Posts by Megan Wegan
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Emma Hart,
Ok, I am going to stop repeating you now.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to BenWilson,
Isn’t the main bus station near the city center and also at the bottom level of a carpark building. How much rolling stock survived?
I don't think the depot is there, but that is a good question. It's the same building Emma's kids' school is in.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Emma Hart,
This time, when it’s New Brighton, and Aranui, and Woolston, and Linwood? I have a dark hurty feeling.
Oh yes. When I looked at the list of badly damaged schools yesterday, I thought "Shit, that's a lot of kids, and look at the areas they're in.
There is a step before “what kind of central city should we build?”. Homes. Infrastructure
And I think there's a step before that, which is allowing people to grieve. For the people that have been lost, and for the buildings, the city and the confidence.
I’m assuming, from the way you put it, that these are on the lower end.
Very much so.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
It was the heart of a community of faith that had endured – and survived – not only the atomic bombing, but often brutal persecution.
Having said that, my Aunt, who has lost her house, points out that a church isn't a building, it's a community, and the people involved in it.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Keir Leslie,
I think it should be left in ruins. It’s a far more powerful image now than it ever was before. Before the Cathedral looked almost toy like often; now it looks utterly sublime.
I've been thinking a lot about this.
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Hard News: What Now?, in reply to Keir Leslie,
I tweeted this yesterday – if Christchurch isn’t rebuilt right, it could become the Hamilton of the South Island. That is, if the CBD is left to die and activity moves to the edges.
To be fair, Christchurch was already like that. There's been a lot of attempts at reviving the central city, over the past 7 or 8 years, with things like Lichfield and Poplar lanes, but I know a lot of people that hardly ever go into the city. In fact, I asked my mum this yesterday, and she said she couldn't remember the last time she'd been in the Square.
Christchurch is a city full of suburban malls, and GIANT ones* and for a lot of people, there's no reason to go into the city. Not to mention, for as long as I can remember, it's been expanding outwards, rather than developing the inner city. The drive we used to take to get to Ashburton when I was a kid, seems much shorter now, because the city seems to last practically to Rolleston.
Having said all that, am I the only one who is uncomfortable with talk of re-building? It feels like it is too soon to have that conversation.
* Seriously. Riccarton Mall takes up half the suburb, and is hideous. Christchurch. You do not need any more malls.
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Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to Lilith __,
Nah, I've been back for a week.
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Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to Lilith __,
I think there will be a lot of Chch people like me who have a delayed reaction. Until today I’ve mostly felt fine, hardly even cried. But today I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck, emotionally. Hoping I have enough braincells left to pack a bag, but not counting on it.
If it helps (and it won't) I feel exactly the same. It's possibly because I've been working so much, but yeah, I haven't really felt it yet.
Hugs hon, and keep safe.
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And because Emma may not tell you herself, she'll be on National Radio tomorrow afternoon.
Public Address: taking over the airwaves.
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Up Front: Ups and Downs. And Side-to-Sides., in reply to Emma Hart,
Now I can’t find its tail.
Shall I find a glittery wool, and we'll fashion a tail?