymouth after tornado chaos
A cleanup effort is underway in New Plymouth after a tornado ripped through the city last night. As many as 30 homes were damaged when it struck about 5:30pm. A tornado also hit Ohope in the Bay of… Audio
California fires like nothing back home - NZ firefighter
A New Zealand firefighter battling the Mendocino Complex Fire in California says its sheer size is unlike anything he's seen back home. Craig Cottrill is one of 24 New Zealand firefighters currently… Audio
Māori oral histories used for Chathams' tsunami preparedness
150 years after a devastating tsunami hit the shores of the Chatham Islands and lessons are still being learnt. In what is believed to be the only recorded instance of a tsunami causing deaths in New… Audio
Student in hospital after third bus crash in weeks
An Inglewood High School student is still in Taranaki Base Hospital this morning closed after a school bus crash yesterday afternoon. The 69-year-old driver of the bus died and 10 of the 13 students… Audio
Thousands flee Lombok after deadly earthquake
Thousands of people are fleeing the Indonesian island of Lombok after yesterday's severe earthquake. Nearly 100 people have been reported dead. Witnesses have spoken of chaos and terror as buildings… Audio
NZ firefighters head to help at Canada wildfires
New Zealand is leaping to Canada's aid with a contingent of firefighters leaving tonight to help battle the growing number of wildfires there. Fifty-four firefighters and an 11-person incident… Audio
'Pretty violent shaking' in deadly Indonesia quake - Andrew Little
Justice Minister Andrew Little has been caught up in a major earthquake in Indonesia's popular tourist island of Lombok. The 7-magnitude earthquake struck around midnight (NZ time), triggering a brief… Audio
Ngāi Te Rangi kaumātua recovering after bus crash
Nineteen people from the Ngai Te Rangi iwi were injured on Thursday afternoon when their bus crashed into a ditch near Sanson in the Manawatu and rolled onto its roof. Six of the 19 people were taken… Audio
Rescuers hope to fly climber off Mt Aspiring on Friday
Rescuers are hoping to fly a 29-year-old Australian soldier off Mount Aspiring on Friday. Grave fears were being held for the climber before he was found at five o'clock yesterday, just north of the… Audio
US firefighters desperate for NZ reinforcements
United States firefighters say they're desperate for the arrival of international help including a team of New Zealanders who are enroute to help fight fires ravaging parts of California and Oregon… Audio
Violence breaks out in Zimbabwe after election
Violence has broken out on the streets of the Zimbabwean capital Harare following this week's parliamentary and presidential elections - the first since long-term leader Robert Mugabe was ousted last… Audio
Megan Woods responds to rising bill for storm damage
New findings on Earthquake Commission payouts have found most weather related claims are coming from properties close to the coast.
The EQC covers homeowners for damage to land, and in some cases to… Video, Audio
Coastal properties responsible for most weather claims - EQC
New findings on EQC payouts have found most weather related claims are coming from properties close to the coast. The EQC covers homeowners for damage to land, and in some cases to dwellings and… Audio
