Quake inquests to be held as soon as possible

The CTV site in central Christchurch. The nesxt round of inquests will focus on those who died when the building collapsed. Photo / Simon Baker

Further inquests into the deaths of people killed in the February 22 Christchurch earthquake will take place next month at Riccarton Racecourse.

Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean said the inquests would focus on the victims of the CTV building and be heard by Waikato coroner Gordon Matenga.

Over the past two days Judge MacLean has presided over inquests into the deaths of nine people whose remains could not be identified and five who were identified visually.

The judge found that they all died from injuries sustained during the earthquake and formally declared they were dead. A total of 181 people died in the magnitude 6.3 quake.

"Hopefully the last two days have offered the families some comfort and we now need to try and do the same for the many others."

Judge MacLean said he was keen for the sake of the families to finish the formalities "sooner rather than later".

Earlier today, the family of a 14-year-old boy who died in the Christchurch earthquake asked if they can find out which collapsing buildings caused his death.

The inquest today into the death of Jayden Brytane Andrews-Howland heard how he was travelling on a bus on a trip to central Christchurch from his suburban home, as he regularly did, when the quake struck on February 22.

Bricks and masonry fell from buildings and crushed the bus.

Jayden's death was recorded as being the result of chest injuries. He died a day before his 15th birthday.

Members of his family today asked Judge MacLean where Jayden was sitting on the bus, and where the bus is now and if they can see it.

One family member asked: "Will we ever know the buildings that did come down on him or what they were?"

Getting answers to these questions would help provide closure, the man said.

Judge MacLean said the collapse of buildings would be examined by a Royal Commission of Inquiry, but those inquiries made by the family today would be looked into by authorities.

Christchurch City Council design draughtsman and long-serving civil defence volunteer Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40, was having lunch in the Link Centre in High Street in central Christchurch when the earthquake struck, and debris from partially collapsed buildings fell onto him.

He was dragged from the rubble and members of the public tried CPR for about 40 minutes, but were unable to revive him, the inquest was told.

Mr Pohio died at the time of being struck by falling debris, or very soon after, Judge MacLean said. He suffered "crush asphyxia" and a head injury.

The inquest also heard today bus driver Andrew Craig, 46, was fatally injured when the bus he was driving on Colombo Street approaching Tuam Street was struck by masonry and bricks falling from buildings on February 22.

He was taken to Christchurch Hospital, but died two days later as the result of his injuries, Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean said.

Mr Craig's injuries included severe chest injuries, a dislocation to the spine and multiple head cuts.

Another bus driving nearby was also struck by debris.

The driver of this bus, Kenneth Edwards, went onto Mr Craig's bus and found Mr Craig lying in the entrance to the bus. He also found two other people injured.

Mr Edwards removed Mr Craig him from the bus to a clear area on Tuam Street, before he was taken to hospital.

Judge MacLean said photographs of Mr Craig's bus showed the extent of the damage.

The bus was barely recognisable as a bus, he said.

Yesterday Judge MacLean declared dead nine people who were trapped in the collapsed Canterbury Television building on February 22.

A lack of remains meant this group could not be identified as other quake victims were.

The nine died as the result of "multiple traumatic injuries", but at least one initially survived the building collapse before succumbing to her injuries, the inquest heard.