Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad News For You

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  • Hebe, in reply to Islander,

    My brutalist (and wealthy) former father-in-law summed up the philosophy of the concrete-builders when he explained why he was so enthusiastic about the buildings in Paris: "Built of stone. There's no bits that'll bloody rot off."

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Hebe:

    I regret that I never pushed along my children to go up the Anglican Cathedral spire; there was always "another day" because it had "always" been there for me.

    I guess that's what familiarity does. Although I've got ancestors here from since the early 1850s I grew up in the North Island, so Chch was overseas exotic for me.

    Pink mice with pinched ears and angelica tails and cinnamon bars and acid drops were Mary Gray for me.

    Burned into my infantile memory. If anything justified the South Island's claim to mainland status it was those mice.

    Just thinking:

    Thanks for that, encouraging stuff re. the Arts Centre.
    Interesting too that the 2005 OPUS seismic risk study unearthed by Joel Cayford made a pretty accurate prediction of where major ground movement eventually occurred, with the Arts Centre on the fringe and Mountfort's museum just outside.

    Keep in mind the total failure of our Christchurch Brutalists Warren & Mahony and Peter Bevan architectual demise (along with their lesser works).

    I went along to a public meeting in the Arts Centre great hall a few years ago, where a visibly uncomfortable Miles Warren spoke in favour of "improving" the museum by, among other things, demolishing Mountfort's ultra-ornate gothic-columned entrance. Peter Bevan provided an impassioned opposition, while appearing to revel in the role of rank outsider. I got the impression that Warren would like to have broken ranks and joined him. Both likeable men of unquestioned ability, but these days only of interest to the development juggernaut if they serve its purposes.

    Thanks for the Warsaw pics. While I've never had the fortune to visit there I'd heard a great deal about it from Eastern Europeans I've known, and I've often thought about it in recent months. I believe there were also extensive post-WW2 rebuilds in cities such as Prague and Bratislava. Interesting that they were carried out with such finesse during the Soviet era.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Hebe,

    Investors rather than owner-occupiers.

    Throwing more non-renewable petrol on the FIRE that's burning down the productive sector.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Islander,

    look again. it's metal. the kind you could wrap around some structures to keep them together.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    How does an income-less person like me help?
    Indeed, what can I help with?

    I can only deal with memories - going back to 1952-
    and my memories are familial & particular-

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

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Cells that fire together, wire together...

    and the real Hop Yip Chong (spelling?)

    Hop Yick Cheong and Co... and Gordon Tait's bookshop when it was up the alley beside The Zetland, and a Ringo's Book Exchange on every suburban corner... I can still smell the approach to Mary Grays... and flicking through a book of old Chchch eating houses I see I'd forgotten the Sorbonne!


    Horsing around in the Hippocampus...

    How does an income-less person like me help?
    Indeed, what can I help with?
    I can only deal with memories – going back to 1952-
    and my memories are familial & particular

    Maybe a writing project based on memories of Chchch
    on your own or with others and perhaps photos,
    for the city's collective anectdotage...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Cathedral's fate to be announced this morning.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    Oranges and Lemons...

    Cathedral’s fate to be announced this morning.

    I love a good church fete...
    ;- )

    Orange Zone update...

    Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Cera chief executive Roger Sutton will deliver an update at 2.15pm. (28 Oct)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Cera chief executive Roger Sutton will deliver an update at 2.15pm. (28 Oct)

    Details released online via CERA's Land Check website.
    True to form, the site crashed in the first few minutes and is still down.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Conflating these two stories amused me, noone else got the joke.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/5875019/Catholics-females-get-fair-crack-at-throne
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5873594/Cathedral-rebuild-could-cost-50m

    To be a City in NZ you need a Cathedral and or 20K people.

    The City as we know it has no people and now loses its Cathedral at its heart. And so how is Christchurch still a city at all?

    It is a City and now our first Catholic City as through the Basilica we still have a Cathedral and are still a City.

    (Maybe the story needs beer?)

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Garden City:
    At today's containerville city mall opening a harmless cardigan climbed onto the gravel of a raised garden bed to catch a glimpse of John Key. A large policeman promptly hauled him down and admonished him with "Would you do that on your own garden at home?" The poor guy looked so crushed as he slunk off into the crowd.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    There is no such thing as a harmless cardigan. All harmless cardigans are Nats voters. Dangerous.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    just yuk is my feeling about the treatment of small cardigan. I am trying to not be too materialistic so the mall thing? meh.
    My Dad wanted to pop down there to study the container thing. Might be why I haven’t seen him.
    As for security for Key? True to form for visitors around Key

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    As for security for Key?

    At yesterday's mall opening, Protecting JK from the big guy?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    That fat guy to the left? Yeaaah-

    O squee! He has a wee RWCup on his lapel!
    Isnt that adorable? Eh?

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Islander,

    O squee! He has a wee RWCup on his lapel!Isnt that adorable? Eh?

    Reminds me of George Bush with his little American flag. Next we will be hearing that Goff doesn't have a lapel badge because he hates the All Blacks.
    I noticed that no ties were worn by the entourage of the beloved one, are they all Brethren now?
    "What did you do today John?"
    "I went to the opening of an old wound"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • krustacean,

    Off subject somewhat...
    So my house is redzone and 'repairable'.....so I asked the question can I relocate it to one of the many greenzone sections popping up in Christchurch ? (I'd pay for the relocation, good idea I thought). AMI's response? 'Your house insurance policy with AMI would cease' and 'AMI cannot guarantee that we would offer to reinsure once the house was repaired and building code compliant' (oh and their construction company Arrow would project manage the repair of course but that's not good enough for cover)...... stymied at every turn by an insurance company determined to push joe bloggs small fry towards the GV payout *sigh*

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    We are entitled to know the truth of what has occurred …
    Lianne Dalziel* makes some very good points in this Opinion piece in today’s Press

    What on earth is going on?
    As a former minister I know exactly why a government chooses to release a report on a Friday afternoon. It virtually ensures the scrutiny the report might otherwise receive does not happen.
    Experts usually aren’t available to read the report and comment by the Friday evening news deadline and it is no longer news on Monday.
    I am sure this was the reason why the ministers for the environment and earthquake recovery deliberately chose a Friday afternoon on October 1 to release the report entitled Canterbury Fact Finding Project – consideration of liquefaction & lateral spreading hazards in the zoning and development of a) the eastern suburbs of Christchurch from 1977 to 22 Feb 2011 and b) Brooklands, Kaiapoi and Kairaki/ The Pines from 1977 to 4 Sept 2010.
    Given that this report related to my electorate, I asked for a briefing from the relevant authorities that afternoon.
    However, Gerry Brownlee’s office and Nick Smith’s office “declined the opportunity” to give me a briefing. So much for transparency and accountability.
    So I read the report for myself and it was soon apparent why the minister wouldn’t want any scrutiny at this time.

    *No relation (well not directly or recently, maybe back in the ancient inbred hills of Lanarkshire, Scotland)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • krustacean,

    Just had an email from AMI - we won't repair your relocated house because we choose to give you the equivalent cost of repair....so I cannot relocate my redzone 'repairable' house to a new section as AMI have now confirmed they won't repair it.
    They'll give me the $$ from their schedule of works, the schedule of works which never has to be proven, it can only take place on paper and they'll never have to worry about something complex or impractical coming up in reality, No risk of cost over-runs, or changes to the building code.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I was Green & now find I am Yellow.

    Anyone know a map that shows this?

    Specifically where is the grey & what variation is likely to this colour coding?

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Just thinking,

    In fact you are still green, now with a fetching yellow tint . We're that shade too but I take it that each site will within those broad zones be different.

    This story provides an easy link to the maps and stuff:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5870986/New-green-zoners-face-tougher-standards

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking, in reply to Hebe,

    Thanks Hebe, that helps a lot.

    I note it has those CERA signatures.

    The residential apartments on cnr of Peterborough St & Park Tce is N/A Urban Nonresidential. It seems all Heritage buildings are Blue or lower.

    It may follow soil types, but I suspect it follows years areas were developmented and their cooresponding building code. That is how most assessments have been done. Essentially clerical classifications from files, & not based on engineering assesments. This has caused ripples in engineering circles.

    http://apps.egl.co.nz/cera/landcheckviewer/Map.htm

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Just thinking,

    Essentially clerical classifications from files, & not based on engineering assesments. This has caused ripples in engineering circles.

    Why do you say that? I live near the Heathcote River and geotechs have sunk holes all around the area and seem to monitor them regularly.

    When my partner asked the geotechs what they were doing he was told that hundreds (500? can't remember the exact figure) of holes had been sunk around Christchurch and were being monitored, either with devices of some sort or manually and that would record the amount of lateral spreading and vertical land movement.

    Mind you, they also said the monitoring would continue for a year or more; so are decisions being made before all the data is in? That seems likely given the huge political pressure to be "seen to be" acting. I'm sure our place on the flat is still moving; the backyard has some rather lovely gentle slopes now -- at least they are north-facing, and a freshwater spring pops up sometimes down there, so that could be useful.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    The clerical call comes from structural engineers assessments. I have no info this extends to geotech, but with residential apartments noted N/A nonresidential I have my doubts.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

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