Canterbury Mornings

Owners of derelict properties in Christchurch could soon be paying a leasing fee if they're blocking roads or footpaths.Many of the properties have fencing, scaffolding or shipping containers that encroach onto roads and footpaths.A report to be presented to the council's infrastructure transport and environment committee meeting on Wednesday recommends a fee of 15 dollars a month for every square metres of blocked paving or road.Mayor Lianne Dalziel told Chris Lynch that may not be enough. "The idea is to see if we can work collaboratively with building owners, but if we can't, at the end day, then we're going to have to take some, sort of action." The ultimate aim is to get the sites tidied up or redeveloped.

Police were kept busy over the long weekend in Christchurch with family violence call outs.One Christchurch organisation knows once the police are called it's too late.He Waka Tapu have started a new initiative called 0800 Hey Bro - for men who think they may harm a family member or loved one to call and receive help before they harm others.Chris Lynch spoke to Whanau intervention officer Beatrice Brown to discuss what this service offers.

Chris Lynch spoke to Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods and National MP Nicky Wagner about the political issues affecting Canterbury.

Chris Lynch spoke to Helen Beaumont from the Christchurch City Council who will be in the role of Programme Manager – Water Supply Improvement for the next 12 months 

Chris Lynch spoke to Tax Payers Union Executive Director Jordan Williams who says the excessive taxes placed on tobacco only creates a black market rather than encourages people not to smoke.

A Christchurch dairy owner who was robbed at gunpoint this week says he's struggling to sleep and his staff are terrified to come into work.The Templeton dairy in Kirk Road was subject to one of three aggravated robberies in the space of 24 hours in the city with the offenders stealing cash, tobacco and cigarettes.Kirk Road dairy owner Anthony Jung told Chris Lynch the offenders took the whole cash register filled with around $600.He says the money is one thing, but it's the terror that's worse.Anthony Jung says it will be difficult to continue working if situations like this become the norm.

Chris Lynch spoke to Former Police Officer and Social justice advocate Kim Workman about the move by corrections to provide managed accommodation a kilometre away from Harewood School. 

Corrections is looking at providing managed accommodation for convicted sex offenders a kilometre away from Harewood School.It's reported Lloyd McIntosh could be housed there.He's convicted of unlawful sexual connect with a 23 month old baby and raping a six year old.The school's principal says she's confident the kids are safe while they are at school - because the offenders will be given highest level of monitoring.However Sensible Sentencing Trust South Island Victim Advisor Jayne Walker is calling the reported move terrifying. 

Parents are angry they weren't consulted over a decision to move former prisoners near their children's school in Christchurch.Corrections is looking at providing managed accommodation a kilometre away from Harewood School.It's reported Lloyd McIntosh could be housed there.He's convicted of unlawful sexual connect with a 23 month old baby and raping a six year old.The school's principal says she's confident the kids are safe while they are at school - because the offenders will be given highest level of monitoring.But Siobhan whose eight-year-old son goes to Harewood told Chris Lynch this is a parent's worst nightmare if sexual offenders are among those living there.

Chris Lynch spoke to Healthy Food Guide Nutritionist Claire Turnbull about healthy eating and avoiding carcinogenic foods.

Winter is most certainly here and as it sets in we turn up the heat in our homes, which can mean smoky wood burners contributing to air pollution in the city.Environment Canterbury is on a mission to reduce air pollution levels around Canterbury. Chris Lynch was joined by Director of Air Quality at Environment Canterbury, Katherine Trought, to discuss how and why they are going about this.

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger will lead a panel charged with establishing policy that will set minimum pay and conditions for various industries.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it's employers that are driving changes to the collective bargaining system.However Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce CEO Leeann Watson believes fair pay agreements are a cause for concern, she told Chris Lynch why.

New Zealand's dismal cancer statistics have been highlighted in a global index, putting the country proportionally second worst for new cases, only behind Australia.New Zealand comes out on top having the world's worst rate of deaths from malignant skin melanoma.Chris Lynch spoke to University of Otago Cancer Epidemiologist Associate Professor Brian Cox about why New Zealand's cancer rates are so bad and what can be done about it.

Professor of History at Auckland University of Technology, Paul Moon, is concerned the Human Rights Commission is planning on introducing what he calls "a damaging change to our society" by making "disharmonious speech" aimed at religions an offence. Paul Moon told Chris Lynch the main concern is that they are essentially saying there are certain ideas that are so fragile that we shouldn't be allowed to probe or criticise them.  

Political commentator Lindsay Perigo told Chris Lynch he is concerned freedom of speech is under threat in New Zealand from the Human Rights commission wanting to prevent "disharmonious speech" directed towards ethnic minority groups in New Zealand.

NASA's flying observatory will begin its winter missions from Christchurch today.Sofia is a former Boeing Passenger plane decked out with a giant telescope - and manned by scientists, astronomers, mechanics and technicians.It's been visiting Christchurch for the past five years.Deployment Manager Ed Harmon told Chris Lynch they'll head out around 8 o'clock tonight and be back around 4am for the first trip of their seven week programme.This time around they're looking at our neighbouring galaxy The Large Magellanic Cloud, the centre of our own Milky Way galaxy, and Saturn's moon.

Victim rights advocate Norm Withers told Chris Lynch the Government's decision to get rid of the Three strike law is devastating. His elderly mother was severely beaten in 1997. She was looking after her son's menswear store. Norm started a law-and-order petition that gained so many signatures it forced a referendum in 1999. The referendum, which proposed more support for victims of crime and heavier penalties for offenders, received overwhelming support, and forced further changes to the law. 

Disney's ABC network has cancelled Roseanne after the show's star, Roseanne Barr, went on a vitriolic Twitter rampage.She spewed false conspiracy theories, went after former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and attacked a former adviser to President Obama with a racist insult.Sam Rubin, American journalist and entertainment reporter for KTLA spoke to Chris Lynch about the fallout.

The report from the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor Peter Gluckman shows there is no real risk to humans from third-hand exposure to houses where methamphetamine has been consumed. Meaning tens of thousands of homes have been needlessly tested.NZ Drug Foundation Executive Director Ross Bell told Chris Lynch he has been saying for a while now that the science does not back up the need for such an industry and it has played on the fears of New Zealand people to make a profit.

Central city retailers are urging the Christchurch City Council to extend its free inner city parking scheme to help them to compete with malls.Environmental group Generation Zero however believes that offering 1 hour free parking in city is a step in the wrong direction.Generation Zero Christchurch transport spokeswoman Francesca Bradley spoke to Chris Lynch about why.