Midday Report for Friday 4 March 2011

12:57 PM.Heavy traffic is making the movement of waste around Christchurch difficult for officials. Audio

12:54 PM.The Social Development Minister says staff are having to be flexible when deciding what financial support those caught up in the Christchurch earthquake are eligible for. Audio

12:49 PM.The father of a young woman who died after eating at a market in Thailand, says he wants more action from the Thai and New Zealand Governments after reports three other people have died in the same… Read more Audio

12:46 PM.The families of the 29 men killed in the Pike River coal mine say they do not want the police to ever hand over control to the mine company's receivers. Audio

12:43 PM.The Insurance Council says people in Christchurch may not be able to take out any new insurance policies for at least the next two weeks. Audio

12:38 PM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

12:35 PM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

12:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

12:22 PM.The Prime Minister John Key is today touring parts of eastern Christchurch badly effected by last Tuesday's quake. Audio

12:20 PM.Our reporter Kim Baker Wilson has been at the latest Civil Defence briefing where the police have released more names who have died. Audio

12:14 PM.Civil defence says it will today close all but one of its 24 hour welfare centres in Christchurch. Audio

12:00 PM.Midday Report news bulletin. Audio