Public Address | Cafe | Up Front: Five

Emma Hart

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 20:22:23 +1300

Yeah, we've had a wee chat about this, and I'm going to close the thread. As Ian says, the point has been made, and made, and it seems there's nothing constructive to add to the discussion, and genuine pain being caused, so hopefully people will understand why I'm making the…

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 19:26:39 +1300

When someone persists in paddling about in their grief and uses it to shut down discussion then they should be told to GTFOI. IMO. I’ll say it again: grief is a phase, not a state of being.

Listen Dick – Get The F**k Over Yourself – we already know your…

Sister Mary Gearchange

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:41:24 +1300

>>It’s not irrelevant at all. Hebe has had to run from her home with her children. That was part of the point.<<

It is a fact, but trivial to the point. People only mention it for one of two reasons: habit (which is not a strong point) or for emotional impact while hoping the cliche won't be noticed.

>>I wouldn’t police someone else’s emotions, because that would be a Dick Move. Funny, when we were discussing my mother’s death here, nobody told me what the expiry date…

Emma Hart

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 00:23:44 +1300

And *I* get accused of being sanctimonious?! Nice mention of “with your children”, by the way. Very John Key-esque in the irrelevance of it, but at least Someone is Thinking of the Children!!1!

It's not irrelevant at all. Hebe has had to run from her home with her children. That…

Sister Mary Gearchange

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:24:46 +1300

>>I can only assume, SMG, that you never have had to run for your life from your home with your children. I hope you never have to.<<

And *I* get accused of being sanctimonious?! Nice mention of "with your children", by the way. Very John Key-esque in the irrelevance of it, but at least Someone is Thinking of the Children!!1!

But to answer your question, yes, I've had to leave buildings rapidly due to various events. Earthquakes. Fire. Small arms and artillery fire.

I'm sorry I wasn't clearer in my initial post about the detail of the exact point I was replying to. But hey, you got to feel morally superior (with your children!) for a moment, so that's got to be good for your stress and grief, right?

Sister Mary Gearchange

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:17:44 +1300

>>Call me crazy, but when people are still waiting for their insurance to be settled and the rebirth of the central city is on hold because central government can’t make work the grand plan it imposed, and when the earth is still shaking, I think we’re well within acceptable parameters…

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:38:45 +1300

Not much evidence of it among the comfortably-remunerated central planners, whose vision rarely seems to extend beyond ensuring their second pension.
But they do seem to have the concept of healthy 'bedding' in their repertoire – shame it is only 'featherbedding'...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/77283257/cera-spends-100000-on-melbourne-business-school-training
Since July 2015, Cera has sent five managers…

Joe Wylie

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:23:04 +1300

I prefer to go into the Gardens and be amazed at how all the beautiful plants and trees seemed to survive and Im so pleased they did.

The gardens were planned and planted by people who knew that they'd never live to see their vision come to fruition. That spirit…

Minnie Ball

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 23:30:10 +1300

Thanks Emma. Great article. I moved away from CHCH over a year ago because I could and because I couldn't take any more of my house dramas and flooding. Everything about my life changed on Feb 22 and it still is rolling in. The thing is, even if you move…

Hebe

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:31:37 +1300

Call me crazy, but when people are still waiting for their insurance to be settled and the rebirth of the central city is on hold because central government can’t make work the grand plan it imposed, and when the earth is still shaking, I think we’re well within acceptable parameters…

linger

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:19:23 +1300

It’s not clear whether SMG’s “holier-than-thou […] irrational, unhealthy bullshit” is intended to describe those declaring an end to others’ grief, or those grieving, or both. I've tried my hardest, but I can’t see how those comments cohere as an argument.

Geoff Lealand

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:57:20 +1300

Yes, Christchurch folk don't need such sanctimonious advice from people like Sister Mary Whatever, I have a friend who has finally had enough, after the last shake, and selling up, to move back to Australia.

Russell Brown

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:15:59 +1300

If you stand back and re-read that you get an insight into several centuries of internecine warfare and holier-than-thou ad hoc justification for anything you want. It’s irrational, unhealthy bullshit and it deserves to simply be told “no”.

I think you forgot to mention the Nazis there.

There is a…

Joe Wylie

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:20:19 +1300

There is a time and place to let go. Grieving forever, fostering the anger and helping it fester simply means you're emotionally dead.

No shit, Sigmund.
https://youtu.be/s5sUfV1Mi7w

Sister Mary Gearchange

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 17:39:50 +1300

>>How can anyone tell a grieving person – it’s time to move on, you have to let go? Who are they to tell someone how to grieve and what to feel? Not because they want the other person to feel better either, but because they wanted the activism to shut…

Sister Mary Gearchange

Mon, 29 Feb 2016 17:33:13 +1300

>>Yes, that my fellow citizens have re-elected these patently-uncaring clowns twice both saddens and angers me. Where has our sense of right and wrong gone?<<

???

NZ was sold during the Lange Labour government. Everything since then has simply been a solidification and cultural embedding of corporate interests, part of which is making damn sure the average person is uninformed and uninterested. The NZ landscape is very much dominated by sheep. What most don't understand about themselves is that around 4 million of them have 2 legs and a whiney grating nasal accent.

Hebe

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 21:13:11 +1300

A quote that spoke to me was,
“They’ve taken control of rebuilding our city. They’re like: ’We’ll tell you when it’s ready for you to use.’”

That overt huh? Recorded it last night but was in no brainspace to watch.

Lilith __

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 16:05:04 +1300

A quote that spoke to me was,
“They’ve taken control of rebuilding our city. They’re like: 'We’ll tell you when it’s ready for you to use.'”

Steve Barnes

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:29:30 +1300

’The Government didn’t want temporary or transitional things'
You mean, like, Humans?.

Hilary Stace

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:18:58 +1300

That documentary was so interesting because of the visuals and the people explaining. Although I have heard about it a lot, now I 'get' that thing about the vital role of collective community creativity of Gap Filler, Smash Palace etc. I want to go to the place with the burgers…

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:18:25 +1300

Wow, that was really, really great.
One comment that got to me and summed up what's happening here was along the lines of: 'The Government didn't want temporary or transitional things in case we liked them too much!"

They have never cared about our mental health one jot...

Lilith __

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 23:08:45 +1300

NB: The Art Of Recovery is on TV One tonight (Tuesday) at 9.30pm

see:
http://artofrecoveryfilm.com/

Wow, that was really, really great. I hope lots of people watched. Bravo to all the awesome community leaders making creative things happen in Chch, and bravo to Young and his team for recording it.…

Hebe

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:02:20 +1300

NZ Institute of Professional Photographers members capture my hometown five years on. Lovely.

http://www.dphoto.co.nz/photography-news-equipment-and-camera-reviews-and-tutorials/2016/2/23/five-years-on-photographers-capture-christchurch

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:40:59 +1300

NB: The Art Of Recovery is on TV One tonight (Tuesday) at 9.30pm
Peter Young’s lively, beautifully illustrated documentary… leaves us hoping against hope that the new city can be infused with some measure of the resurgent spirit, creativity and pride of community ownership so lovingly documented in his film.…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:13:54 +1300

Deep down as long as we are alive and thriving the other people can just go to hell?

I thought that was National's Policy.

Tess Rooney

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:48:49 +1300

People are treating the victims of the quakes the same way they treat victims of domestic violence. You don’t really want to do anything, you don’t want to feel bad about yourself from not doing anything, you just want to get on and pretend it hasn’t happened. So you minimise…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:31:59 +1300

Little was responding, at the time with no background information and correctly said...
"Totally unacceptable, this is a community occasion where we commemorate and reflect on a great tragedy,"
If it had been a "rent a crowd anti TPP" type "scumbag" then yes... unacceptable.

Had Mr. Little known the man's…

Joe Wylie

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:16:51 +1300

What a caring country we are becoming under the enlightened leadership of the wonderful John, bloody, Key and pals.

Even the sainted Andrew's instincts seem to have led to his siding with the political class over earthquake victims. He appears to have learnt nothing from Labour's disastrous Christchurch results at…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:21:13 +1300

You avoid feeling sympathy by making these people into people who don’t deserve your sympathy.

We call that "Othering" and it is the the mark of a Right Wing mind.

"Why should we care about starving children when their scumbag parents spend our hard earned taxes on…

Joe Wylie

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:51:42 +1300

Just in case anyone was wondering what happened to Warwick Isaacs (he who led the CCDU for the Government)

I remember. CERA scored Wokka from Timaru, at around the time that Gerry was calling His Bobness a clown. Strange days, still stranger...

Hilary Stace

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 10:13:46 +1300

Yes, that makes sense. Also applies to refugees. When they finally get here we tell them they are brave and resilient and then don't have to do anything to help.

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:56:31 +1300

as above, so below...
Just in case anyone was wondering what happened to Warwick Isaacs (he who led the CCDU for the Government) he left on a high after overseeing a 100 day blueprint for the city to 'run' Stonewood Homes – who you'd think would be on to a…

Emma Hart

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:48:57 +1300

I don’t understand how people who are not affected lack empathy for those who are. Even Joe Bennett on the RNZ Panel yesterday was very dismissive. His attitude was that most Christchurch people aren’t or weren’t affected, and that a tiny minority of people are still making a fuss about…

Hilary Stace

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:15:15 +1300

I don't understand how people who are not affected lack empathy for those who are. Even Joe Bennett on the RNZ Panel yesterday was very dismissive. His attitude was that most Christchurch people aren't or weren't affected, and that a tiny minority of people are still making a fuss about…

Joe Wylie

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:12:12 +1300

my photos from the We've Had Enough rally on Sunday.

Thank you. I see that the City Council had a special Sunday team turn up once the rally was over to remove any traces of chalk messages, making everything pristine for yesterday's "proper" event. Presumably the weeds sprouting from the…

Robert Urquhart

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:56:35 +1300

This also seems the appropriate thread to share my photos from the We've Had Enough rally on Sunday.

Rosemary McDonald

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:45:51 +1300

So today we will remember

We did. Driving towards Pukenui, in the Far North at 12.51pm. Slowed down a wee bit to listen to the RNZ broadcast of the Memorial Service. Was that interference on our radio ...or was there a noisy cicada by the microphone?

Anyway....we spent the afternoon…

Hebe

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:13:56 +1300

I’ve felt something like that too. In a positive sense, it has reconnected me with the city where I grew up.

I think the fact that Public Address was able to be a space for Christchurch people to talk is the most important thing that’s happened on the website.

Public…

Lilith __

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:03:45 +1300

I think the fact that Public Address was able to be a space for Christchurch people to talk is the most important thing that’s happened on the website.

Emma linked me back into one of those threads earlier. A real time capsule. Important then, and valuable now. Thank you, Russell.

Sacha

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 21:02:40 +1300

Brilliant, thank you.

Sacha

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:54:31 +1300

lack of a decently-conveyed alternative.

Robert Urquhart

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:45:30 +1300

I have posted my thoughts from the day (somewhat inspired and informed by Emma) in my journal.
http://marsden-online.dreamwidth.org/969722.html

Tess Rooney

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:43:26 +1300

I know!! Why?

Russell Brown

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:38:46 +1300

sort of feel guilty about Christchurch. I lived there from age 1 to my late 30s, (I grew up in the east) we moved to Greymouth in 2007 and so missed the quakes. I feel guilty that I avoided my hometown’s suffering.

I've felt something like that too. In a…

Sacha

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:20:46 +1300

I thought NZ would care and then do things to actually help. The Government should have stepped in and helped people

Yes, that my fellow citizens have re-elected these patently-uncaring clowns twice both saddens and angers me. Where has our sense of right and wrong gone?

Sacha

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:12:10 +1300

claims with big insurers unsettled

Spreading their liability over many years exactly as intended – what chips do we think Brownlee et al were parlaying with the global insurance industry, including on his grand trip to Monte Carlo'?

Hebe

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:08:10 +1300

Meanwhile back to mental health, the NZNO details the problems in Canterbury services
https://nznoblog.org.nz/2016/02/22/arohanui-christchurch/

Hebe

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:55:45 +1300

we have just learned that, as of next term, we are losing access to the building that currently houses half our year 7 – 10 students.

Oh fucking fuck no. Why? (Message me?) There's not space for PBL study as it is.

My two teens go to that school; they…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:41:42 +1300

NOOOOOOOOO!
Story just did a fatuous hatchet job on Napier's seaside viewing platform cum stormwater outfall camouflage – Jeez these people are shallow, mugging it up by a Napier sign – going 'Na Pier Na Pier No Pier!' – this is what you do when you don't have a story.…

Tess Rooney

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:38:51 +1300

I sort of feel guilty about Christchurch. I lived there from age 1 to my late 30s, (I grew up in the east) we moved to Greymouth in 2007 and so missed the quakes. I feel guilty that I avoided my hometown’s suffering.

You ask about Heather Duplessis-Allan… Something I’ve…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:09:42 +1300

Christ almighty – just watching Story and just realised how dim Heather Duplessis-Allan is – they are driving towards New Brighton via New Brighton road and she's all – "You mean there were houses here? That's unbelievable"
– Good God woman have you paid any attention over the last 5…

Isabel Hitchings

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:30:49 +1300

The school that Emma mentions is the one that my children learn at (on the senior site in Ilam) and that I work at (on the junior site in Aidanfield). The loss of our promised, permanent site is hugely upsetting. Our children have spent five years learning in scungy portacoms…

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:16:27 +1300

Brownlee gets a brown thing.
someone is upset
He says he'd like to know what the man's gripe was.

He really doesn't know?

James Littlewood*

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:38:03 +1300

That makes me feel both sad and angry.

Damn.

Sofie Bribiesca

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:12:55 +1300

“Almost immediately afterwards, we were told our mental health funding had been cut.”

Fucking disgusting, to put it politely.

I firmly believe if the people and their homes had been the priority, the rest of the CBD and its changes would have been positive. Instead there are some people trying…

Kim Wilson

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:43:10 +1300

Lovely post, thanks Emma.

I was in the Botanic Gardens on 14 Feb and it was all I could do to not go sit under a tree and cry once the trees stopped "dancing". I had a cry in the car on the way home to North Canterbury instead. And…

Lilith __

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 13:55:21 +1300

I’ve thought and written so much, privately and publicly. Today I can’t find the right words, if there are any.
I’m thinking of everyone else affected by the perpetual disasters in Chch and Canterbury.

A few weeks ago I was in Hastings, and I turned a corner and looked up…

Hebe

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:06:21 +1300

Cam Preston: 40% claims with big insurers unsettled (after Red Zone settlements removed). Add to this the many still invisible in the EQC "on hold" category and possibly to go to insurers or repair. Cam's figures are good, and It certainly allies with what I know of in St Martins,…

Hebe

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:48:20 +1300

The public library: that gets to me too. If they'd wanted people to go back to the CBD, the library would have been key to attracting the locals.

As for school: it's remarkable that the school, despite being a makeshift site, is flourishing although the present site of the high…

Angela Hart

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:03:23 +1300

Thanks for this post Emma. I feel so sad for Christchurch people, every one of you, but in particular the 1 in 5 who are still waiting for their homes to be sorted. My respect to all of you, those who have left and those who remain. Kia kaha

Public Address

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:03:23 +1300

Discussion from blog post.