Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: What Now?

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  • Emma Hart, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Oh, I mean, in general, that IS useful. Even with primary schools, though, there are occasional weird hiccups. So we had the choice of sending our kids to Riccarton Primary (2), or Ilam Primary (7), and they're... maybe four blocks apart? But it gives you a good idea of areas like Aranui, Linwood and Cashmere.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Emma Hart,

    @ross trick is it's not always the geography, a lot is the income of the parents.

    you can have two schools next to each other with different demographics.

    newlands where we live has heaps of state housing, but because the newer suburb over the back has heaps of richer public servants the decile of the local high-school is 9 (!!).

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Che Tibby,

    you can have two schools next to each other with different demographics.

    Yes, that happens in Auckland too. Kings College is right next to Otahuhu College

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Che Tibby,

    you can have two schools next to each other with different demographics.

    But the decile is calculated on the average income of the area, not of the parent population, correct? So the decile should be a fairly accurate indicator of the socioeconomic status of its environs.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    nah, i'm fairly certain it's the demographic of the school roll.

    they work out from the roles where the parents live, then drawn average incomes from Census meshblocks.

    this means that some meshblocks near the school could be entirely excluded.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    Yes, that happens in Auckland too. Kings College is right next to Otahuhu College

    Is there a DMZ between them?

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

  • Paul Williams,

    Alongtime ago, Kracklite asked...

    I'm desperately looking at the demographics myself and I think that I might just be able to fall into the crack between "Baby Boomer" and "Generation X". Phew! A close shave that! How about you?

    No such luck, demographically and culturally an Xer.

    And having read all the comments since, can I just join back in at the end and say:

    Yes, that happens in Auckland too. Kings College is right next to Otahuhu College

    Is there a DMZ between them?

    No, but there's a train station that's seen plenty of school brawls - actually there's two stations, one shared with my old school De La Salle. Our kids were on the platform heading south, there's were heading north.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Che Tibby,

    nah, i'm fairly certain it's the demographic of the school roll.
    they work out from the roles where the parents live, then drawn average incomes from Census meshblocks.
    this means that some meshblocks near the school could be entirely excluded

    In case you're professionally interested Che, the new Australian myschool website now includes financial information.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Che Tibby,

    Yes I think that's right about deciding decile on a selection of the parent population. It is extremely complicated and most schools complain about a high rating as it means less government funding, although they like it for marketing as it is also a desirability rating. Interestingly, the deprivation index also uses a 1-10 decile rating but the other way around. Just one of the many confusing things about NZ public policy.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Che Tibby,

    they work out from the roles where the parents live, then drawn average incomes from Census meshblocks.

    Well it can't be too precise because there is no way in hell that the school population of our school is decile four. Perhaps state housing in otherwise affluent streets complicates the calculation too much.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    it sure as hell isn't too precise. especially when you're five years off the census and no more data for 2 years.

    i was gobsmacked to see that schools in Newlands are apparently decile 9 and 10. must be all those rapidly bankrupting people in their leaky homes in Dress Circle.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Che seems to be right about student addresses being used to calculate deciles.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    He doesn’t seem to be. He is. As a kindergarten teacher, because our equity funding - separate from any other funding - is tied to the decile of the school closest to us - and you only get the funding if the school is a decile 3 and below - we are required by the MOE to provide a list of all the addresses of all the families of the chn on our roll.

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

  • Ross Mason,

    HELP ......STOP.......... It was just a suggestion!!!!!!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • NBH,

    [Post removed to avoid dogpiling ;-) ]

    Wellington • Since Oct 2008 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    heh. i think if you want to know the average income of a suburb in CHCH, you could try

    this link? or lift stuff off this page?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    No need to snap, Jackie, it was a figure of speech.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    No need to snap, Jackie

    I'm pretty sure Jackie is biologically incapable of snapping.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    I am sorry you had mistook my italic emphasis for snapping. I do do a good line in snapping but only at people I know, and don't like! Impeccable online manners I have.

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

  • Sacha,

    You might say the subtext here is that it's all in their heads, though I guess we'll have to wait to see the photo op and quotes on the telly to qualify the paraphrasing.

    In the wake of criticism that the eastern suburbs were being neglected by authorities in the wake of last week's deadly earthquake, Mr Key, with Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, surveyed damage to power cables and the power substation and spoke to residents in the suburb of Bexley, where liquefaction has caused significant damage.

    ...

    He acknowledged that residents in the city's eastern suburbs may have felt they were missing out.

    But saving 70 lives from the wreckage of the city centre had been the most important task for Civil Defence and emergency services, he said.
    ...

    Mr Key responded to ongoing criticism about the placement of portaloos in the suburbs, saying Civil Defence had assured him they had placed them "as best as they saw fit".

    I hope the comparison with how other suburbs were resourced is not so easily sidestepped by calling on the fallen.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    I am sorry you had mistook my italic emphasis for snapping

    I imagine snapping in bold ..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Brian Rudman notes the opportunistic politicking and gives it some perspective.

    Opponents of Auckland's long-delayed inner-city rail loop are seeking an easy victory by saying sacrifices must be made for "the sake of Christchurch".

    A "senior Government source" has told the Herald the $2 billion rail loop now has only a remote chance of being built. More openly, Finance Minister Bill English is drooling about the partial sale of state-owned power companies to help pay for Christchurch's recovery.

    This softening up of the electorate comes long before there's any accurate estimate of the Government's share of rebuilding costs. The Treasury's rough estimate is $5 billion over several years.

    ...

    It's hard to understand why the rebuilding estimate spooks Mr English and his colleagues. In his Budget last May, he proudly introduced personal tax cuts costing the state $14.3 billion in lost revenue over the next four years.

    The Government is now borrowing $300 million a week, or more than $1 billion a month, to cover this and says this is acceptable. Alongside such figures, the Christchurch "$5 billion over several years" sounds much less intimidating.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I have just heard on the radio (can't confirm online) that local councillor Aaron Keown has accused east Christchurch residents of just expecting other people to do stuff for them, instead of helping themselves. By building and emptying their own portaloos, I guess.

    There may be more to it. I'm calling a provisional 'twatcock'.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Guessing poor people don't vote in Christchurch either

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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