Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Life on Mars

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  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I haven't heard if the cast out tenants have been given a first right of tenancy on their spaces - but given the time that the Arts Centre will take to restore itself, many will have disappeared. Then we'll probably see more of a mall concept emerge and less of the small artists and craftspeople that had subsidised rents under the charter (this is the charter that a few years back was slightly amended to incorporate the word 'develop').

    If this is anything to go by, it would seem that the few genuine practitioners still in residence at the time of the quakes are happy, for the meantime at least, to have escaped with what livelihood they still have.

    When Gerry Brownlee set the initial tone of his reign as earthquake Czar by announcing an open season on Christchurch's "old dunga" heritage buildings, he specifically excluded four nice-to-haves. Namely, the two cathedrals, the Provincial Council Chambers, and the Arts Centre. Since the June 13 shake there seems to be a largely unstated realisation that the cathedrals - in something like their original form - are gone forever.

    I'd rather hoped that someone with the relevant expertise might have spoken up on whether the technology even exists to reconstruct buildings that are effectively held up by their own weight, and render them safe to inhabit. Is CERA, or the Arts Centre (mgmt & Board) seeking that kind of advice? There's no indication that such concerns are addressed by the $2.8m spent on consultants by the City Council.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Just to note that a woman was killed as a result of Auckland's 2.9 quake.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to 3410,

    Just to note that a woman was killed as a result of Auckland's 2.9 quake.

    The article seems to indicate there have been plenty of other slips in the area over the past months. It's a bit of a stretch to attribute the death directly to the quake.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • 3410,

    It's a bit of a stretch to attribute the death directly to the quake.

    No one's been killed by a rock fall on the North Shore coast for... maybe 15 or 20 years. Similarly, Auckland's not had a similarly significant (for what it's worth) earthquake in nearly 10 years. This rock-fall occurred on the same day as the earthquake, so not that much of a stretch, I think, to conclude a likely relationship, if not a direct one.

    People don't generally consider it a dangerous area but very occasionally things like this happen.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    The cliff faces around Sumner and Redcliffs here in Chch have always been shedding the occasional rock, particularly after long spells of wet weather. Mostly people aren't nearby when they fall. Erosion is a continuous process, and remember when the top of Mt Cook fell off? That didn't need an earthquake.

    And 2.9 magnitude is really small. It's 1,000 times less powerful than a 4.9, which is still not a very big earthquake.

    It's a tragic thing to happen, but I think most likely not earthquake related.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lilith __,

    The cliff faces around Sumner and Redcliffs here in Chch have always been shedding the occasional rock, particularly after long spells of wet weather. Mostly people aren’t nearby when they fall. Erosion is a continuous process, and remember when the top of Mt Cook fell off? That didn’t need an earthquake.

    Experts agree:

    Auckland Council building control manager Ian McCormack said the cliff face was being eroded, like most other cliffs around Auckland.

    He recommended staying at least 10m away from the bottom of the cliff.

    “The chances of being struck by something coming off a cliff like this would be extremely unlikely but, as we’ve seen in this tragic event, they do happen.”

    He believed it was natural erosion and not linked to Friday night’s small earthquake.

    ---

    And 2.9 magnitude is really small. It’s 1,000 times less powerful than a 4.9, which is still not a very big earthquake.

    FWIW:

    GeoNet said that in suburbs near the epicentre the tremor was felt as a 5 – rated “strong” – on the 12-step Mercalli intensity scale, which measures an earthquake’s effects on people and their environment.

    The February 22 earthquake in Christchurch rated at 9 which is “destructive”.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Experts agree:

    Okay, okay...

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Russell Brown,

    GeoNet said that in suburbs near the epicentre the tremor was felt as a 5 – rated “strong” – on the 12-step Mercalli intensity scale

    Obviously Geonet has rated it 5 on the MMI scale in response to felt reports, worth noting that a 2.9 moment magnitude yielding a 5 in MMI is highly atypical according to the values listed in Wikipedia.

    There was an interesting comment on the Weatherwatch blog:

    MMI values and Auckland quake

    Philip,

    I like your post for different reasons.
    a) @ earthquake-report.com, we experience almost daily oversensitive reactions like in Auckland. I think this is normal. People in Chile need a M 6.5 before they wake up, but small tremors are making people panic with a 2.9 quake elsewhere. The main reason will certainly be : used to it or not (although nobody can get used to earthquakes i guess)
    b) every earthquake is felt differently. The focal mechanisms are completely different in every earthquake which make people feel it totally different.
    c) I have a hard time however to understand the V MMI from Geonet (moderate shaking) as mentioned in your article. If the depth they published is correct (9 km) combined with a magnitude of 2.9, the max. MMI should be more a III than a V. So, I guess the mentioned MMI are the individual opinions of some people.
    d) i have included your article in our daily "Earthquake Related News" as it is very typical for areas with few earthquakes all over the world, and not only in Auckland

    Armand
    earthquake-Report dot com

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Lilith __,

    People in Chile need a M 6.5 before they wake up, but small tremors are making people panic with a 2.9 quake elsewhere.

    Look, we've got an inferiority complex. You could say we're famous for it. Can't we just take a warm bath in Epsom salts and move on? Or should that be a Parnell bath?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lilith __,

    Obviously Geonet has rated it 5 on the MMI scale in response to felt reports, worth noting that a 2.9 moment magnitude yielding a 5 in MMI is highly atypical according to the values listed in Wikipedia.

    Indeed. But I did notice it, and I've missed small quakes before. I certainly wouldn't have called it "strong" though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I did notice it

    Perhaps someone could do a t-shirt, "I felt the Auckland earthquake". A badge of pride for those feeling left out of the Southern Shaky Fun? ;-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to recordari,

    Look, we’ve got an inferiority complex. You could say we’re famous for it.

    I thought it was just more Auckland marketing - where else would you have a Big Little Quake but in the Big Little City?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Dave Waugh,

    I feel that the blame for this latest boobquake should be laid squarely at the feet of the Slut walk participants......

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Chch Arts Centre "too frail to even fix"?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Fuck. If the Arts Centre is demolished, CHCH is effectively dead.

    Some kind of raptorial buisness thing will continue on - but it wont be Christchurch.

    I didnt think I could have had any sentiment left in me, to grieve for the city that once was.
    BUT - with all the nasty shennanigans going on - CCC & Arts Centre Board both - I could just wail for what my English grandfather (Clerk to the City Council) and
    my father (President of the NB Buisnessmen's Assn. AND the NB Workingman's Club) worked for-
    all lost, in a soup of foul opportunist carpetbaggers-

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

  • Jolisa,

    I just got my copy of the SlutWalk Listener... and wanted to congratulate Emma for her excellent points, extremely well made. Anyone who picked up that issue just hoping for a quick "phwoar" or a giggle would have gotten an eyeful, all right -- of cogent, powerful argument. Nice one, well done.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Lilith __,

    It’s a tragic thing to happen, but I think most likely not earthquake related.

    Quite - I walk around there fairly often and must admit I tend to be a little cautious around spots like that after heavy rain. As Lucy alluded to, there's plenty of minor slippage on spots like that that are quietly cleared away. I don't want to sound callous, but what happened to Mrs Rudyy-Collie was a tragedy but I don't know what her husband thinks will prevent anything like this ever happening again aside from closing every potentially hazardous walk on the North Shore. Which, FWIW, is part of what makes the place attractive to a lot of people in the first place.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    The illusion of a risk-free life..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jolisa,

    I just got my copy of the SlutWalk Listener… and wanted to congratulate Emma for her excellent points, extremely well made. Anyone who picked up that issue just hoping for a quick “phwoar” or a giggle would have gotten an eyeful, all right – of cogent, powerful argument. Nice one, well done.

    Indeedy. That's a very successful magazine story.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    That’s a very successful magazine story.

    And also nice to see one Fiona Rae, TV reviewer of The Listener, being quoted in TV ads for the Sherlock DVD / BluRay release.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Indeedy. That's a very successful magazine story.

    I just hope it's a return to form for the Listener of old.

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

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Indeedy. That's a very successful magazine story.

    I was so happy with it. I was hoping I'd see Jane at SlutWalk to thank her for it, she did an utterly fabulous job. And I sound all cogent and intelligent and just the right degree of trampy. Which, yay, because that was the first time I'd done an interview where I could be paraphrased rather than directly quoted.

    Chch Arts Centre "too frail to even fix"?

    I read this in The Star on the Weekend, and I've been simply ignoring it, because I cannot comprehend it. How can we possibly not have the Arts Centre? How? Oh fuck, see, now I'm crying.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I just hope it’s a return to form for the Listener of old.

    My understanding is that many of the same old wonderful writers are still around; but unless the editorial team has changed recently (has it? I wouldn't know, I stopped buying or reading it years ago) I have no confidence that the overall intellectual tone of the magazine will improve.

    I heard a 3rd hand story of a very talented journalist who was assigned "3000 words on why vitamins are good for you". He left soon after.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Isabel Hitchings, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I just hope it’s a return to form for the Listener of old.

    It was the Listener than made me happy I've been too lazy-arse to cancel my subscription. If only I had hope of it continuing in that vein.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to James Butler,

    the editorial team

    Didn't I read somewhere that a certain Mrs Panic-pants had been commuting from darkest Welli to ensure the rag's ideological rigour is maintained? Current company not expected to comment on that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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