Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Christchurch: Is "quite good" good enough?

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  • Leigh Russell,

    Hi Emma and Lilith, I absolutely get the exhaustion factor and the 'how much more can we be expected to bear' factor. Just hope to cheer you people on, and to say I'm with you on this one. Lilith, great idea. I'd thought of that and will do so: Claire Curran seems better at batting for locals than many others I don't hear news of.

    Otago • Since Jul 2010 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Ed Muzik, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Exhaustion? It’s been nearly two years, Leigh. Quite a lot of us are knackered.

    I'd also argue that going to a meeting to talk to planners who will probably not answer direct questions such as "do you know how much this stadium will cost" or "has anyone done a feasibility study on this?", knowing that they have absolutely no responsibility to take notice of anything you say sounds like an utterly depressing waste of time.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    At the right time. No point questioning now; we've been told what will happen. Most of us have read the glossy mailout, the plan in the paper and on the net and tv. Our specific questions will not be answered, we know that from experience, so why go? We told them what we wanted; the bureaucrats (most of them Not From Here) and planners interpreted that; came up with what they thought we wanted (not the same thing) and what they wanted; and told us. Done deal.

    As Emma said, everyone is knackered. It's cold, it's August.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Hebe,

    As Emma said, everyone is knackered. It’s cold, it’s August.

    Ok I gettit. I'll get back to yous in December and see how it's working out for yas ;)

    For what it's worth, I continually email lots of MPs. If I have a question that's what I generally do. Surprisingly, some respond. It is their duty to respond.

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

  • Hebe, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    MPs are elected; Cera /CCDU isn't. They answer to no-one bar Big Ger.

    Hey Sofie, it's not all bad here, just a lot of knots these days. And certainties are a thing of the past.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Hebe,

    MPs are elected; Cera /CCDU isn’t. They answer to no-one bar Big Ger.

    I think any political pressure we can generate is a good thing. The erosion of democratic rights affects all of us, not just Christchurch people.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Leigh Russell, in reply to Lilith __,

    I think any political pressure we can generate is a good thing. The erosion of democratic rights affects all of us, not just Christchurch people.

    Agreed, with bells on. It could just as easily have been / or could still be Dunedin.

    What I keep coming back to is the disbelief that anyone could even begin to imagine that an entire city centre could be design-finalised in 100 days - that, in my view, is delusional, regardless of how smart the brain tank is. Haste makes waste, and all that...

    Christchurch people, you have my support. I encourage you to keep asking us other NZers for any support you think could be helpful. Okay, 'nuf said by me.

    Otago • Since Jul 2010 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    It feels like a lot of people are completely over being ignored and know it is pointless.

    People can be very smart like that. Show some resourceful, coherent leadership that has a realistic chance of making a difference and they'll back it. Otherwise, more pressing needs closer to home will win every time.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Back in February, indignation over Town Clerk/CEO Marryatt's pay rise had over 4000 rallying outside Council HQ. Council management's response was to authorise an $80,000 "audit" of their own communications performance. Today Marryatt failed to attend a "workshop" where councillors who were never consulted on the decision to commission the "audit" had gathered to discuss its findings.

    In January Mayor Parker cited Marryatt's increased workload from the "Share an Idea" exercise as justification for his pay rise. OK, it was a cruel noax, but we're past caring now, right?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    It’s cold, it’s August.

    There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing… Sir Rannulph Fiennes said that, apparently.
    And…
    To paraphrase Martin Niemöller
    First they came for the Cantabrians, but it was a bit nippy.

    Concrete pills all round I reckon, get yer game face on, this ain’t the end game.

    When they start knocking good new buildings down for one of their stupid sports stadiums with attached convention centre (containing a sports stadium with a convention centre inside it) before they address the suffering of those still having to use a portaloo, they are taking the piss.

    To quote Howard Beale ( Peter Finch, in Network):
    “I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad….”
    "I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” …
    Start to bother these fuckers.
    Phone them in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep for worrying, make them lose sleep.
    Block up their mail servers demanding replies.
    Fuck their fax machines with black faxes.
    Stress them as much as they stress you.
    Don’t give up, GIVE HELL…

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    What goes around...

    Fuck their fax machines with black faxes.

    The moebius fax or just a taped loop, works well also...
    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    An anecdotal friend of a friend of my neighbours cousin once sent 999 (for that were the maximum that you could) black pages from a computer to a company that owed him money, for work done. The fax machine malfunctioned and set fire to the building.
    Not that anyone in Christchurch would notice such a thing, happens every day... apparently.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Leigh Russell, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Good morning Steve, your advice above about concrete pills cheered me greatly.

    Bother action certainly can work: at one time in my distant pass when I lived and worked in Auckland the Auckland City workers were taking industrial action and meeting in the town hall for discussion. After the usual puffing and blowing an imaginative suggestion was made that we take our concerns directly to the mayor himself whose office was situated many floors up in a building just across the square. We did. We filed out of the town hall, crossed the square and climbed the stairs en masses, entirely blocking the stair well (let’s not think about floor loading!), as well as the area outside, and requested audience! The mayor, then and now a prominent businessman, wouldn’t front up, and left it to his deputy, who, faced with an intolerable situation said he would meet with representatives of our number. I can’t recall what the outcome was, but found that point deliciously memorable. Previously they would have refused to meet with those same representatives.

    People in positions of power do not like public displays of disagreement, especially when the numbers are so overwhelmingly against them.

    Otago • Since Jul 2010 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    A very detailed and interesting response to the Plan from The Political Scientist.

    Monday night last week was like Christmas Eve in Christchurch.

    As the evening darkened, the presents – carefully wrapped and prettily presented by the best PR Christmas wrappers CERA could buy – were lain beneath the brightly lit Christmas Tree by the CCDU (Christchurch Central Development Unit).

    There was Christchurch’s own Gerry Brownlee as Father Christmas, his elvish little helper John Key and Bob Parker doing his best impersonation of Rudolph, complete with fancy bridle and reins.

    There was even a small group of carolers singing – a bit dischordantly – outside the warmly lit room that the most blessed of Christchurch’s little children (business people, politicians and hand-picked journalists) were let into.

    Inside there were gasps, tears and, as the last of the big box-shaped Christmas presents was placed under the tree, the children broke into delighted applause as they bounced jollily on their little feet, hardly believing the mountain of presents tantalisingly waiting for their little fingers to unwrap.

    Brilliantly written, and worth reading the rest.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    And ripped from a tweet of Jackson's : the remains of the 2004 Athens Olympics sports facilities. Something for Chch to think about.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    Brilliantly written, and worth reading the rest

    +1. Agree with this sentiment too:

    The better option, of course, is to organise and respond. A group of people who have a pretty clear objective – no matter how apparently minor – that involves provoking a bit of a ‘slip’ in the grand plans – in order to make things better – can make a difference out of proportion to the effort.

    That’s not a vague hope, by the way. It’s how things happen. Not always predictably (even in terms of where you aim to make a change) but something is always going to happen as a result of the efforts people make.

    And it’s also worth remembering that there are lots of people feeling the same way – powerless, helpless, angry and sad, but also wishing they could do something.

    That word ‘lots’ matters. If people can connect with each other there’s all sorts of possibilities. There’s even some real enjoyment and fun to be had and that remarkable feeling of working together with others for something that makes sense.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Lilith __,

    Both well worth reading.
    The thing that startles and saddens me- again and again in today's NZ- is the lack of idealism, altruism, or signs that we can and should build something of more than commercial value.
    All too often, the barren reductive nature of the debate itself is dispiriting. We can do better.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    the lack of idealism, altruism, or signs that we can and should build something of more than commercial value.

    -from politicians and other so-called civic leaders: Lilith's link was well worth the reading - but disheartening.

    BUT - there's all the rest of us, from our host on this site to the millions (well, there're now 4+ of us eh?) who cherish our motu, wish to nourish our best ideals,
    and give much more than we take-)

    the Greedies will NOT win!

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Islander,

    the Greedies will NOT win!

    Hear hear!

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

  • Lilith __, in reply to Islander,

    there’re now 4+ of us eh?) who cherish our motu, wish to nourish our best ideals, and give much more than we take

    And counting! :-)

    Thanks Sacha for pulling up that section about action.
    And particularly this:

    And it’s also worth remembering that there are lots of people feeling the same way – powerless, helpless, angry and sad, but also wishing they could do something.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Gudrun Gisela, in reply to Tim Croft,

    I hope not . The idea of producing a rail system for people who might never live here seems absurd. The fear of another quake for one and the fiasco of being unable to insure buildings is a reason why so many are selling up and leaving town.
    In the streets around my neighborhood of St Albans there is a huge increase of houses for sale. Seems as soon as a house is repaired it goes up for sale and the people take off like scared birds. The mayor and his associates seems to think that by creating a rail system, calling it light rail but costing an arm and a leg for generations to come, is a good enough reason to spend the money . There are at least 1200 residents in various places mostly in the eastern suburbs with no concrete date when their places will be repaired and having to make do living in third world conditions . They are being fobbed off. Imagine people in their eighties having to wait what could be up to five years until they get around to it.It is immoral to even think of such things when our fellow women and men are suffering.
    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151336096862345.493469.548682344&type=3&l=bdb5196c5a

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2011 • 891 posts Report Reply

  • Gudrun Gisela,

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2011 • 891 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Gudrun Gisela,

    O! That is so good!

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

  • Lilith __,

    Cr Tim Carter asks for answers from EQC about their priorites. It's common knowledge that houses with minor damage are getting repaired first, and I'd love to see EQC stand up and explain how this can possibly be a good solution.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

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