Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Christchurch: Square Two

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  • Jackie Clark,

    There's another lovely article by Rebecca Macfie in the Listener.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    And on the other hand, Holmes' latest drivel on the ChCh quakes comes across as a job interview for Wall Street. I hope for his sake he goes incognito when he's down there. Then again, it wouldn't be a bad idea for Cantabrians to make their thoughts known to him - and not necessarily with words either.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Negotiations between govt, local insurers and global re-insurers about who pays what.

    Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan said that technically insurers could not pay for the replacement of repairable homes, but they were trying to be as flexible as possible.

    The decision ultimately rested with global re-insurers, which were expected to eventually pay out about $10 billion to rebuild Christchurch.

    "There are some serious and quite tense discussions happening between insurers and reinsurers at the moment," he said.

    Re-insurers were also seeking assurances from New Zealand insurers and the Government that Christchurch would still be a viable insurance "market" before agreeing to be "flexible", he said.

    "The re-insurers are much more influential players than people realise."

    Insurers and re-insurers were still awaiting land information from the Government.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Frustrated CBD business owner Layton Duncan describes the shift he wants to see from CERA, Council and govt.

    Communicate details. For example, don’t tell us ‘100 buildings are scheduled for urgent demolition’ instead, give us a list of those 100 buildings. Don’t tell us it’s a complicated issue. Explain the details of what complicates the issue. Explain the why in detail, impart understanding to people when you don’t have definitive answers.

    ...

    Allow business owners and limited associated individuals registered, unescorted, access upon request, coordinated with business in similar locations into the red zone for the purpose of recovering items, or obtaining insurance assessments at their own risk.

    The only two conditions of access should be that a legal waiver of liability be signed by each person entering the Red Zone, and that they don’t stray beyond a specified path to their property when in the Red Zone.

    ...

    There is no inspirational leadership in this ‘recovery’. The whole situation reeks of political paralysis. No one has stood up to put the people of this city first and do the right thing. There is arse covering. There is extreme and irrational risk aversion. There is consideration of selfish political ramifications of every decision made. It’s sickening. It’s frustrating. It’s draining. It’s killing this city.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    National's pollster David Farrar discusses the broader political ramifications - note this is his Herald column, not own site.

    If the global insurance market walks away from New Zealand, then the Government will be forced to step in as our national insurer - well beyond what EQC currently does. At this stage the Government's long feared credit rating downgrade turns from a case of will it happen to how bad will it be.

    But the fiscal and insurance risks are not the greatest danger to the Government. This third earthquake has acted as a catalyst for residents to demand certainty over their future, and the feeling is that the Government has days, not weeks or months, to announce its plans - otherwise they face angry and despairing protests dominating the TV news bulletins.
    ...

    The Government no doubt has a checklist of things it wants to have settled, before it makes an announcement. I think they need to add an additional item to their checklist, and stick it up the top. The extra item should be "Can make an announcement by the end of next week".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    FEMA, anybody? If people start to feel that "credit ratings" are getting in the way of rebuilding, then there's a powder keg just waiting to blow.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • chris, in reply to Sacha,

    Communicate details. For example, don’t tell us ‘100 buildings are scheduled for urgent demolition’ instead, give us a list of those 100 buildings. Don’t tell us it’s a complicated issue. Explain the details of what complicates the issue. Explain the why in detail, impart understanding to people when you don’t have definitive answers.

    Bizarrely these sound exactly like the kind of demands citizens would be forced to level in The People's Republic of China, the primary difference being that in China 100 buildings would be demolished in a month by 1000 peasants with sledgehammers, for a pittance. So in its way, all things considered, this situation - worse on both counts.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Some photos of where Japanese cleanup efforts are up to.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    And the engineers and Mayor Parker have debunked the bigmouths who say the CBD should be moved out of the Four Avenues.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • chris, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Last night's CTV news. It's pretty depressing.

    And then some. But another win for Apple by the sound of things. Reid Stiven said the EQC have 400 people in the field and 200 in the building -

    "today is the last day for the roll out of iPads so all our staff will be equipped with the iPad ® which is gonna significantly improve our service and our ability to get the information to our claimants."

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to chris,

    I finally got round to watching that video, and I’m more pissed off than depressed. My last few posts on this topic are now understatements. Notably, the second guy being interviewed said he doesn’t necessarily want payouts, but certainty and a plan.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Govt now saying how many homes are done for, but not saying where.

    Mr Brownlee confirmed to RadioLIVE this morning that around 12,000 Christchurch homes will never be lived in again.

    ...

    Mr Brownlee, who has been criticised in the past week for what some see as the slow rate of recovery in Christchurch, denied that the government is set to make a significant announcement on Wednesday.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Blogger and mobile tech expert Luigi Cappel despairs at the ineffective response to a tide of real damage - to Christchurch's people.

    I look back to the first news coverage where Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and Christchurch Cathedral Dean Peter Beck were saying the bricks and mortar can be replaced, but its the people that matter. Well herein lies my problem. We aren’t even dealing effectively with the buildings. We are hardly touching the broken people! They can only be staunch for so long and if we don’t help them very soon, we are going to have a generation of traumatized people.

    So I say to the Government, to EQNZ, to the city councillors, to my fellow Kiwis: This isn’t good enough. No more excuses. We have paid our taxes for years, in good faith expecting that the money would provide for resources and expertise when they were needed. We were told the big one would come and we would be ready. If you can’t deal with it, bring in people and resources who can. We aren’t the only country to have disasters, they happen all over the world, many much worse than Christchurch. Have the grace to accept you don’t know how to deal with the situation and find people who can.

    If you can’t do that, its election year and you will have to fall on your swords and we will find others who can. The current situation may not be man made, but our response to it is a disgrace.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    You should have listened to Ken Ring when he predicted yesterday’s events!

    Wait-what? He didn’t?

    My bad. He did. That settles it once and for all.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    My bad. He did. That settles it once and for all.

    Heh.

    "I'm still expecting a bit of earthquake risk around, or on, Monday to come from that in the Christchurch to Wellington region, plus or minus a day or so."

    Roughly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’m still expecting a bit of earthquake risk around, or on, Monday to come from that in the Christchurch to Wellington region, plus or minus a day or so.”

    Roughly.

    Weather dependant possibly ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    2 weeks eitherside...

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    at least he got the year right

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    yeah right. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yep: in April, Ring said that the earthquake 'cycle' would end at the end of April, and scientists who said otherwise "were making things up."
    Since the end of April - over 23 4.0s (or plus, and 3 5.0s (or plus) and a 6.3...Moonman, making it up forever-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    Yes, I definitely remember a "nothing more to worry about" period after the one for the history books. And I also remember him predicting he wouldn't be making any more earthquake predictions. Can't even get that right.

    I see from the Herald he has a rival kook, the "Barcaroller".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Brownlee talking to Duncan Garner on The Nation yesterday (7 min clip).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Matthew Reid,

    It may all be revealed tomorrow afternoon.

    South Africa • Since Nov 2006 • 80 posts Report

  • Matthew Reid,

    'Areas of retreat' sounds ominous. I predict that termoinology will enter the lexicon, like 'munted'. As in "my house isn't munted, but it is in an area of retreat".

    South Africa • Since Nov 2006 • 80 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Reid,

    'Areas of retreat'

    Maybe the delay was for Crosby Textor to run those focus groups and come up with the most acceptable term to replace "abandoned".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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