Canterbury Mornings

Councillor Mike Davidson is defending the council's decision to remove on street car parks from Hereford Street and Kilmore Street.He told Chris Lynch it's important for all modes of transport to be available on all central city streets. Mr Davidson says it's time to highlight the car park buildings in the city.

 Christchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson says the removal of more on street car parks along Kilmore Street makes no sense.He says, further more, he can't believe council voted in favour to introduce a cycle lane on Kilmore Street outside the Townhall, which will already be a congested area once it's up and running.Mr Johanson told Chris Lynch the council is going to create areas that's are fundamentally dangerous trying to mix too many modes of transport on one street.He says there's plenty of broken infrastructure with roads in the suburbs that aren't going to be renewed, but the council seems to hell-bent on spending a lot of money on changing the central city. 

Taxi stands and nearby car parks will be removed near the Terrace complex.Richard Peebles, whose developments include the Little High restaurant complex, and the yet-to-be-opened farmers market says no one from council discussed the changes with him despite his property Fat Eddies restaurant being located right opposite the changes.Peebles told Chris Lynch he supports cycleways and lanes but it's completely stupid of the council to close off city streets again, for another 12 months, to narrow streets and remove parking. 

Chris Lynch spoke to Central City Business Group spokesman Stephen Collins about the Christchurch City Council changes to inner city streets in favour of more cycle ways. Stephen says "a lot of people call into businesses because they can pull up outside and do their shopping and the central city has always provided for good on-street parking. The future will change and things will change but we can't force this on people. Because what will happen is if it's difficult to get into the city and it's hard to find a carpark then people will just go back to what they have been used to doing for the last six years and that's shopping in the suburbs".

Christchurch City Council has voted on more changes to inner city streets.Councillor Jamie Gough told Chris Lynch, "they are trying to be jack of all trades, master of none by narrowing the streets and throwing every mode of transport you can possibly imagine into one area, and I just don't think that works".

Smoke is billowing across Upper Riccarton in Christchurch - after a house caught fire just after 8 o'clock.Five fire crews are responding to the blaze in Suva Street.Shift manager Brent Dunn says at this stage, they believe everyone made it out of the house.He says they've blocked off the street to protect the public.Newstalk ZB reporter Lavinia Bishop updates Chris Lynch from the scene.

The youth of soldiers who died in World War I is highlighted in a new book about Anzacs.Sherryl Abrahart has written about her uncle Leslie McAlpine's life in 'Anzac in the Family'.She told Chris Lynch when she read through his military records, she realised what a rollercoaster he'd been through.READ MORE: A personal journey to retrace my grandfather's footsteps - Jude Dobson READ MORE: PTSD treatment is our responsibility - ArdernSherryl Abrahart says he'd been to Gallipoli and on the transport ship the Marquette, been torpedoed and survived that. "Worked in freezing conditions and then went to the Western front. The man wasn't even 20 years old."LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE

It's just over a 100 years since thousands of our soldiers left to fight in what is being called the 'war to end all wars' where around 1 in 5 young men did not return.One who did not return was Ernest Kirk, the grandfather of television presenter and producer Jude Dobson. Jude made a personal odyssey to retrace her grandfather's steps and find out the full extent of the war his so bravely fought in. READ MORE: - PTSD treatment is our responsibility - ArdernREAD MORE: - Watch: Kiwis escape burning bus at GallipoliREAD MORE: - Live: 2018 Anzac Day commemorations LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE  

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joins Canterbury Mornings host Chris Lynch to discuss her plans for Anzac Day 2018, the impact on it has on children, PTSD amongst the next generation and whether or not we should have a full day off to commemorate Anzac Day?LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE  

RSA National President BJ Clark joins Canterbury Morning's host Chris lynch to talk about the importance of supporting the next generation of soldiers with PTSD.Mr Clark says the 'silent killer' is an issue that needs to be addressed properly, with care and support. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE 

An Auckland solo mother of three was initially wrongly told her benefit had been cut because she had been on two Tinder dates - but the real reason was a complaint made by a member of the public that she was living with a man and was working, this information turned out to be incorrect.Ricardo Menendez March, coordinator at beneficiary advocacy group Auckland Action Against Poverty spoke to Chris Lynch about the need for a culture change at WINZ.

Statistics show that gut cancers are the most common and deadly form of cancer in New Zealand, with 5,250 people diagnosed a year, and 50% of those dying from the disease within five years.Ruth Davy, Executive Officer at The Gut Cancer Foundation wants to get the conversation started around gut cancer. She spoke to Chris Lynch about the mission to raise awareness of symptoms, and to raise funds for further research into the disease.

Chris Lynch was joined by Labour Port Hills MP Ruth Dyson and National MP Nicky Wagner to discuss the political issues of the week.

A Christchurch trust has pocketed nearly 19 thousand dollars for "cultural advice" on the name change for QEII. A council spokesman says the Matapopore Charitable Trust was engaged to ensured Mana Whenua values and narratives have been properly represented. "The cost associated with the name is for the time and research involved in developing it."The Trust's services cost $18,800. QEII will now be known as Taiora QEII. The council manager says "as per the council's protocol, the gifted Māori name is presented first."Chris Lynch spoke to the Executive Director of Taxpayer Union Jordan Williams, who says this not okay at all and at some point the Council and members of the public simply need to start saying no. 

How much do we know about the chemical attack in Syria?Correspondent for Salon, the International Herald Tribune, and The New Yorker Patrick Lawrence told Chris Lynch we need to look hard & beyond the extreme media narrative war where imagery is weaponized.

The Earthquake Commission is working with the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration to determine how to help homeowners with earthquake-damaged homes that need to be re-repaired.There are 664 on-sold homes with re-repair issues that have gone over-cap, leaving homeowners stuck between insurers and EQC.Chris Lynch spoke to Insurance advocate Ali Jones about her experience trying to get repairs completed on a home she purchased.

The US and British governments have accused Russia of conducting a massive campaign to compromise computer routers and firewalls around the world - from home offices to internet providers - for espionage and possibly sabotage purposes.Chris Lynch spoke to former intelligence and defence policy analyst Paul Buchanan, Director of 36th Parallel Assessments about what this means for New Zealand.

 664 homes were on-sold in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes with re-repair issues. EQC Minister Megan Woods has said the bill for re-repairs could hit the billion dollar mark. Homeowners have been stuck in limbo - as EQC won't cover the cost of damage because it's over cap - and private insurers won't pay either.Chris Lynch spoke to former EQC Minister Gerry Brownlee who says this is not new. He said, "Insurance is a contract, and EQC is a contract and if EQC has come up short in the delivery on those contracts then quite fairly it has a problem it has to solve".

The Minister overseeing EQC says the end is in sight for home owners seeking claims for dodgy earthquake repairs. 664 homes were on-sold with re-repair issues in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes. Homeowners have been stuck in limbo - as EQC won't cover the cost of damage because it's over cap - and private insurers won't pay either.Dr Megan Woods told Chris Lynch they've asked Crown Law where liability may lie - and she has a timeline. 

A group who've been protesting outside judges' homes calling themselves Families 4 Justice say it's their last resort.The group includes fathers who've either been denied custody of their children, or had restrictions placed on their visiting rights.At least three judges' homes have been targeted by peaceful protests in the past few weeks.Chris Lynch spoke to the group's spokesperson and protest organiser Steve Evans who says there needs to be a Royal commission of inquiry into the family court system.