Canterbury Mornings

A Christchurch hospital spokesperson says staff morale is high - despite a pressured winter season.Board Member Doctor Anna Crighton says high emergency department patient numbers have an effect on other services.She is encouraging people to go to their GP or after-hours clinic, first.But she told Chris Lynch staff are coping well and the new acute services building will help make patient management easier, instead of constantly moving patients in and out of wards when they're closed for repairs.Anna Crighton says every hospital ward has been moved 27-times in the past eight-years.

Chris Lynch and Mike Yardley discuss the week that was. Mike is a travel editor, syndicated columnist & correspondent on radio, in print and online. Plus he is a current affairs columnist and commentator. 

Chris Lynch spoke to Minster for Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods and National MP Nicky Wagner in the regular political segment where they discuss the big issues facing Canterbury of the week.

Our most vulnerable citizens need a better safety net.The Housing Minister blames rising numbers of homeless on a lack of support for those at the bottom.Latest Ministry of Social Development figures show over 8700 eligible families are waiting an average 137 days, to be housed.That's up over 50 percent from the same time last year.Housing Minister Phil Twyford told Chris Lynch the Government and other agencies need to take collective responsibility.

A peaceful protest is planned in Auckland this afternoon as controversial far right speakers are due to speak in the city.Tāmaki Anti Fascist Action spokesperson Sina Brown-Davis told Chris Lynch many Kiwis who were sitting on fence over Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux will now have firm views on them after their disparaging remarks about Aboriginal Australians. 

Chris Lynch spoke to Chris Mackenzie, chief executive of Development West Coast, about the Gloriavale company's application to the regional development fund for a new health food enterprise.He says the application for funding will be considered based on it's merits and not on what the public thinks of the Gloriavale community. The proposal documents provided for a "number of jobs" for businesses outside Gloriavale. 

Chris Lynch spoke to NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll about the weather outlook for Christchurch this spring 

Police are praising the actions of a Christchurch mother who called the cops on her teenage son. The mother found some items that didn't belong to her 14 year old. He refused to tell her where he got them, so she contacted police.Parenting expert and Creative Director of The Parenting Place, John Cowan, told Chris Lynch that this was exactly the right thing to do.He says tough love a very appropriate action to take with a troubled teenager as long as it's done well. Sometimes people get the tough but they don't get the love bit as well and it's the combination of the two that actually make the changes in a young person. 

There are calls for visibility around on-sold homes as the Government sets up a tribunal to settle unresolved earthquake claims.It's budgeted 6.5 million dollars for the Earthquake Tribunal.More than three and a half thousand quake claims have yet to be settled through EQC while Southern Response has an additional four thousand claims on its books.Insurance advocate Ali Jones wants to know what's happening with the declaratory judgement for on-sold homes.

Insurance companies and claimants have been purposely left out of the consultation process of a new tribunal.It's estimated eight years on from the first Christchurch Earthquake, more than four thousand claims are yet to be settled - with EQC, Southern Response and Private insurers.EQC Minister Megan Woods told Chris Lynch the tribunal will have legal powers much like a court.She says she considered what she's heard from claimants, while setting it up - but stopped short of consulting with the Insurance sector, EQC or claimants..The Minister says those parties will get a chance to comment when the bill goes through the select committee stage

A pilot programme in Canterbury is hoping to reduce family violence by engaging with the perpetrators when they are at their most vulnerable.Canterbury Police, He Waka Tapu and Integrated Safety Response have launched a six month pilot programme to tackle domestic violence.The programme involves workers, called navigators, going into police cells to work with the offenders.He Waka Tapu Chief Executive Jackie Burrows says she lost her son-in-law to suicide after he was locked in police cells."So I knew that where people are at their most vulnerable, and what we wanted to do was have our staff in there and engage while people are vulnerable and engage while they may be thinking about change."Burrows says the navigators will work with the perpetrators and their families both inside and outside of custody.She says it's a new way of working to try and curb domestic violence."It should increase that connectivity with the perpetrators and using our navigators personal experience to try and stop the cycle of offendin

The principal of a private Christian School in Christchurch says they acknowledge their belief of creationism when teaching evolution in science classes.Former students at an Auckland private school say creationism was taught by Simon Bridges' sister - as a preferred theory of how everything began.Middleton Grange School Principal Richard Vanderpyl told Chris Lynch it makes sense from their perspective to talk about creationism when teaching evolution.

Chris Lynch spoke to Nate Ball the co-owner of the newly opened Catnap Cafe on Colombo street in Christchurch.

Experts are puzzled after the death of a second local sperm whale in Kaikoura in the space of a month.Department of Conservation staff were advised of a dead whale off-shore a week ago just weeks after a whale found washed ashore on Marfells Beach in early July.DOC Ranger Mike Morrissey spoke to Chris Lynch about the significance of the whales to Kaikoura.

A popular Christchurch restaurant has been forced to close its doors due to what the owners say is a challenging environment post earthquake.The Villas Dining and Coffee House had been operating for 11 years on Montreal Street.The owners say the central city still has a way to go in re-establishing itself and finding its 'mojo' again.Canterbury President of Hospitality NZ Peter Morrison told Chris Lynch the tough times stem back to delays in key anchor projects.

Chris Lynch spoke to National Party justice spokesperson Mark Mitchell who is calling for a ban on the wearing of gang patches in public.

Chris Lynch spoke to Pension Researcher and Former co-director of Auckland University's Retirement Policy and Research Centre Michael Littlewood, who believes that there is very little actual evidence, aside from anecdotal evidence to suggest that our pension scheme is not working. Michael says that generally speaking New Zealand superannuation is by far the best tier one pension scheme in the world. 

Chris Lynch spoke to Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel about progress on the central library, public excluded council meetings and the councils work improving its public relations. 

Chris Lynch spoke to media commentator and former NZ Herald editor Dr Gavin Ellis about the recently announced merger of Fairfax media and Nine Entertainment Company.Gavin says that this news may encourage NZME and Stuff to take their case for a merger back to the commerce commission. 

The Greens are putting the Labour - New Zealand First coalition ahead of its own stance on the waka jumping Bill.The party remains strongly opposed to the legislation which, if passed, would prevent MPs switching parties during the term.It would also stop MPs from becoming independent members, if they're ejected from their caucus.Former Green MP Sue Bradford told Chris Lynch it seems as though some MPs that are representing the Green party today are in a way really dishonoring the history of how they got there.