Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: What Now?

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  • Jolisa, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    Oh yes! The paper loghouses by Shigeru Ban. I'd forgotten about those. Wonder what we have to hand, for similar use...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Local variations thereupon, using found materials.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I think it is really important to have a safe place like PAS to discuss the issues that are concerning us about the implications of it all. What Emma and others have mentioned about the neglect of the poor and powerless last time and the links with the new wave of welfare reform needs to be said. Just as praising all those vital public servants who in their other life face redundancy, cut backs and right wing insults about the 'bureaucracy' needs to be said.

    What worries me, and this will offend many, is that the voluntary dollar, which is already very stretched/ shrunk by the recession (and gobbled up by the RWC), will now be even more elusive for those community groups across the country relying on such funding to provide their services. I see some future tensions there.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kate Hannah, in reply to Jolisa,

    and Robyn - I'm not clever enough to reply to both or quote ..... here at the University of Auckland we have some amazing PhD students working in indigenous architecture - off the top of my head there's a project I saw displayed last year which is a kitset fale for use in the Pacific after extreme weather events; I'm pretty sure there's a whole group working on tikanga Maori (can't macronise either - obviously need some PAS 101 lessons) architecture. The kitset fale could be our paper longhouses..... I'm going to email my counterpart in the architecture school now ......

    Auckland • Since Mar 2010 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jolisa,

    Is it naive to hope that a pause button has been pressed on that proposal by the horrible coincidence of nature randomly kicking these people in the crotch? And not just a pause button, but a rewind. Indeed, an eject. Taking us back to first principles: inasmuch as we do to the least of our brethren, etc.

    Without strong and concerted political action to push that position home, yes it's naive. If anything, disasters can reinforce a desire for strong authoritarian leadership rather than collectivist consensus.

    The cheerleaders of the right have wasted no time in piling their ideological agendas on the reconstruction table, even if they also contain some reasonable components. For example, here's Fran O'Sullivan proposing cuts to welfare programmes and assuming a zero-sum game that forces another part of the country to sell off public assets (sound familiar) - now the left need to propose alternatives, forcefully and coherently.

    Key should do the same. This is the opportune time for him to review the extent of his Government's tax-cuts, which are being funded through borrowing and not healthy surpluses, and the extent of the interest-free student loans and Working for Families tax credits bequeathed by the previous Government.

    But it goes further than sacrifices Key might be able to exact at national level through a snap financial package to help the traumatised people of Christchurch.

    This tragic event should also be the spur for Auckland's leadership to get on to its own feet and stop being a drain on the nation's finances. And for businesses to show the way by committing to reinvest in the city.

    Put frankly, Auckland can no longer be the priority for the national infrastructure spend. It has had lots of Government cash spent there for the Rugby World Cup.

    It's now time for Len Brown to flick a few of the Auckland Council's gold-plated assets to fund his pet infrastructure project instead of asking for tax funds.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • sallyr,

    As someone who grew up in Napier I confirm what Tom said. Art deco wasn’t even remotely cool until a couple of generations after the fact. Deco buildings and homes were boxy and ugly because they were all built at the same time after the quake (and Chapman-Taylor houses were the arty gems). People were just building what was modern and sensible at the time - authentic and pragmatic - and the architectural charm (and tourism potential) was appreciated much later.

    Since Jun 2007 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Where will they drive now

    You just want to chase the cars.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Stevenson,

    Picked up from @thomasbeagle
    WCC has stated that

    Council engineers will assess buildings around Wellington in an area-by-area basis. Once a building has been assessed, the owners will be advised whether the building is earthquake-prone.

    This information will also be included in a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) or Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for the property. Buildings constructed after 1976 are unlikely to be earthquake-prone and the Council is not assessing these buildings.

    Should we expect to see a change in policy in Wellington as a result of what has happened in Christchurch?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Andrew Stevenson,

    Wasn't this announced after the September quake?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Andrew Stevenson,

    Should we expect to see a change in policy in Wellington as a result of what has happened in Christchurch?

    Hopefully, but given the council caved to building owners' demands over timeframe to update to 1/3 current standard I wouldn't hold my breath. If the council looks like it might start getting uppity, expect appeals to the government to blunt the charge.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Someone said here recently that the official Welli process had already been underway (like the Christchurch one we discussed after September), and that the timeframe for corrective action on sub-standard existing buildings had been extended after developers lobbied for that.

    snap

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    If the council looks like it might start getting uppity, expect appeals to the government to blunt the charge

    Expect it to be replaced, you mean

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Emma Hart,

    That photoset of Brian Neller.

    It is all reminiscent of a Hollywood set. But when the front fell down, there was something substantial behind it. A facade but more here. An awful lot of it was there just for looks.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Stevenson, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    The policy appears to be dated 2009.
    I don't have any information on the process involved, or the decisions behind it; but saying that everything post 1976 will be fine appears a little over confident.
    I believe that @thomasbeagle was trying to get the data made public. Having the info on a LIM is alright if you are a buyer or owner. But how about if you are a tennant, employee or your children will go to school or creche in one those buildings?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Andrew Stevenson,

    Should we expect to see a change in policy in Wellington as a result of what has happened in Christchurch?

    good luck with that.

    plenty of buildings here are death-traps, with no enforcement (AFAIK) of the need to earthquake strengthen.

    witness that place on the corner of marion and vivian streets - a stack of concrete slabs resting on 6, rather thin, concrete poles and a central stairwell.

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

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Andrew Stevenson,

    But how about if you are a tennant, employee or your children will go to school or creche in one those buildings?

    The combined earthquake risk maps will tell you something about your area, if not quite your building. The PDF is online but if you go down to the central library they are much more detailed (and split by tipe of hazardy - subsidence, liquefaction, tsunami).

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Tom: in the new subdivision of Pegasus, just to the north of Christchurch, the developers spent approximately $20 million on soil engineering measures to mitigate against liquefaction damage. Apparently it came through the Sept 4 earthquake very well, but I haven't heard how it fared last week.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Patrick Gower suggests the quake may give the Nats an outright majority in this year's election.

    Could John Key and the National Government now get over 50% of the vote - the MMP "Holy Grail" that would allow them to govern alone?

    Previously the answer was "No". But the Christchurch quake changes everything.

    ...

    Key was extraordinarily popular to start with. The quake is a national crisis that brings about the effects of "war-time"-style stable leadership - and the platform for Key to do it. Add to the mix that the Opposition leaders and parties are weak in comparison and will not be viewed by the public as having the strength and stability required.

    And if Key and National get it right the ultimate reward of unbridled power could be theirs.

    It won't be easy. Getting over 50 percent hasn't happened since 1951.

    ...

    Key is now a crisis-Prime Minister.

    That's how he'll be judged.

    And, as the year wears on, if New Zealanders are looking for stability - at this stage only "National outright" can provide that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Greg Dawson, in reply to Sacha,

    And, as the year wears on, if New Zealanders are looking for stability – at this stage only “National outright” can provide that.

    No ship is more stable than the one resting on the bottom...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Greg Dawson,

    An alternative view is that three major disasters in one term is not auspicious.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Had to think for a moment there about what the third one was. Not only is it three in one term, it's three in under six months!

    You know, Sherlock Holmes had a saying about, once, twice, thrice...

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • cindy baxter, in reply to Natasha Markham,

    with you totally on this one Natasha.

    A post-oil city. A city that can be held up as a beacon of sustainability, that we can all look up to and use as a global example of what's possible.

    Bob Parker has already alluded to this - clearly he's thinking in the right direction.

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    The election is nine months from now. If National gets re-elected in a landslide I'd suggest it's because it has deserved to.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    If National gets re-elected in a landslide

    Please don't invoke any more natural disasters...

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to James Butler,

    Yes, that was rather unfortunate.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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