Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?

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  • Russell Brown,

    Unconfirmed commentary on HuffPo that tourist were up in the Cathedral Tower.

    3 News spoke to a rescue worker who said much the same thing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I've heard from/about students in the general area whose flat have been undamaged

    The Orion electricity network ceo was saying to tv1 early on that Riccarton's power was relatively OK. RNZ just said 80% of network still out.

    I suppose if the epicentre is closer to Lyttelton this time then the western and northern suburbs would be less damaged than south and east. Still, lots of human damage all around and I really feel for people who haven't yet heard that loved ones are safe. Horrible.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Still haven’t heard from my friend in Brighton.

    Let us know when you hear.

    What a mess.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    4.25pm
    Prime Minister John Key is set to land on an Air Force plane in Christchurch about 5pm, where he will address media.

    It was really important to get him there quickly because...

    1.09pm:
    Tweet from Phil Goff in Christchurch:
    Big #eqnz in Chch - glasses & plates smashing, we've just been evacuated from Chch airport.

    Christchurch needs more "Celebrity" press conferences...
    Meanwhile Paula Benefit is spitting tacks...

    4.44 pm: The government is working as rapidly as it can to get welfare centres established.

    Oh the irony.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Lisa Black,

    Blood supplies will likely be needed. Please do donate if you can.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2010 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Just heard interview with a person who was on the fifth floor of the canterbury television building, which has been reduced to rubble. People on her floor got out okay, but it's the one that ended up on top. RNZ is doing a great job collecting these eyewitness accounts with all due sensitivity, and getting the information out that is of value.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I think there's a legit role for politicians, Qld's Premier Bligh did a great job through the recent flooding. It's not a celeb job, it's a leadership role and though I don't much like Key, the PM should be playing a role (I figure Goff just happened to be there).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Don't be silly people. The Prime Minister needs to be there.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Has anyone heard from Lilith?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Stuff n Things, in reply to Christopher Nimmo,

    Christopher - that's an awesome program. I used it and was able to see that a friend of ours was ok. Thanks.

    Wellywood • Since Apr 2007 • 50 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I think there's a legit role for politicians, Qld's Premier Bligh did a great job through the recent flooding. It's not a celeb job, it's a leadership role

    Chch Mayor Bob Parker sounded reassuringly statesmanlike on Radio NZ earlier - but then sadly I guess he's had some practice by now.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Don’t be silly people. The Prime Minister needs to be there.

    I would have thought the Prime Minister would be better off being somewhere with intact communications systems rather than campaigning...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Steve, let's give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment and hope he can live up to the occassion.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Senior US dignitary Richard Armitage seems currently one of those not accounted for. Forgot about the trade talks in Chch this week.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    I would have thought the Prime Minister would be better off being somewhere with intact communications systems rather than campaigning

    Visible leadership on the ground is important to reassure people. It's only human.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Paul Williams,

    let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment

    Oh, ok then...

    hope he can live up to the occassion.

    Yes... let's hope...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • izogi,

    Can anyone confirm what's happened (if anything) with the Christchurch Airport tower? Stuff reported early on that it'd collapsed, but now I can't find a reference. I'm guessing someone mixed up the airport-closed stories with the cathedral tower.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I figure Goff just happened to be there

    Yup. Whether he was arriving or leaving is irrelevant, the comments from his press secretary made it clear that they were at the airport when the quake occurred. If that's not an incredible coincidence, I want to know why he hasn't killed the betting market.

    On a more serious note, we've accepted the offer of a heavy rescue team from Australia and will be evaluating further offers. Given that the PGC building alone will consume NZ's entire Urban Search and Rescue (we'll be hearing the term USAR a lot) Task Force resource (we have three, TF1 in Palmy, TF2 in CHC, TF3 in Auckland), we're going to need a lot of international USAR assistance to deal with this one.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    Visible leadership on the ground is important to reassure people. It’s only human.

    Yes, well it worked for Bob Parker.
    Will our Prim Minister be wearing his sleeves rolled up?
    Sorry but I just hate the hypocrisy.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    The Prime Minister needs to be there.

    yeah, 'cos the cops and the many others that will be allocated to this visit have nothing better to do. Official Prime Ministerial visits absorb resources and can cause minor chaos in the best of times....

    Wandering around disaster zones with TV crews seems to me to be less than helpful

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to izogi,

    Can anyone confirm what’s happened (if anything) with the Christchurch Airport tower? Stuff reported early on that it’d collapsed, but now I can’t find a reference. I’m guessing someone mixed up the airport-closed stories with the cathedral tower.

    Newstalk ZB reported it, I think, but have now conceded it's wrong.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Wandering around disaster zones with TV crews seems to me to be less than helpful

    Simon, that'd be a distraction I agree, but Bligh limited herself to providing regular media updates away from the recovery effort and ensured there was consistent and informed information to residents as well as to interested others.

    I do think the PM ought to be there if only to make sure any necessary administrative decisions are quickly expedited.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Sorry if I offend anyone but the anger stops me crying.
    Paula Bennet was, today, going to explain to the House why we need breast feeding Mothers to clean corporate toilets to pay for tax cuts for those poor souls we bailed out when their investments backfired.
    The House suspended its sitting in view of the Christchurch Disaster...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I do think the PM ought to be there if only to make sure any necessary administrative decisions are quickly expedited.

    Indeed, just like last time...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Wandering around disaster zones with TV crews seems to me to be less than helpful

    The first citizen needs to be there. I'm sure they'll do what they can to minimise the disruption. It's just how it's done. And I'm sure it won't hurt his image, but he's not there to campaign and to suggest otherwise seems ludicrous to me. Helen Clark would be there too.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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