Saturday, June 29, 2013

Year 3 CERA. Zombie CBD: NZDF Soldiers Gone, Cordons Continued, Colombo St

CBD Colombo St focus. Sun 30.06.13. Midday, the day NZDF soldiers left Christchurch CBD's, red zone cordon for good. During June, CERA had reduced strangling cordon fences around the red zone CBD, leaving a Zombie CBD. 28 months post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, NZDF soldiers had finally left cordon checkpoints, but steel mesh fence cordons would stay around individual CBD bldgs, some CBD streets & CBD demolition sites. So cordon fencing was still abundant in the Zombie CBD. Cordon fences would stay for years while "rebuild" happened.

Cathedal Sq: Midday, true to form, CERA hadn't removed 2 cordon fences on the W side of Christ Church Cathedral ghost. Citizens were streaming into Cathedral Sq both sides of Worcester St & Colombo St, but were blocked by the 2 remaining steel mesh fence cordons. CERA office huts were gone from Cathedral Sq, but CERA's leaving 2 cordon fences, stopped citizens walking around their beloved Cathedral.

Colombo St / Salisbury St: My trek S down Colombo St for the first time since the 22.02.11 Killer Quake, past demolition sites of old, wooden bldgs both sides of Colombo St. All that remained was the grounded, rickety turret of a 2 storey, ghost house by a heap of weedy rubble.


06.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. 2 storey house, demolition rubble, grounded turret, Colombo St, nr Salisbury St crossing


Two adjacent demolition sites: Post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake, I'd coolpixed a ghost by Braziers with its side wall ripped off, exposing a first floor toilet for all to see. The ruin was long gone. Behind the wall was another demolition site with Gap Filler, mini golf & windmills made from bicycle wheels & plastic, blowing in the wind.


06.07.13. Fallen steel mesh fence cordon. Quake demolition site, Colombo St / Salisbury St


06.07.13. Demolition site, gap filler games, Colombo St, nr Salisbury St crossing


30.06.13. Colombo St, S view, abandoned Copthorne Hotel, awaited demolition, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel awaited repairs. Port Hills beyond. Abandoned Town Hall right, awaited repairs

Colombo St / Peterborough St: More cnr demolition sites. A faux pissoir covered in ads stood in line with Copthorne Hotel ghost & Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel. Copthorne Hotel would be demolished for the new RC Cathedral precinct. (See below).


30.06.13. Colombo St / Peterborough St view, post quake CBD skyline. Faux pissoir for ads. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel middle, abandoned Town Hall right, both awaited repairs


06.07.13. Colombo St / Peterborough St view. Faux pissoir for ads. Abandoned Copthorne Hotel awaited demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel behind awaited repairs


30.06.13. Colombo St / Peterborough St, demolition site view, Forte Health rebuild left, Kilmore St. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel right awaited repairs, Colombo St


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED AHEAD. Abandoned office bldg, Colombo St / Kilmore St


30.06.13. Colombo St / Kilmore St view, abandoned Copthorne Hotel awaited demolition left for the new RC Cathedral precinct. Abandoned Town Hall right awaited repairs

Colombo St / Kilmore St: 3 more cnr demolition sites. E along Kilmore St stood a 3 storey, glassy, Forte Health  new build. On Saturday night, I'd driven along Kilmore St, one-way, steel mesh fence cordoned and orange, plastic, road cone cordoned most of the way from Madras St to Cranmer Sq crossings. CERA had lied about removal of cordon fencing!


30.06.13. Orange, plastic, road cone cordon. Colombo St, W view, Kilmore St, shortly after reopening, 28 months post 22.02.11 quake. Abandoned Town Hall left awaited repairs. Crowne Plaza Hotel demolition site beyond left


30.06.13. Colombo St, E view, steel mesh fence cordon, orange, plastic, road cone cordon, one way Kilmore St. Forte Health rebuild left

Never mind all the cordon fencing around scores of current SCIRT excavations on Christchurch roads. There were irritating detours around SCIRT excavations too. I'd lost count of car light bulbs I'd replaced due to SCIRT potholes, aggravated by recent heavy rains. Since SCIRT had dug up Christchurch roads for 2 years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, replacing pipes, roads had become worse than quake damages to roads.

Colombo St / Kilmore St: Steel mesh fence cordoned, Town Hall ghost sprawled W toward Pallet Pavilion on the Crowne Plaza Hotel demolition site. Councillors had voted to repair Town Hall, while music buffs had extolled Town Hall's acoustics.


30.06.12. Colombo St / Cambridge Tce, faux pissoir. Abandoned Ernst & Young left awaited demolition


30.06.13. Colombo St / Cambridge Tce view, Forte Health rebuild, Kilmore St

Colombo St Bridge, 1902: I trekked a steel mesh fence cordoned avenue. During quakes, N end of the bridge, iron balustrades bashed concrete abutments, causing spalling both sides of the bridge. E from Colombo St Bridge were demolition sites along Kilmore St & Cambridge Tce & Ernst & Young ghost next to PGC demolition site, where 18 people died when PGC collapsed in the 22.02.11 Kiler Quake. Ernst & Young would be demolished, 2014.

2020. A new footbridge, North Frame Pedestrian Bridge would be built downriver from Colombo St Bridge, between Oxford Tce & Cambridge Tce.


30.06.13. S view, white / orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon avenue across quake damaged, Colombo St Bridge. Ghost Copthorne Hotel left awaited demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel behind awaited repairs. Victoria Square apartments right awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae


30.06.13. Quake damaged, NE abutment, Colombo St Bridge. Forte Health rebuild left, Kilmore St. Abandoned Ernst & Young right, Cambridge Tce, awaited demolition, 2014



30.06.13. Quake damaged, steel mesh fence cordoned, Colombo St Bridge. Abandoned Ernst & Young behind, awaited demolition, 2014


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon between Colombo St Bridge & abandoned Town Hall awaiting repairs. Pre 22.02.11 quake ad on wall


30.06.13. Quake damaged NW abutment, Colombo St Bridge by steel mesh fence cordoned, abandoned Town Hall awaiting repairs


30.06.13. N view, orange / white, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon avenue across quake damaged, Colombo St Bridge. Abandoned Town Hall left awaited repairs


30.06.13. Victoria Sq view, steel mesh fence cordoned Colombo St / Oxford Tce. Abandoned Ernst & Young left & abandoned Copthorne Hotel right awaited demolitions, the latter for the new RC Cathedral precinct


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Victoria Sq / Colombo St view, Oxford Tce demolition site & abandoned Ernst & Young, Cambridge Tce, awaiting demolition, 2014
 
Victoria Sq: Citizens streamed across from Pallet Pavilion, on Crowne Plaza Hotel demolition site, going to Cathedral Sq. By Avon River a cream coloured, Maori pou stood before Town Hall ghost awaiting repairs.


30.06.13. Victoria Sq view, Victoria Bridge left over Avon River. Maori pou.


30.06.13. Maori pou by Avon River, Victoria Sq. Quake trashed, abandoned Town Hall behind awaited repairs


Victoria Sq: Steel mesh fence cordoned along Colombo St by Copthorne Hotel ghost & Winnie Bagoes demolition site. E of Victoria Sq, Armagh St was open towards Oxford Tce demolition sites & reopened New Regent St, but W it was closed due to Craigs House demolition for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae.


30.06.13. Victoria Sq / Colombo St, steel mesh fence cordon view, Colombo St demolition sites & abandoned Copthorne Hotel, awaiting demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel middle



30.06.13. Victoria Sq / Colombo St, steel mesh fence cordon view, abandoned Copthorne Hotel left, awaited demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel middle awaited repairs. Abandoned The National Bank / Isaac House right awaited new neighbour, NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae


30.06.13. Victoria Sq view, faux pissoir with pre quake ads, abandoned The National Bank / Isaac House left. Victoria Square apartments awaited demolition right for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae

 
Two women & their dog stood in front of Queen Victoria, Boer War statue, staring at Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel & The National Bank / Isaac House ghost , awaiting their new neighbour, NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae, built 2018-21.


30.06.13. Victoria Sq view, 2 women & dog viewing Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel. Queen Victoria statue, Capt James Cook statue & The Arcades behind


Colombo St / Armagh St: Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel & The National Bank / Isaac House ghost guarded demolition sites both sides of Colombo St to Cathedral Sq. Forsyth Barr was gutted. The owner would repair it as Crowne Plaza Hotel. Never mind concrete stairs collapsing down stairwells in the 22.02 11 Killer Quake, trapping survivors, who'd saved themselves by abseiling out of windows. The National Bank / Isaac House was cracked both cnrs, windows & doors boarded. 2018-21. NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae would be built next to quake survivor, Isaac House.


30.06.13. Victoria Sq view, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel left awaited repairs. Abandoned The National Bank / Isaac House right awaited new neighbour, NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae, built 2018-21.

Ghost Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel, steel mesh fence cordon, threat sign:

    SEVERE FALL
        HAZARD
   DO NOT ENTER
PERMIT REQUIRED


30.06.13. Fall Hazard sign, Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel cordon fence, due to salvage of bldg contents


30.06.13. Orange, plastic, road cone cordon, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Armagh St crossing. Quake buckled pavement foreground, demolition sites towards Oxford Tce beyond. The new RC Cathedral precinct would be built on the demo sites


30.06.13. Boarded door, quake cracked bldg cnr, The National Bank / Isaac House, Colombo St / Armagh St


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Armagh St crossing. Abandoned Copthorne Hotel left, abandoned Ernst & Young right awaited demolitions. Demolition sites towards Oxford Tce right. The new RC Cathedral precinct would be built on the demo sites

Colombo St to Gloucester St crossing: Demolition sites both sides of Colombo St, incl Farmers demolition site, for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae, which would incl part of Gloucester St, after Central Library ghost & Chancery Lane Arcade ghost were demolished.
 

30.06.13. Colombo St view, steel mesh fence cordon, demolition site, repaired Novotel left, abandoned Camelot Hotel middle, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. Ruined Christ Church Cathedral right awaited reinstatement. This Colombo St demo site would become the Performing Arts Precinct


30.06.13. Flower tribute, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St demolition site view, repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left, repaired Novotel middle, abandoned Camelot Hotel right, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. This demo site would become the Performing Arts Precinct


30.06.13. Orange, plastic, road barrier, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, abandoned Telecom left, abandoned Government Life middle, Cathedral Sq. Government Life would be demolished, an asbestos hazard. Telecom would survive the quakes

Nowhere in NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint was there mention of carparks for traffic, which would use the new Central Library / Turanga, new Convention Centre / Te Pae & new Performing Art Precinct. Gloucester St would become a dead end by the new Convention Centre / Te Pae, as CCDU had decided that Gloucester St would no longer be a thoroughfare through Christchurch CBD!

Dec 2019. Bishop Martin would announce that a new RC Cathedral would be built, Colombo St / Cambridge Tce opp Victoria Sq & would incl a new school & carpark. Businessman Carter would probably build hotels nearby for Convention Centre / Te Pae customers. Since CERA's demolitions, 5-6 years before, the area had been dusty demolition sites:

ROAD
CLOSED
AHEAD

EXCEPT
CONSTRUCTION
VEHICLES

Colombo St / Gloucester St crossing to Cathedral Sq: The NZDF checkpoint was gone at last. As little demolitions nor restorations went on at Cathedral Sq, why did CERA take so long to open Cathedral Sq?


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED AHEAD. Orange, plastic, road cones. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint gone, Colombo St / Gloucester St. Ruined Christ Church Cathedral & Chalice sculpture behind


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED. Orange, plastic, road cones, orange, plastic, road barrier, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Gloucester St crossing, W view, briefly reopened Gloucester St & abandoned Central Library right, awaited demolition. Every bldg in this pic would be demolished for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae, which would incl this bit of Gloucester St. Convention Centre / Te Pae concrete walls would block Gloucester St, obliterating this W view


30.06.13. Colombo St / Gloucester St crossing, E view, reopened Gloucester St. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration left. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel & Novotel right. Novotel blue sign disingenuously thanked Council / NZDF / CERA for occupying Christchurch CBD for 2 years 4 months post 22.02.11 quake



30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Gloucester St by abandoned Camelot Hotel: Cordoned Christ Church Council sign boasted about colours & creativity in the post quake CBD. Some art works were kindergarten stuff, from adult artists too


30.06.13. Christchurch Coat of Arms, steel plaque on Colombo St pavement by abandoned Camelot Hotel, awaiting demolition for new Central Library / Turanga. Heraldic kiwi on top, pukeko swamp hens on sides


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned Camelot Hotel left, repaired Novotel right, NE Colombo St / Cathedral Sq. Camelot Hotel would be demolished for Central Library / Turanga rebuild


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq, W view, abandoned bldgs: Telecom left. Central Police, Hereford St middle, Government Life right, awaited demolition. Central Police would be imploded 30.05.15


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq, W view, abandoned bldgs: Telecom, old PO obscured by trees. Central Police right, Hereford St, would be imploded 30.05.15

Cathedral Sq: Christ Church Cathedral ghost was surrounded by cordon fencing & at the E end, both sides, a double layer of shipping containers stood alongside walls, in case of collapse. Whenever I looked at Christ Church Cathedral, there was loose, cracked stonework, which belied Heritage hailers' restoration ideal. The tower had collapsed in the 22.02.11 Killer Quake & was demolished. The W facade had part collapsed in the 13.06.11 quake, leaving a gaping hole, with attendant steel bracing. Pigeons roosted inside Christ Church Cathedral on roof beams.


30.06.13. Serial quake trashed, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind


Heritage hailers over the last 3 years since the 04.09.10 Darfield Quake: Strange that Catholic Anderton hadn't barked about restoring RC Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St, also ruined by quakes.


30.06.13. Serial quake trashed, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq



 
 



30.06.13. Boarded N transept, serial quake trashed, fence cordoned Christ Church Cathedral & WW 1 memorial statue, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Serial quake trashed, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Abandoned Telecom right


30.06.13. W facade, Christ Church Cathedral collapsed in the 13.06.11 quake. WW 1 memorial statue right, Cathedral Sq





30.06.13. Stacked shipping container barrier & cordon fence, N side, quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Stacked shipping container barrier, N transept, chancel & apse, serial quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq




30.06.13. Serial quake damaged apse & N transept, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq



30.06.13. White / orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. Serial quake trashed apse, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq




I trekked E around Christ Church Cathedral ghost, windows boarded, stacked shipping container cordoned, past Camelot Hotel ghost, to repaired Novotel, ready to reopen in August, past a Novotel sign on Warners Hotel demolition site, disingenuously thanking Council / NZDF / CERA for keeping citizens safe, past a lawyer's notice on the same demolition site.


30.06.13. Abandoned Camelot Hotel, Cathedral Sq, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild


30.06.13. Repaired Novotel, Cathedral Sq

Ghosts: Through a gap between Camelot Hotel & Novotel I saw Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel & Isaac Theatre Royal, the beginnings of NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Performing Arts Precinct. Nearby, quake trashed, foundation cracked Town Hall would be restored. Thus the Performing Arts Precinct could duplicate Town Hall facilities.


30.06.13. Yellow crane. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration seen between abandoned Camelot Hotel left & repaired Novotel right, Cathedral Sq. Camelot Hotel would be demolished for Central Library / Turanga rebuild



 30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow crane. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel seen between abandoned Camelot Hotel left, repaired Novotel right, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Warners Hotel demolition site view, abandoned Government Life left, abandoned Camelot Hotel right, awaiting demolitions, Cathedral Sq. Camelot Hotel would be demolished for Central Library / Turanga rebuild


30.06.13. Lawyer's notice, Warners Hotel demolition site, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. The Press demolition site view, abandoned Government Life middle, abandoned Camelot Hotel right, awaited demolitions, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq view across Warners Hotel & The Press demolition sites to Isaac Theatre Royal restoration, seen between repaired Novotel left, The Press rebuild right. Stacked shipping containers covered the theatre facade, Gloucester St

I trekked past The Press demolition site to Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel ghost.




30.06.13. Warners Hotel demolition site view across The Press demolition site to Cathedral Junction left, Governmental Departmental Buildings right, Cathedral Sq. Novotel blue sign disingenuously thanked Council / NZDF / CERA for 2 years 4 months occupation of Christchurch CBD post 22.02.11 Killer Quake


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq, Christ Church Cathedral view, The Press demolition site (carpark) Novotel left, The Press rebuild middle, Cathedral Junction right, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel behind



30.06.13. Cathedral Sq, Christ Church Cathedral E view, Worcester St: Quake survivors, Cathedral Junction left, Government Departmental Buildings right



30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Heritage Hotel restoration left. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right, Cathedral Sq 






30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Heritage Hotel restoration left. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Entrance, abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel Cathedral Sq


S side of Christ Church Cathedral ghost had boarded windows, rubble lying next to the nave wall & a small turret grounded in overgrown grass, all fence cordoned. The Cathedral Visitors Centre, nave walls, chancel & apse all showed quake damaged masonry. Christ Church Cathedral was weak greystone & whitestone construction, which Heritage hailers wanted to waste millions restoring. Never mind the swamp & Christchurch Fault on which Christ Church Cathedral was built. Across the road, a silvery Smith crane was parked next to part demolished BNZ. The fence cordon W of the collapsed W facade stopped citizens circling Christ Church Cathedral.

2019. Spark multi-storey bldg would be build on BNZ site.


30.06.13. Stacked shipping container cordon, S side, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Stacked shipping containers, steel mesh fence cordon by columbarium & boarded, S transept, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq




30.06.13. S nave wall, quake trashed, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq



30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Columbarium. S side, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Christ Church Cathedral, overgrown garden, grounded turret, serial quake trashed, S side, nave & S transept, Cathedral Sq



30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, S side, serial quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Colombo St view, steel mesh fence, stacked shipping container cordoned, S transept, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel middle. Heritage Hotel restoration right


30.06.13. Smith demolition crane, part demolished BNZ, Cathedral Sq Cathedral Sq / Colombo St


30.06.13. Smith demolition crane view, part demolished BNZ left, reopened Ibis Hotel middle, abandoned Telecom, old PO right, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, Smith demolition crane, part demolished BNZ right. Christ Church Cathedral S transept left, Cathedral Sq. Repaired Novotel, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel behind


30.06.13. Smith demolition crane, abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, Smith demolition crane, abandoned Christ Church Cathedral left, abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right


30.06.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, white / orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, S view, cordoned Colombo St. Part demolished BNZ left, abandoned Timezone right

Cathedral Sq W. More ghosts: ANZ demolition site behind a steel mesh fence cordon, a hole filled with rubble, a heap of twisted steel rebars & 2 yellow diggers with teeth; public toilets; old PO & Tourist Information; Rydges Hotel; Government Life (awaited demolition) interspersed with demolition sites.
 

30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. 2 yellow diggers. Cathedral Sq view, ANZ demolition site



30.06.13. Cathedral Sq view, part demolished BNZ. 2019. Spark multi-storey would be built on site


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, closed public toilets, reopened Ibis Hotel left, abandoned Telecom middle, abandoned old PO / Tourist Information right. Blue crane behind


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq view, serial quake trashed, W facade, S nave wall, Christ Church Cathedral. Steel bracing was useless in the 13.06.11 quake, W facade crumbled more





30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view: Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel, abandoned Camelot Hotel left (awaited demolition). Serial quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral middle, Chalice sculpture right


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, ANZ demolition site left, closed public toilets right. Closed Lichfield St carpark garage beyond


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, closed public toilets


30.06.13. Cathedral Sq view, abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel left, part demolished BNZ right

Colombo St: I left Cathedral Sq, past more ROAD CLOSED AHEAD threat signs & trekked S, past ANZ demolition site & apocalyptic Hereford St where a sausage sizzle traded by a demolition rubble crusher. For lunch I bought a cooked sausage, fried onion & slice of bread, $2 for kids' cancer care.


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq S view, Colombo St


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Part demolished BNZ, Cathedral Sq / Colombo St


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. 3 yellow diggers. ANZ demolition site, Colombo St. Closed public toilets, reopened Ibis Hotel left, abandoned Telecom, abandoned old PO / Tourist Information right




30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow digger. Tangled, steel rebars. ANZ demolition site, Colombo St. Illusion junk art on wall behind


30.06.13. Yellow digger. Tangled, steel rebars, demolition rubble, ANZ demolition site, Colombo St



30.06.13. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing: Part demolished BNZ left, Hanafins demolition site middle


30.06.13. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing: Hanafins demolition site left, Flour Power sculpture, KFC demolition site right


30.06.13. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing S view, Colombo St, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs both sides. Flour Power sculpture left


30.06.13. Colombo St, W view, Hereford St, demolition sites left to abandoned Central Police, reopened Ibis Hotel right. Central Police would be imploded 30.05.15



30.06.13. TRUCKS CROSSING. Sausage sizzle. Blue, demolition rubble crusher, Colombo St / Hereford St


30.06.13. Blue demolition rubble crusher, sausage sizzle on demolition site, Hereford St / Colombo St. Reopened Ibis Hotel left, abandoned Cathedral Sq bldgs beyond. BNZ Centre would be built on the demo site


30.06.13. Sausage sizzle on demolition site, Hereford St / Colombo St. Abandoned Cathedral Sq bldgs beyond


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED AHEAD. Yellow digger. Steel mesh fence cordons. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing view, Chalice sculpture, abandoned Cathedral Sq bldgs




30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED AHEAD. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing view, abandoned Christ Church Cathedral left, part demolished BNZ right. 2019. Spark multi-storey would be built on BNZ site


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED AHEAD. 2 yellow diggers. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Hereford St / High St crossing view, abandoned, old PO left, abandoned Government Life right, awaited demolition, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Colombo St S view, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs to The Crossing left, Cashel St. ANZ Centre would be built on the demo sites


30.06.13. Colombo St W view, demolition site to Hereford St. Repaired, new Council bldg middle



30.06.13. Colombo St NW view, abandoned Timezone left to abandoned bldgs, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow digger. Colombo St SE view, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs to High St

Colombo St: I trekked past ghosts & demolition sites to The Crossing at Cashel St & busy Restart Cashel Mall. (Demo sites E would become ANZ Centre. Demo sites W would become BNZ Centre). On the airbridge was an illusion painting, part bldg, part sky. Council thought spending money covering ghosts with junk art would kiss it better. Junk art was plastered or painted on ghosts & roadsides all over the CBD. Never mind USAR / TF & taggers' graffiti & ad boards / fence banners for myriads of contractors sucking off ratepayers & taxpayers. Council board, Colombo St: ADDING COLOUR AND CREATIVITY TO THE CENTRAL CITY. Pity Council hadn't added colour & creativity to Council housing, which was behind in repairs!


30.06.13. The Crossing S view, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing. Illusion art, part bldg, part sky on airbridge. Port Hills beyond


30.06.13. Abandoned Pagoda Court, The Crossing W side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing. 2018-19. Pagoda Court would be demolished for Kathmandu rebuild



30.06.13. The Crossing E side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing view, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs to High St left, Cashel St right. Hotel Grand Chancellor, Holiday Inn, Westpac high rises all demolished, middle. This E demo site would become ANZ Centre


30.06.13. The Crossing E side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing view, demolition site, abandoned bldg, High St. The area would become ANZ Centre


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Demolition site, abandoned bldgs, The Crossing E side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing. The demo site would become ANZ Centre


I trekked past the abandoned Bus Exchange, part demolished, basement flooded by rain; past reopened Ballantynes to Lichfield St crossing. W side of Lichfield St was open for the temporary Bus Exchange. E side of Lichfield St was steel mesh fence cordoned. Cordons gone CERA? Ha!


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. The Crossing E side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing view, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs down Cashel St. Demo site left would become ANZ Centre



30.06.13. The Crossing W side, Colombo St / Cashel St crossing view, Restart Cashel Mall. Reopened Ballantynes left. 2018-19. Abandoned Pagoda Court right would be demolished for Kathmandu rebuild



30.06.13. Quake trashed, closed, abandoned, old Bus Exchange, Colombo St. The copper "lion" facade would survive the quakes


30.06.13. Quake trashed, closed, abandoned, old Bus Exchange NW view, Colombo St to Cathedral Sq. 2018-19. Abandoned Pagoda Court at The Crossing left would be demolished for Kathmandu rebuild


30.06.13. Reopened Ballantynes, Colombo St


30.06.13. Flooded basement, demolition site, quake trashed, abandoned, old Bus Exchange, Colombo St



30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED. Colombo St, SE view, steel mesh fence cordoned Lichfield St. Demolition site left, old Council bldg middle, The Frontrunner right. Old Council bldg would be demolished for the new Bus Interchange, opened May 2015


30.06.13. ROAD CLOSED. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St, E view, closed Lichfield St. Closed, old Bus Exchange left, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs right


30.06.13. Orange, plastic, road fence, orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St, W view, reopened Lichfield St


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon left. Orange, plastic, road fence right. Lichfield St / Colombo St, S view, abandoned The Frontrunner left. The Frontrunner would be demolished for the new Bus Interchange


30.06.13. Colombo St / Lichfield crossing, N view, Colombo St. Some bldgs reopened left, incl Ballantynes by airbridge. Steel mesh fence cordoned, demolition site, abandoned, old Bus Exchange right
 
Cathedral Sq: I returned to my car & texted Leah to come & see reopened Cathedral Sq. When we both returned to Cathedral Sq, the W side, steel mesh fence cordon was gone, so citizens could once again circle Christ Church Cathedral ghost, unhindered by cordon fencing, glowering security, NZDF soldiers & cops, already lurking in their Cathedral Sq kiosk, cop car parked alongside. (2021. The cop kiosk would be demolished enabling contractors' space for Christ Church Cathedral reinstatement).

Two years, four months post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, Colombo St in the Zombie CBD was mostly demolition sites, ghosts & a few reopened shops like Ballantynes. Rebuilds had a long way to go. CERA Blueprint didn't have any retail rebuilds on main street, Colombo St. Yet.

Restart Cashel Mall: Developers squabbled & did next to nothing. The perfect place for a retail centre were demo sites opp The Crossing, E side of Colombo St, stretching towards Manchester St, past Hotel Grand Chancellor, Holiday Inn & Westpac demolition sites. That vast E demo site would become ANZ Centre.

The Crossing 2015: Cashel Mall would have several retail developments including The Crossing, Colombo St; ANZ Centre, NE Cashel St  / Colombo St, opp The Crossing; BNZ Centre, NW Cashel St / Colombo St, by Restart Cashel Mall, opp Ballantynes. They would form a retail hub together with The Terrace development further up Cashel Mall by Bridge of Remembrance, Oxford Tce. Meanwhile, Restart Cashel Mall container shops ticked over & Pagoda Court ghost awaited demolition for Kathmandu rebuild.


30.06.13. Fence cordoned, serial quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq




30.06.13. Fence cordoned, WW 1 memorial statue by quake trashed Christ Church Cathedral, closed Visitors Centre & boarded N transept, Cathedral Sq


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, serial quake trashed, Christ Church Cathedral. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind


30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, serial quake trashed, Christ Church Cathedral & bordering hotels: Novotel, Rendezvous Hotel / Pacific Tower left, Heritage Hotel, Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right




30.06.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, W facade, serial quake trashed, Christ Church Cathedral



*Trekked Colombo St, Cathedral Sq. 182 images.

Newspaper headlines:

The Star Fri 28.06.13, MOTORISTS GO POTTY: "SCIRT planning manager Angus Bargh said SCIRT had about 130-150 'active' work sites with more than 80 detours on the network. 

'My expectation after last week's rain is that every single detour will require some level of patching.'...

He said any potholes outside SCIRT's work sites should be reported to the council."

Christchurch citizens endured CERA's / SCIRT's apartheid even in fixing potholes: CERA's SCIRT or Council pothole repairs? Citizens endured the ongoing farce between CERA & Council: CERA dictated, Council resisted. Brownlee was Transport minister too & later on became Defence minister.

With all the court cases Brownlee endured over the years, Brownlee behaved like Mussolini, scant regard for security or court judgements. Brownlee & his entourage were caught sneaking through a Christchurch Airport side door to avoid domestic airline checks. In 2014 Brownlee would be fined $2 000 for that contempt of airport security.

Although courts ruled that NZ National govt's / CERA's red zoning was illegal, in 2015 after delays for uninsured, vacant land, red zoners, Brownlee again would delay CERA payouts to uninsured, vacant land, red zoners.

The Press Sat 29.06.13: MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN CHRISTCHURCH, a full page trumpeting.

Mayor Parker raved about CBD anchor projects being cost shared by the Crown & Council. He forgot to mention Ngai Tahu's Cultural Centre, expansion of the Hospital Precinct, new Justice & Emergency Services Precinct, Hagley Cricket Oval.

NZ National govt's / CERA's / CCDU's anchor project cost sharing:

"Convention Centre Precinct. CCC $0. Crown contribution including land $284m. [By 2015 that fantastic cost would've blown out to much more. June 2016. NZ National govt would announce a scaled down Convention Centre, just a hall, without hotel, offices, flats & shops].

The Frame. CCC $0. Crown contribution incl land $481m." [The Frame land had been taken from CBD landowners by CERA].

Disaster capitalism consequences: Mayor Parker's Council had allowed NZ National govt / CERA to take new Convention Centre / Te Pae land between Victoria Sq across Gloucester St to Cathedral Sq, a massive block, incl bits of Cathedral Sq. (Parker would soon be knighted!) Even bigger takes: Under mayor Parker, Council had allowed NZ National govt / CERA to take vast CBD Frame land blocks: 1. E Frame, bordered by Madras St, Manchester StOxford Tce, Lichfield St - CCDU wannabe parkland / Rauora Park, housing, commercial bldgs. 2. S Frame, bordered by Tuam St, St Asaph St, Manchester St, Montreal St, including Innovation Precinct E & Hospital Precinct W & CCDU's obscure commercial developments. 3. N Frame Oxford Tce & ghost Centennial Pool area, site for the Blueprint Margaret Mahy Family Playground.

The divide between E Frame & S Frame was obscure. At first CERA made the S Frame between Tuam St & St Asaph St. Post CERA, Regenerate Christchurch would make Lichfield St the divide between E Frame & S Frame. 2019. Info boards would show that Lichfield St divide at E Frame / Rauora Park. For consistency I would use the Lichfield St divide in my E Frame, S Frame descriptions.

But CCDU's ever expanding wish list, taking properties for The Frame, involved many sound, quake survivor bldgs & businesses, which would be destroyed by CERA & forced to relocate outside The Frame, like viable car dealers. The Frame was National govt land speculation using taxpayers' money.

Even if the new Convention Centre / Te Pae & Frame developments were handed back to Council in later years, Christchurch citizens would have no say whatsoever in their making. But they would've paid for both in their rates & taxes. Who would pay for their upkeep?

"Metro Sports Facility: CCC $147m. Crown contribution incl land $70m. [Luke would have to change jobs when his employer, Douglas Furniture relocated elsewhere, for CERA demolitions of a host of bldgs on the Blueprint Metro Sports Facility site].

Performing Arts Precinct: CCC $158m incl Town Hall rebuild. Crown contribution incl land $8m. [New mayor Dalziel & her new councillors would decide to repair the old Town Hall to obviate wasting money rebuilding a new Town Hall].

Central Library: CCC $60m. Crown contribution incl land $19m.

The Square [No longer Cathedral Sq]: CCC $5m. Crown contribution incl land $5m [Hogwash as Cathedral Sq was already there].

Avon River Precinct: CCC $6m. Crown contribution incl land $89m. [Hogwash as Avon River banks were already there, Council owned. If the post quake Watermark by Antigua Boatsheds was an example of development, it was a waste of money, as it was just a boardwalk, revamped riverside paths & a concrete wall].

Bus Interchange: CCC $40m. Crown contribution incl land $51m. [As per the temporary bus exchange on Tuam St, moving the new Bus Interchange further along Tuam St would cause traffic congestion on Colombo St, Tuam St, Manchester St].

Stadium: There would be sporadic debate for years, egged on by The press articles, about whether the new stadium, between Madras St & Barbadoes St, should be 25 000 seater, or 30 000 seater, or 35 000 seater, roofed or not. Never mind that the 2019 demolished, AMI stadium was a 38 000 seater. 2023. After mayors Parker & Dalziel had gone, under new mayor Mauger, the new stadium began to sprout.

Ratepayers would have to pay for an expensive, loss maker stadium, dictated by NZ National govt & crazy Councils. Why wasn't NZ Rugby contributing? Why weren't CBD hotels contributing? But CCDU Blueprinted the stadium on the Christchurch Fault which caused the Boxing Day Quake 2010. Never mind all the devastating quakes post Boxing Day Quake on Christchurch swamp.

Who wanted to live in expensive, E Frame, tilt slab apartments near the mini stadium plonked in CERA's utopian CBD?

The Press Mon 01.07.13. COUNCIL SET TO LOSE CONSENTING POWER

International Accreditation New Zealand removed Council's accreditation for bldg consents.

Regarding NZ National govt doing everything it could to discredit Christchurch Council, versus Council doing everything it could to obstruct NZ National govt, it was pot calling kettle.

On the one hand arrogant, overpaid, Council management didn't heed public protests in 2012, so mayor, town clerk & councillors had themselves to blame. 

On the other hand, NZ National govt / CERA had no room to blame, as it did little to sort out slow EQC & slow insurers, which citizens had complained about ever since the 04.09.10 Darfield Quake. EQC / insurer slow payouts, repairs & rebuilds would drag out for years. Both Council & NZ National govt already had nearly 3 years to speed up bldg consents processing.

The Press Tue 02.07.13. EQC NEGOTIATES $3.25B IN REINSURANCE COVER

Ironic, as NZ National govt hadn't ensured that EQC was adequately reinsured pre 2010-2011 quakes despite EQC's 2008 warnings to NZ National govt, hence the farrago of the current inadequate cap of $100 000 for individual house repairs & avoidance by EQC & insurers, causing grief for 1 000s of citizens with quake ruined housing.

Pity The Press never adequately reported EQC's poor reinsurance pre quakes, relying on commentator Bert's whinings in Stuff Co comments about "Bill's Big Blunder." Bill English was NZ National govt's finance minister at the time, Bill ignoring EQC's warning about inadequate reinsurance.

"Following northern hemisphere negotiations undertaken by EQC's Hugh Cowan, the commission has reinsurance cover of $3.25 billion, up from the $2.5b of reinsurance cover from single events held prior to the 2010 earthquake..." 

That media release by NZ National govt / EQC was quietly done, soon after NZ National govt / CERA & Council trumpeted the above cost sharing of National govt foisted CBD anchor projects & National govt shafting of Council over its bldg consents processing. The consents debacle was stage managed by NZ National govt / CERA to make NZ National govt look good & Council to look bad.

Pity that lazy journalists just repeated CERA media releases ad verbatim. I found that time after time: CERA would give a media release, The Press would just copy it ad verbatim. When CERA later disestablished, its website media releases would be difficult to obtain, hidden in the CERA Document Archive, controlled by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

"EQC has received 467 000 claims

It was about 37 per cent through the land settlements, but most of those settled so far were in the hill suburbs, Simpson said.

The insurer was also 37 per cent through its building claims..."

[Only 37% nearly 3 years post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake!]

"In terms of the Canterbury Home Repair Programme, run by Fletcher EQR, about 40 000, or half of the 81 000 house repairs have been done. [Half of the quake damaged home owners would still suffer more freezing winters].

About 91 per cent of contents claims have been resolved."

Pathetic EQC nearly 3 years post 04.09.10, M7.1 Darfield Quake.

The Star Wed 03.07.13. QUAKE 'HOMELESS' GROW

"Between 5 000-7 000 Christchurch people have been classed as 'homeless' in the latest statistics released by Ministry of Housing Innovation and Employment.

[Both my adult sons were classified 'homeless,' as they couldn't find a flat to share, despite searching & lived at our Burnside rental home till they found a rental to share. Both were well qualified & worked long hours in hospitality & joinery.]

The figures include people who have had to move out of their houses while undergoing earthquake repairs, people who cannot afford city's high rents [my sons' rents had inflated since the quakes, current average $400 p/w.] and those living on the streets...

A ministry researcher Dan Martin... defined homelessness as people with 'insecure' housing including those who live on the streets and those in overcrowded homes... [Us - small, cold, damp, 3 bedroom, ex state house, rental with 4 adults overcrowding & our cat Flair as resident rat catcher & hedgehog hassler].

But the situation won't get better until a peak in 2015-2016 because of demand for housing fuelled by rebuild workers arriving in the city, and people moving out of houses while they are being repaired...

City councillor Livingstone went public over his plans to move red zone houses onto Council owned land for a cost of $80 000 per home, money he said was already sitting in the city council's coffers. [Livingstone hustled for imminent Council elections. Livingstone woke up late, despite jabbering at public protests in 2012.]

Likewise insurance & house relocation companies have called for red zone houses to be shifted to help address the housing crisis.

A CERA spokeswoman said it supports the relocation of houses and have assisted in shifting more than 100 houses so far."

In 2012, CERA minister Brownlee was in denial, saying there was no housing crisis. But Jake's Waltham flat was flooded in the 22.02.11 Killer Quake, then Jake endured 6 months unemployment, squatting in a quake trashed garage off Sherborne St, with chemical toilet, surrounded by mounds of liquefaction mud during winter. We helped Jake financially during that tough time.

After that, Jake found a good flat at Geraldine St, lived there a while, then moved to a friend's house in Albemarle St. He left recently, as the friend was having a baby & needed Jake's room. So Jake moved in with us at Heath St, Burnside. Jake & Luke wanted to flat together & searched for a flat for months. No luck. So far, Luke had worked for nearly 2 years in the joinery industry & lived with us at Burnside. Jake had worked for 8 years in the hospitality industry & flatted all that time. Our family was a microcosm of Christchurch's post quake, housing crisis.

So far, the housing crisis was misled by Council / CERA management, passing the buck: both Council & state housing were not being repaired fast enough. And consents for red zoners' new housing were not being issued fast enough by Council. Hence National govt intervention by a Crown manager, nearly 3 years post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake. Maryatt, Parker, Sutton & Brownlee had lots to answer for.

Wed 03.07.13. MARRYATT TAKES LEAVE FROM COUNCIL The Press reported that town clerk Marryatt had taken indefinite leave, was under investigation & a Crown manager would be appointed to manage bldg consents until Dec 2014. Since before the quakes Council showed appalling management & Marryatt was responsible for debacle after debacle: dodgy Henderson property purchases; under-insurance of Council assets, no insurance for Bromley sewage plant; giving staff 10 extra days paid leave per year; slow bldg consents...

Maryatt & his consents staff had issued consents for dangerous new bldgs, despite Council's faulty red / yellow / green stickering of bldgs post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake; despite bldgs collapsing in subsequent quakes; despite public protests in 2012 about Sideshow Bob & Teflon Tony; despite the Royal Commission of Inquiry finding fault with Council's management: upshot $80 000, Felicity Price report about inadequate Council internal communications, which Marryatt said would improve. Ha!

Parker supported Marryatt too long, including Marryatt's exorbitant salary & $68 000 salary increase. Parker was Brownlee's puppet & both feared Labour's Dalziel becoming the new mayor post 2013 local Council elections.

Despite positive public opinion about Parker's media abilities post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, Parker was pathetic: In 2012 unable to control errant councillors, Parker asked Brownlee for help. Upshot: an appointed Crown manager to observe councillors for a couple of months, with Marryatt demanding councillors be gagged after his salary increase leak & some councillors publicly protesting about his salary increase. Marryatt took a grievance case against Council for the latter. And Marryatt & Parker didn't want public attending Council meetings. Marryatt's excuse: "Commercially sensitive."

Unable to control Marryatt, regarding non supply of Consents Accreditation information, Parker again asked Brownlee for help. Result: appointment of another Crown manager to supervise & upgrade Council bldg consents issuing until the end of 2014. Democracy was dead in Christchurch.

Fri 05.07.13. TV One News reported that mayor Parker would not stand for a third term. (The Press Sat-Sun 06-07.07.13. MAYOR PARKER QUITS).

What a farce: Within a week, departure of NZDF soldiers from CBD checkpoints; Trumpeting of cost sharing for anchor projects by Council & NZ National govt; Council loss of consents accreditation; mayor Parker putting town clerk / consents boss Marryatt on indefinite leave; CERA minister Brownlee ensuring a Crown manager would sort out consents till the end of 2014; Puppet Parker, supporting Marryatt through thick & thin, not standing for mayor again.

That left Christchurch demolition zones & rebuild zones open for a new mayor & councillors. Recycled Labour MP & mayoral candidate Dalziel had no competition. Parker's "A Team," those who'd supported Marryatt's $68 000 pay rise in 2012, wouldn't survive the next Council election. Public protestors had bayed for their blood in 2012.

On their watch, Parker & Marryatt damaged Canterbury democracy: Pre quakes, supporting the usurping of ECAN by appointed Crown managers (elected managers sacked) controlled by appointed dame Bazley, allowing greedy dairy farmers to overuse Canterbury Plains waters. Parker & Marryatt had bought Auckland's Ellerslie Flower Show for $3m, a loss maker (Weekend Press 3-4.08.13) & had bought crap CBD properties from bankrupt Henderson.

Post quakes, Parker & Marryatt sold out several Council functions to usurping CERA, like SCIRT road works. They sold out to CERA, which took CBD Frame lands & CBD Convention Centre / Te Pae land, paying peanuts to CBD land owners. They sold out to 2 appointed Crown managers in Council within 2 years. They sold out to CERA regarding CBD red zone commercial land, like Convention Centre / Te Pae land & N, E & S Frame lands. They sold out to CERA regarding red zone riverside & Port Hills residential land. Parker & Marryatt sold out to NZ National govt, enabling massive land takings in Christchurch CBD, riverside & Port Hills suburbs.

Parker said he was exhausted & Marryatt was on leave, not fronting up to ratepayers again, after giving Council workers 10 days extra paid leave per year, post quakes.

I never heard Parker nor Marryatt complaining about the NZDF occupation of Christchurch CBD, where initially cops & mostly soldiers manned red zone checkpoints for 28 months post 22.02 11 Killer Quake, citizens banned. Regarding Council consents & insurances, ratepayers would pay for Parker's & Marryatt's sellouts for years to come. NZDF cordon soldiers gone, Marryatt gone, Parker gone.

Meanwhile, citizens awaiting house repairs or rebuilds, still battled EQC & insurers & some still existed in quake damaged housing, enduring their third post quake winter. Having demolished Parker & Marryatt, it was time Brownlee jackbooted EQCs' & insurers' asses.

Tue 30.07.13. Jake & Luke found a safe, 5 bedroom, wooden, 2 storey rental by Heathcote River, Ashgrove Tce, Cashmere & moved in with 3 mates & hangers-on. Both sons commuted long distances to & from their CBD & Merivale work, over quake & SCIRT crapped roads, as there were no suitable rentals near their work.

Leah & I now enjoyed more space in our 3 bedroom, Burnside rental, but clearing out our sons' stuff, 28 years' worth, would need months of sifting, sorting & cleaning.

Our landlady increased our Burnside rent again, second time in a year, as she said rates had increased & insurance had tripled. Given that insurers only planned to complete housing repairs / rebuilds by the end of 2016 (sick joke post 22.02.11 Killer Quake) it looked like a Ponzi scheme, whereby people like us living in sound, post quake housing paid for rebuild / repairs of quake trashed housing, via our post quake, exorbitant insurance premiums & rates.

The Weekend Press 3-4.07.13 house rental ads gave 2 Harcourts ads & just 16 expensive house rentals. So much for Brownlee's market forces. The lack of housing for insurgent rebuild workers forced rental prices up for long time residents like us. (CERA idled, doing nothing about rebuild workers' housing, causing massive demand for rentals). Landlords, insurers & Council won with increased revenues. Tenants lost, as salaries & wages hadn't risen. We paid for increased rental costs without any rise in Leahs' breadwinner salary, nor increase in WINZ rental supplement.

NZ National govt did nothing about the inflated rental market in Christchurch, transfixed by the GCSB saga. Should PM Key's revised spy law be promulgated, more civil liberties would be lost, just like apartheid & post apartheid SA. Laughable that smirking Key justified GCSB law changes to spy on NZ citizens, due to nebulous Kiwis training as Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen, but Key didn't name those Kiwis, nor their so-called terrorist activities. Key's comments were as risible as his "weapon of mass destruction" referring to the April Boston Marathon bombing. 

Leah & I had lived through decades of apartheid Nationalist govt, scaremongering about commie terrorists lurking behind every SA door, to justify oppressive security laws. PM Key's National govt scaremongering about Al Qaeda terrorists lurking behind every Kiwi door, to justify his oppressive spy law, was fascist ideology. Like apartheid Nationalist PMs, National PM Key spun cordons of the mind.

Although Key's NZDF soldiers had left Zombie CBD, cordon checkpoints, Key's CERA / CCDU appointees would infest Christchurch CBD till their use by date, 18.04.16.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Gerry Brownlee fined for airport security breach (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Crown reviewing supreme court ruling 13 March 2015 (CERA).

See Deadline for publication of draft residential red zone offer recovery plan extended 26 May 2015 (CERA).

See Christchurch red zone compensation plan delayed (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Christchurch retail precinct good as done (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Crown to go it alone on Christchurch Convention Centre (The Press / Stuff Co).


See Christchurch stadium how much ratepayers will contribute (The Press / Stuff Co).