Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Christchurch: Is "quite good" good enough?

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  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Gudrun Gisela,

    In the streets around my neighborhood of St Albans there is a huge increase of houses for sale. Seems as soon as a house is repaired it goes up for sale and the people take off like scared birds.

    Now that is another worry. Once the market reaches a certain point, property prices are likely plummet and once people realise what is happening they are stuck with a house worth nothing on the market. I doubt there is anything in the Government's "plan" to ameliorate that scenereo.
    Geez.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Gudrun Gisela, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Unfortunately Gerry Brownlee keeps telling us the market will take care of itself. It wont.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2011 • 891 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Lilith __,

    Cr Tim Carter asks for answers from EQC about their priorites.

    And Campbell Live last night followed up on the protest outside EQC and then onto IAG. Thought it might have been Ian Dalziel in the crowd, only because of the cheese cutter/cloth cap upon the head of the man behind Ian Simpson, although it was no plaid.
    Was good to see a young lady who had never protested before say she quite liked being heard. Has got a taste for it. She'll learn it takes persistence.

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

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Thought it might have been Ian Dalziel in the crowd, only because of the cheese cutter/cloth cap

    By their caps ye shall know them. ;-)

    Or should that be BY THEIR CAPS?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    in the crowd

    sorry, that cap don't fit, this time
    (that may've been Garry Moore)
    I was far from that maddened crowd
    good on them, though...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    the cheese cutter/cloth cap

    It’s Garry Moore.

    Poor people; so desperate they are willing to go out in the rain and cold because they have no other way to be heard. Simpson et al adopt civil servant posture number 63(b): I am listening, I feel your pain, I understand, and I am not going to do anything about this. Coached by Teflon PR, mission statement:” Like water off a duck’s back”.

    I don’t know how these people sleep at night.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Gudrun Gisela, in reply to Hebe,

    I don’t know how these people sleep at night.


    Millions in the bank and a holiday just around the corner. A few minutes in the rain no trouble. Why he still holds the position he does when failing so badly is beyond explanation i swear.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2011 • 891 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Gudrun Gisela,

    Why he still holds the position he does when failing so badly is beyond explanation i swear.

    It's called the Peter Principal

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Gudrun Gisela,

    Thank you so much for this Steve. I am no longer surprised in the mess we find ourselves in.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2011 • 891 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    The plan, such as it is, makes it into the Chinese media. Fortunately it leaves English names in English - Chinese transliterations can be quite hard to decipher, so this makes googling companies like Populous (these people? wah, big stadiums!), Woods Bagot (here?), Boffa Miskell (oh, a New Zealand firm?) and Fourfoursixsix (if that's their website, can we expect the Christcurch CBD to be eyewateringly faded into a misty background?), that I've never heard of (maybe Christchurchian people are more familiar with these names), much easier.

    But it says Gerry says the plan has the government's strong support and has won the attention of the whole world, and is very helpful for Christchurch.

    And it mentions sport facilities, but it doesn't say stadium.

    It does say that an earthquake memorial and all that other stuff will be built with the support of public funds. Doesn't say how those public funds will be raised.

    No mention of the people of Christchurch. Then again, it has disturbed me for... how many years have we put up with this government now?... just how much the National Party has in common with the CCP, especially in its attitude to its subjects.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    just how much the National Party has in common with the CCP, especially in its attitude to its subjects.

    How about the justice precinct, touted as "stimulating recovery by supporting retail and commercial activity in the central area." Kind of a combination of vacation lands for lawyers in love, with Mega City One style cubes to complement the cursed earth of the "frame".

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    The idea of a "Justice Precinct" indeed sounds very Judge Dredd.

    Indeed:

    "Since the abolition of democratic government in Canterbury in 2011, Mega-City 03 has been a dictatorship run by CERA. ... Its ruler is Chief Judge Gerry Brownlee. He is accountable to nobody. The citizens are permitted to have an elected city council and mayor, but with no significant power: the idea is that a facade of democracy will placate most people"

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    hmmm.... it'll make it much quicker and more efficient for the police and courts to process shoplifters.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    the justice precinct,

    .... will secure the Ballantyne's customer base for the next century.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Hebe,

    Ballantyne's is moving into the private prison business?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Ballantyne's is moving into the private prison business?

    Well, there could be plans for the dungeon downstairs to maximise returns, but what I meant is that the justice precinct is ideally placed for a quick trot through the bus exchange to Bally's back door on Lichfield st for a short black, measure up a pinstripe suit with a Rogeresque-flowery shirt and a bash at the Clarins counter, before dashing back for the afternoon sitting.

    I was rather hoping that the basement cafe would stay like it has been for a thousand years (I'm sure some of the customers have never been outside), but I bet it changes now. It's been there all my life: trips to Town in the school holidays and lunch downstairs. At uni, my friend and I would get ratted at the Bush on Friday lunchtimes then roll into town for afternoon tea. Going there with hippies. Going there with punks. Going before the 2 to 10 subbing shift. Taking my twins for cheese rolls and cream horns when they were younger. I like it.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Hebe,

    I was rather hoping that the basement cafe would stay like it has been for a thousand years

    Me too.
    As a young kid a millenium ago, there were those three treats - afternoon tea at Ballantyne's or Hay's, or fishnchips at Fail's-

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

  • Hebe, in reply to Islander,

    Hay's: had the most amazing 1960s cafe upstairs that survived until sometime in the early 90s. It was areal piece; I must find out about it.

    Islander, Do you remember that cafe in High Street near the Cashel corner? It had orange vinyl and an order system on a wire thing like a flying fox across the roof. I would love to live somewhere with some character left; there's fuck all in this place. I'd much rather have layers of memories in my town than the unquiet ghosts around now.

    The town needs a blessing, a release, a lifting of the shroud. Lots of singing, weeping and karakia; a tangi and a celebration?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Islander,

    or fishnchips at Fail’s

    That was for grown-ups in our house. Never found out why.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    Lots of singing, weeping and karakia

    Rugby match then #allyouget

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    <q>Lots of singing, weeping and karakia
    Rugby match then </q(Derisive snort) The nearest a real Kiwi bloke and blokess gets to emotion eh?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    southern 'man'

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    Even the girls are men down here.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    someone has to wear the trousers when you put little boys in charge

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Hebe,

    little boys in charge

    -sausages have no brains...

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

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