Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: When A City Falls

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  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    have you seen this, Lucy?

    Yes. Yes I have. I find the columns about technicians particularly accurate. (Took me aaaaaaaages to work out the Chuck Norris joke, though, I could tell you a dozen of 'em but I've only actually seen a picture of him once or twice.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    I could tell you a dozen of 'em

    Ah, but how about the Piri Weepu ones?

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • rene_p, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    Agreed - I want a copy too!

    London • Since Nov 2011 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Calder, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    This made me laugh for a couple of days. But I don't get the "Professor as seen by post-doc" (the one to the right of the elevated donkey) Can anyone assist?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Peter Calder,

    The eye of Sauron?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Danielle,

    Yes, I think so. Omniscience.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Carol Stewart,

    awl knowing...

    Omniscience

    Wasn't that the Penthouse of Science?
    Or am I all over the place?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Walter Nicholls,

    Back onto the film, on publicity: almost entirely thanks to this blog post and subsequent comments, I took the family (2 kids under 13) to Albany last night. About 8-10 people in the cinema, but all stayed to the end of the credits, after which there was a tasteful silence (thanks Event Cinemas) before the regular sound-filler started up again.
    Worth spending 107 minutes on. Yes, it is a bit uneven, but it is mostly showing different images to what was plastered over the TV news and some brave people to allow themselves to be filmed.
    One small offhand shot - a girl "off to Auckland" made me think there is another untold story, that of the refugees, particularly the students. There were several in my childrens' schools, how many have gone back home yet? What are their NCEA/university results going to be like?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Jul 2008 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Walter Nicholls,

    About 8-10 people in the cinema, but all stayed to the end of the credits, after which there was a tasteful silence (thanks Event Cinemas) before the regular sound-filler started up again.

    It seemed only decent to stay in our seats till the end of the credits.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • PaulC,

    once Christchurch can be insured again, the film will be golden

    will the government announce anything come the anniversary

    Auckland • Since Nov 2011 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to PaulC,

    A city fails...

    once Christchurch can be insured again

    University insurance premium more than doubles...

    Vero says it will "limit price increases'

    Ratepayers to find $700,00 to help our insurer, Civic Assurance! (and don't start me on the corner city CEO, Tony Marryatt, has painted us into with his conflict of interest by being a director of this company - and he's paid for it - ya pay someone virtually half a million a year and they get another part time job! We need exclusivity clauses for the next CEO)

    ...meanwhile Council still bullies ratepayers - The private eye is the work of our oxymoronic Democracy Services Manager - I wish they'd spend some time and money on fixing our roads and pavements so little old ladies can get the shops without breaking a hip...

    and Parker awarded "Communicator of the Year' by the Public Relations Institute - none of whom, obviously, live in Chchch but watch a lot of TV - so you can bullshit a bullshitter!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Chickens circling the roost.

    The commercial manager of Christchurch's PGC building knew the building was deemed an earthquake risk, but did not tell either the owner or engineers inspecting the building.

    ...

    Mr Buchanan said he had reassured tenants the building was safe to occupy on the information he had received from Holmes Consulting engineering reports.

    "I'm not an engineer. I take advice from professionals. Their role was to make sure the building was safe to occupy.''

    Giving evidence at the commission yesterday, Stephen Collins, the building owner, said "trusted'' estate agents and lawyers carrying out due diligence on his behalf had failed to inform him of the reports which showed the building had "the potential for severe failure'' in the event of a major quake.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I have just come from anniversary-night When a City Falls. We warmed up for depression and trauma by spending the afternoon watching the cricket.

    So. For those not living in Chch. Seriously. If you give anywhere upwards of about half a fuck about me, or David, or anyone else who lives here, go and see this. It will give you a very real insight into what we've been through, for paltry effort.

    For other Chch people. It'll be hard. It'll be good. You'll cry. It'll be okay. Yeah, it'll bring stuff back. It's like seeing an ex again for the first time after you break up. It brings back painful memories, but what are you going to do, spend the rest of your life desperately trying to avoid them?

    Right at the beginning, there's an establishing shot of the city's old skyline. I didn't recognise it. I've lived here for twenty years, how can I already have forgotten what it used to look like? How?

    The first thing to make me actually weep rather than sniffle was the shots of the Provincial Council Chambers, intact after September. Fuck I loved that building.

    After February... there's a scene where he runs into a woman heading to the CTV building, and they end up in Latimer Square. That's where my son was. My fifteen year old son. In all of that.

    And of course it's our side of town. Buildings we see every day. Things we've stopped seeing, because they're just the Way It Is.

    Yeah, it rips off the scabs. But then the wounds heal cleaner.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    (and don’t start me on the corner city CEO, Tony Marryatt, has painted us into with his conflict of interest by being a director of this company – and he’s paid for it – ya pay someone virtually half a million a year and they get another part time job! We need exclusivity clauses for the next CEO)

    And while we're on it, a little commitment wouldn't go amiss, such as actually living in the city you ostensibly serve. The seldom-seen Marryatt (here making a brief outdoor appearance in blue tie & recently shorn of his meathead moustache on the day of the CERA launch) commutes from Hamilton, and presumably pays his rates there.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard, in reply to Emma Hart,

    It’s like seeing an ex again for the first time after you break up. It brings back painful memories, but what are you going to do, spend the rest of your life desperately trying to avoid them?

    That's probably what I've been trying to do with Christchurch for a couple of decades. I've moved on, and all that. But with someone who was that much of your past, no matter how distant that past feels, it's still going to be a wrenching experience to see them fall apart.

    Which is why, among other reasons, I haven't felt ready to go back there since February. Going there after last September was wrenching enough. But, yes. I have to see this.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    commutes from Hamilton

    really? and they reappointed him?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sacha,

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Spruiker Parker and his pet Elvis impersonator...

    Mayor Bob & allies’ thousand-year-Reich clause.

    One of whom, Aaron Klown er Keown, is reported in this morning's paper - as saying:

    ...the public did not need to be involved in the process any more.
    "I don't really care too much about consulting.
    I represent people who don't care about the council."

    Names please...

    The above is in relation to Marryatt having a ceiling put on his spending allocations and having to consult the public proper like:

    He will now have to report back on spending allocations of more than $5 million and the council is to be consulted before projects concerning suburban strategic plans or improved infrastructure are approved.

    Just as well, don't wanna end up with a used V8 race round the city...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Redzoned eastern resident and MP Lianne Dalziel reflects on what impeded recovery in a recent address to a finance and insurance industry conference.

    “One thing I have learned is that we prepare well for disasters in New Zealand – but we have not yet learned how to prepare for the recovery.
    ...

    Following the Civil Defence & Emergency Management planning template the recovery process kicks in immediately after the response is initiated and runs parallel to the response effort. There is then a managed transition to the lead role when the response phase is over.
    ...

    “So what did go wrong? Very simply, the government managed to render inactive the very part of the template that was designed to automate the recovery process and the transition to recovery from response, when they set up the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission (the Commission). I believe this was inadvertent, but it has cost Christchurch – not just financially but also in terms of the confidence of the communities that were affected by the first earthquake. When the Minister admitted to me later that he hadn’t read the recovery chapter of the Canterbury Civil Defence Group Plan, I wasn’t surprised.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Very poignant. Setting up a new body to function as the replaced body (Council) was the very worst idea for recovery. What happens to that body on completion? It's knowledge? And the Commission's funds, in my opinion would have been better placed in the hands of Council, an existing body. Councils all round NZ need to know that they may be tasked and funded for future events, including recovery.
    I can only imagine this Commission was a power control mechanism.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to merc,

    Peddle to the meddle...

    I can only imagine this Commission was a power control mechanism.

    a Governor?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Hehe yes. But also a supercharger ;-)

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    That was the initial body before CERA was put in place. In both cases, to sidestep the local Council and put power directly in the hands of Minister Brownlee.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Ah, who could forget Jerry's new CERA logo jacket. A sure sign if any were needed that Govt. sees itself as a brand.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

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