tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72850764065397460702024-03-18T16:07:34.972-07:00Woza WandererMark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-59399085327868607992024-02-02T14:49:00.000-08:002024-02-02T15:45:45.902-08:00Milford Huts, Milford Lagoon, Opihi River MouthWed 31.01.24. From Pleasant Point, I drove approx 22km via Temuka, along Milford Lagoon Rd to Milford Huts by Milford Lagoon, Opihi River Mouth. Parked my car at Milford Huts town, Milford Lagoon.<br />
<br />
Tramped approx 7.5km return along the grassy stopbank & nearby roads, N side of Milford Lagoon & Opihi River. First walked NE along the stopbank for approx 500m before overgrown vegetation made the walk unpleasant, despite using my walking poles to push past vegetation. Saw log flotsam & gulls beach side of Milford Lagoon. Saw 4 white-fronted terns darting & diving for prey, akin to kingfisher dives, straight into lagoon water. A DOC sign where I turned back:<br />
<br />
Milford Lagoon / Orakipaoa<br />
Conservation Area<br />
<br />
Along the stopbank, I continued W from Milford Lagoon beside Opihi River true left bank, past Milford Huts, past a flood warning apparatus on Milford Lagoon bank, past farm paddocks, inquisitive cattle on my right; poplars, crack willows, blackberry brambles lining the stopbank on my left, till I came to a farmhouse at the end of the stopbank by Wareing Rd gravel.<br />
<br />
Wareing Rd gravel took me to Opihi River. Downriver, returning to Milford Lagoon, I wandered over shingle near the stopbank, past 3 fly-fishermen, till I came to Milford Lagoon again at shingle's end. A strong swimmer, I could've swum some of Miford Lagoon from the shingle back to the stopbank, but my cell phone, car keys, cochlear implant processor would've been water damaged. Also, I was put off swimming, as I'd passed hazard signs by the stopbank warning about toxic blue-green algae in river & lagoon waters.<br />
<br />
Riverbank backtracking & avoiding stopbank return, I returned to my car at Milford Huts via river shingle, gravel Wareing Rd & tarsealed Milford Lagoon Rd, the latter roughly parallel to the stopbank.<br />
<br />
Note: As Milford Huts were built close to Milford Lagoon, Opihi River mouth, Pacific, the town was in danger from coastal inundations by high tides, river flooding, tsunami. Town noticeboard & tsunami danger signs gave warnings. <br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-72703111861267938812023-12-09T14:12:00.000-08:002023-12-27T16:08:03.193-08:00Mt Guy Climb, Hakatere Conservation ParkThursday 07.12.23. Sunny, breezy morning, rain showery afternoon, Mt Somers vicinity. I drove 110km from Pleasant Point via Geraldine, Mayfield, Mt Somers, Ashburton Gorge to Lake Clearwater in Hakatere Conservation Park to climb Mt Guy, 1319m, overlooking Lake Clearwater & surrounded by Alpine peaks.<br />
<br />
My climb stats: From Lake Clearwater carpark, 11km, 7h return. 600 vertical metres climb. (5.5km, 3.5h ascent to summit cairn. 5.5km, 3.5 descent back to carpark). Excl in stats, half hour lunch & pic break by the summit cairn. A full day's hike.<br />
<br />
The DOC pole-marked track had various DOC signs enroute. The farm track from the carpark skirted SE end of Lake Clearwater to a Pringle memorial bench near a footbridge at the lake outlet. NE end of Lake Clearwater, beyond the footbridge, the track led to a stile from where the climb began through tussock, becoming steeper through matagouri scrub beside a rocky gully. About halfway up, the track became very steep sidling up & over rocky outcrops to ease over summit tussock with grand Alpine & lake views from the summit cairn.<br />
<br />
Anticlockwise, Some lakes & mountains seen enroute: Lake Clearwater, Lake Camp, Harper Range, Lake Emma, Mt Peel, Coal Hill, Moorhouse Range, Trinity Hill, Ashburton Gorge, distant Canterbury Plains, Mt Barrosa, Clent Hills, Mt Somers Range, Winterslow Range, Taylor Range, Dogs Range, hidden tarns in tussocklands at mt bases, The Pyramid, Mt Potts, Mt Sunday (Edoras, Lord of the Rings fame), snowy D'Archiac, The Thumbs, snowy Main Divide, Two Thumbs Range, Rangitata River headwaters, Ben McLeod Range...<br />
<br />
Fauna seen: Black swans in Lake Clearwater; 1 pipit, I imitated its whistle keeping it company a while; 1 butterfly; skinks; grasshoppers, flies.<br />
<br />
Flora: Tussock grassland; matagouri; small, white flowering celmisias; bigger celmisias; speargrass; yellow flowering bulbinella; creamy flowering snowberries; white flowering pentachondra pumila, some red berries trackside; yellow flowering buttercups; pale blue flowering wahlenbergias; broom; scleranthus; drachophyllum; craspedias; scabweeds... Also yellow flowering hieracium hawkweed, seen from lakeside to mt top, thanks to past stockfarming.<br />
<br />
As on previous hikes over the years I found DOC signs wishful thinking regarding walk times & distances. DOC didn't reckon on lengthy zig-zagging needed to avoid plant, mud, rock & scree obstacles. An example, DOC sign by the stile below Mt Guy: Mt Guy Summit 2 km / 1 hour 15 min.<br />
<br />My reckoning from stile to summit, as per 2 fitness apps on my Cell: 3km / 2h 45 min. (Same for ascent & descent climbs).<br />
<br />
Patchy Cell coverage: Midday, I texted & phoned my wife from Mt Guy summit, no problems. But enroute texts I sent from Lake Clearwater carpark & half way up Mt Guy were undelivered.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-87321202688791534902023-03-17T14:45:00.241-07:002023-03-18T13:53:01.310-07:00Lake Clearwater, Hakatere Conservation ParkWed 15.03.23. Hiked round Lake Clearwater, 14km, 4.5h. Anniversary of Christchurch mosques attacks. <br />
<br />
From our Pleasant Point home, via Mt Somers, through Ashburton Gorge & Hakatere Potts Rd, Lake Clearwater was about 110km.<br />
<br />
Parallel glacier formed lakes, Lake Camp & Lake Clearwater, popular holiday lakes, were surrounded by Alps: Mt Guy 1319m N side & Mt Harper Range 1829m S side dominated Lake Clearwater. Eastwards, passing through Ashburton Gorge from Mt Somers, I'd driven past Mt Barrosa 1364m which I'd climbed pre Covid19 lockdowns. NW of Mt Guy were grand autumn views of Dogs Range, The Pyramid 1748m & Mt Potts 2184m which had featured in Lord of the Rings movie. Further W were clear views of higher Alpine peaks at the head of Rangitata River.<br />
<br />
Lake Clearwater circuit walk: At Lake Clearwater village, I parked my car at the lakeside carpark near the campsite. Walking eastwards along a farm track marked by DOC poles, I passed 2 fishermen & their SUVs & a memorial bench at the east end of Lake Clearwater. I crossed a wooden footbridge over the lake outlet stream. I walked a farm track on the N bank below glacial terraces on Mt Guy S flank. There were various side tracks for fishing spots on the lake shore & a track junction for those wanting to climb Mt Guy. Passing an island, I had grand views of Lake Clearwater village on the S shore, below Harper Range. Some Alpine plants seen enroute: matagouri bushes, porcupine bushes, Pentachondra pumila, Scleranthus, white flowering gentians, spear grass, tussock grassland. Due to stock farming, lots of high country, including Lake Clearwater environs was covered in Hieracium hawkweed. W end of the lake I saw waterfowl: ducks, paradise shelducks & black swans whose wings clapped against the water when they took off & flew low over the lake.<br />
<br />
W end of Lake Clearwater, I reached a swamp with numerous swamp plants soaking up Alpine waters. A grass featured on a DOC info board by the swamp:<br />
<br />
24/7 workers on the job here.<br />
<br />
Wetland plants never stop working and Carex specta / pukio is a standout.<br />
<br />
They are a flood controller, helping to hold excess water then releasing it slowly. With a big sreading root sytem they trap sediments and pollutants.<br />
<br />
Nothing is wasted - their old leaves drop into the water providing food for invertebrates. They in turn feed fish and birds.<br />
<br />
Working for us forever.<br />
<br />
As long as we keep pukio around, they'll stay on the job. They can grow large and live over 100 years...<br />
<br />
A DOC raised boardwalk & duckboards let me to wander over the swamp without getting my boots wet. Westwards, there were grand views of the high Alps & eastwards, magnificent views of the swamp & Lake Clearwater. Thistles amongst swamp plants spoiled the conservation idea. Therereafter, as it was midday hot without any breeze across the lake, I rejoined Hakatere Potts Rd at a DOC carpark to enjoy an easterly breeze all the way back to Lake Clearwater village.<br />
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-14299697163261459532023-02-21T14:42:00.304-08:002023-02-22T13:51:06.017-08:00The Long & Winding Road, Mt Nessing, Hakataramea ValleyTues 21.02.23. A scorching day in the Hakataramea Valley: 6am, I drove off from Pleasant Point, I wanted to climb a bit of Mt Nessing from Hakataramea Valley.<br />
<br />
Pleasant Point - Cave - Fairlie - Burkes Pass - Dog Kennel Corner to Haldon Rd: Rollesby Range, Mackenzie Pass, Dalgety Range left, Grampian Range right, Hakataramea Pass Rd, drove over several rocky fords both sides of Hakataramea Pass top, 947m. 2017. I had summitted Dalgety Range & Grampian Range, different tramps.<br />
<br />
After 115 km drive, at the N end of Hakataramea Valley I parked at the DOC carpark beside the road. A DOC sign:<br />
<br />
Access to<br />
Hunters Hills<br />
Conservation Area<br />
<br />
The DOC Conservation Area was a water catchment area where waters gathered from Dalgety Range, Grampian Range, Hunter Hills including Mt Nessing in the form of Hakataramea River & tributaries like Dalgety Stream & Longden Stream... Thus the DOC Conservation Area was a mix of Hakataramea River, dry & wet creek beds, low river terraces, river terrace grassland, bogs & in places impassable matagouri scrub.<br />
<br />
My Topo50 map showed a farm track going up one of the western ridges of Mt Nessing, 1601m. Boots wet, after wading across Hakataramea River, I found the track was unmarked by DOC poles. I had to scout a bit: over a fence, river terraces, knee high grassland & prickly matagouri before I found the farm track which crossed the cachment area then zigzagged up the Mt Nessing Ridge. The farm track was also covered in knee high grass, first through matagouri scrubland then alpine vegetation, like tussocks & speargrass. Just below 900m height the farm track curved downhill to a farm fence marked on my map. My tramping logic would've been to follow the fence-line all the way to the top of Mt Nessing. Wishful thinking! <br />
<br />
As it was scorching hot, I stopped climbing at a high point just above the farm road top curve, 860m, Grid ref: BZ17 153843. Grand views: farmsteads & green farmlands in Hakataramea Valley & views of snowless ranges: Hunters Hills, Dalgety, Grampian, Kirkliston, Benmore, Kurow. I could've climbed another trackless, 100 vertical metres to a higher part of the Mt Nessing ridge, but the February heat was dangerous, a cooling breeze, disguising my dehydration. I'd already quaffed 1.5l Coke during 2 hours' climbing. It was time to return to my car.<br />
<br />
I drove the rest of Hakataramea Valley, about 60 kms, to Kurow where I had pie & Coke at Te Kohurau Cafe. I drove back to Pleasant Point via Waitaki Valley, Waimate & Timaru.<br />
<br />
My climb stats:<br />
<br />
* Height: 300 vertical m from Hakataramea River bed, partly up a Mt Nessing ridge.<br />
* Return time: 3 h. (2h up, 1 h down).<br />
* Distance: 9 km.<br />
* Emergency communication: No cell phone coverage, text message undelivered, at the DOC carpark. But I was able to text my wife from the farm track a short way up Mt Nessing. Oddly, Spotify music played via my cell phone directly to my cochlear implant, was perfect, all the way. The Long & Winding Road my favourite. I don't carry a locator beacon, too expensive.<br />
* Circular road trip: 300km.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-60223268637384857172023-02-14T13:50:00.382-08:002023-02-15T13:36:11.981-08:00Mount Studholme Rd, Waimate DistrictValentines Day 14.02.23. Along Waimate Hunter Rd, then Upper Hook Rd, I drove 13 km NW from Waimate to Mt Studholme Rd, a dirt road going steeply up a Hunter Hills ridge to Mt Studholme summit, 1085m. A red skull & crossbones, pesticide threat sign by the roadside farm gate:<br />
<br />
WARNING POISON<br />
<br />
Potassium cyanide<br />
<br />
DO NOT touch bait<br />
WATCH CHILDREN at all times...<br />
DEADLY TO DOGS...<br />
<br />
NZ farmers & foresters were a poisonous lot, happily poisoning or hunting verminous animal & plant species. Never mind copious amounts of Roundup sprayed on gardens & road verges!<br />
<br />The left upside of Mt Studholme Rd (forestry area?) was like a war zone, dead vegetation completely grey-sprayed to hell for 2 km farmside of the foothills road, till I parked my car by a farm / forestry(?) fence at the DOC bush area. A DOC sign:<br />
<br />
Mt Studholme Conservation Area<br />
<br />
Road suitable for 4WD vehicles only<br />
<br />
In a roadside ditch near the DOC sign lay 2 animal skeletons, so hunters had been busy in the hills.<br />
<br />
I trekked up the rocky, zigzag road for an hour odd through native bush, passing roadside native plants like Pseudopanax 5 fingers, Tutus, Hebes, Coprosmas, Pittosporums... Roadside, there were exotic plants too, like gorse, thistles, broom, foxgloves, wooly mulleins... DOC didn't spray the roadside exotics. The higher I trekked up Mt Studholme Rd the better the view: bushy ravines both sides of the road; low clouds, green farmlands & Pacific eastwards; Gunns Bush & Waimate southwards; Hook Bush & Mt Cecil northwards; low clouds scudding over Mt Studholme summit westwards, last gasp of Cyclone Gabrielle which had devastated the N Island, causing widespread slips & flooding.<br />
<br />
Above the bushline, for another hour odd, I trekked up the rocky road through tussockland, mostly tussocks interspersed with spear grass, Dracophyllum & stunted flax. Notable were Celmisia white daisies by roadside rocky cuttings. I had missed NZ Alpine plants in their natural state over the last couple of years, due to Covid-19 restrictions, my Cochlear Implant op at St Georges Hospital, Christchurch & hearing rehab (2021) & my catching Covid flu (2022). My fitness training walks around Pleasant Point gone to waste!<br />
<br />
Midday. Mt Studholme summit views: N & S over Hunter Hills; SW Waimate; E farmlands & Pacific; W Pentland Hills & Campbell Hills, gouged by Waihao River below. I didn't continue along the summit road or explore cycle tracks, as last gasp, Cyclone Gabrielle was threatening lowering clouds. The summit mast & two locked electrics cabins were already rattling in the wind so it was time to get off the mountain, soon covered in mist & sporadic rain showers. On a locked door a final threat sign:<br />
<br />
CHORUS<br />
<br />
Operational Area<br />
<br />
This is a Multiple Hazard Area<br />
<br />
Wear Test Specific PPE!<br />
Beware Trip Hazards!<br />
Beware Exposed Live Metal Low Voltage DC!<br />
Heed Posted Warning Signs!<br />
<br />
From the DOC sign 2 km up Mt Studholme Rd, my walk stats:<br />
<br />
Time 4.5h return (2.5h up, 2h down).<br />
Return Distance 11km.<br />
Height climbed 700 vertical metres.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont
Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-54265010587859164492023-02-05T18:44:00.011-08:002023-02-05T19:08:32.949-08:00Gunns Bush Track near WaimateSat. 04.01.23. Waitangi Weekend. I drove about 10kms from Waimate along Parsonage Rd, Waimati Hunter Rd, Upper Hook Rd, Gunns Bush Rd to DOC conserved Gunns Bush.<br />
<br />
Gunns Bush Track beside Gunns Bush Creek undulated in a string & baloon walk up the creek valley, crossing several smaller tributary streams, enabled by a muddy / rocky track, boardwalks & a wooden pedestrian bridge. Distance: slightly less than 6 km. It took me 2.5 hours with lots of flora & avifauna stops en route. Notable were bird calls, old mans beard fungus, sphagnum moss, understorey ferns & bigger tree ferns. There were lots of whiteywoods & old tree fuschias too. From the small DOC carpark, about 1km from the track start, a fine old matai can been seen just off track.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-6681043668607446992022-02-08T20:19:01.281-08:002024-03-16T18:49:19.220-07:00Open Letter to Chris Hipkins, NZ Minister of Education. Reference: The Press article, 05.02.22<a href="" target="_blank"></a>Dear Chris,<br />
<br />
The Press article: "Teachers wanted: must take pay cut" refers:<br />
<br />
Lee Kenny, Education reporter quoted a letter of your's: "Seabrook [School] did not 'offer an education that differs from the education students would get at an ordinary state school.'"<br />
<br />
You are wrong Chris! Ordinary state schools have ordinary teachers with little or no knowledge of children with SLD, Specific Learning Difficulties / Disabilities (both terms acceptable), nor do ordinary teachers know how to teach SLD students in crowded classrooms. (Dyslexic, dyspraxic, ADHD students, as mentioned in The Press article). Few NZ organizations remediate dyslexia regarding psychology assessments, one-on-one tuition & teacher training. One such organization is SPELD, another is Seabrook McKenzie Centre, London St, Christchurch, where my wife Leah worked on low pay. Chris, for many years those private organizations were doing dyslexic remediation teaching which your Ministry of Education should have been doing.<br />
<br />
The making of an SLD Teacher / Resource Teacher Literacy:<br />
<br />
My wife Leah is our family breadwinner due to my profound deafness. Leah has been associated with Seabrook McKenzie Centre for 25 years as a self-employed tutor, full-time teacher & a teacher trainer.<br />
<br />
2005. Leah was an inaugural teacher of children with Specific Learning Difficulties / Disabilities (SLD) at Jean Seabrook Memorial School, London St, Christchurch. The school is a private school, insufficiently trust funded, especially teacher salaries. Leah & teacher colleagues & support staff (teacher aides, psychologists, speech & language & occupational therapy staff) continued specialist remediation through Christchurch's 2010-2011 quake times (parents & staff dug away tons of liquefaction mud from school grounds after 2 big quakes) & beyond during demolition & rebuild times, enduring years of London St excavations by SCIRT & demolition ructions for years across the road at Richmond Working Mens Club, now rebuilt Richmond Club.<br />
<br />
During the 9 years that Leah taught full-time at Jean Seabrook Memorial School it had small classes with a favourable teacher / student, 1:6 ratio, allowing close individual attention for SLD students from 2 teachers per class (2 classes) & 1 teacher aide per class. That low teacher / student ratio does not happen for SLD students in crowded state school classrooms, so SLD students lose out in state schools. Apart from Seabrook Memorial School, at Seabrook McKenzie Centre, in the same building, self-employed teachers, trained in SLD teaching, give private tuition to SLD students in separate offices, (or elsewhere e.g. state schools, like Leah did) specialist tuition paid for by parents. Overseen by Seabrook McKenzie Centre, prior to any SLD teaching, (Seabrook Memorial School or private individual tuition) all students are assessed by a battery of standardized tests done by psychology staff. Confidential psychology reports are then supplied to paying parents & specialist teaching staff for teacher interpretation & student SLD remediation during specialist teaching.<br />
<br />
Leah worked with & mentored at least 3 teachers on-the-job. Once those low paid teachers had gained full-time, SLD teaching experience & professional guidance from Leah they left for higher salaries elsewhere. Leah was a gifted teacher, interpreting assessments & developing teaching methods to remediate dyslexic difficulties not found in text books. She willingly passed on her remediation knowledge to other teachers, parents & interested persons. At Jean Seabrook Memorial School, Leah's salary was never enough to support our family & for years we had to apply to WINZ for state financial support (dole) for our Burnside, 3 bedroom house rental. Whenever anyone asked me why Leah continued to teach at Seabrook I replied, "She's a dedicated, experienced teacher, but is not paid what she's worth."<br />
<br />
For years Leah was / is part of the teacher training team at Seabrook & regularly ran / runs teacher training sessions during weekends & school holidays for teachers & others (parents, teacher aides...) wanting to know more about SLD teaching. She also mentors / mentored teachers studying for Seabrook diplomas. (NZQA approved diplomas). That teacher mentoring & teacher training may cease due to lack of funds. To my knowledge, no other NZ school provides those services & NZQA approved diplomas for the public & teachers interested in helping SLD children. Over the years, Leah had spent many days preparing SLD lectures / seminars & lecturing SLD interested teachers & public.<br />
<br />
1997-2004. Leah was a self-employed tutor, teaching SLD students referred to her by Seabrook McKenzie Centre. She taught in our home office, state schools' offices & in Seabrook McKenzie centre hired offices. Her tutoring was one-on-one to remediate SLD, her hourly wage paid by parents. She was also volunteer librarian at Seabrook McKenzie Centre.<br />
<br />
2005-2013: Leah taught primary school, SLD children, full-time, at Jean Seabrook Memorial School. For 17 years, While Leah worked for Seabrook McKenzie Centre / Jean Seabrook Memorial School, we were on wage / salary assisted dole. We had no savings & it would be impossible to ever buy a NZ house, unless we won the lotto. Our adult sons were in the same boat.<br />
<br />
<br />
Only when Leah & I left Christchurch for S Canterbury did our finances improve, enabling us to get off the Working Poor dole.<br />
<br />
From 2014, Leah taught for 3 years at Lake Tekapo School, an ordinary state school, after a Mt Gerald Station farmer / parent had head-hunted Leah & arranged for her to teach his dyslexic son & other children at Lake Tekapo School. The farmer / parent privately paid Leah's salary, more than what Leah had earned at Jean Seabrook Memorial School. 2016. During 1 winter school term, we lived at Mt Gerald Station, as the farmer wanted Leah to give home-schooling to his 3 children before they left for Christchurch schooling in 2017. <br />
<br />
2017 to the present: For the last 5 years, using her hard won SLD training & expertise, Leah has been Resource Teacher Literacy, South Canterbury, based at a Timaru state school. We live at Pleasant Point near Timaru. Leah travels daily to various South Canterbury, state schools to teach primary school SLD children on a one-on-one basis, mentor teachers & advise parents, teachers & other staff about SLD challenges. Using her own car: Some S Canterbury towns / villages she visits (or could visit) as part of her itinerant, SLD teaching work at state schools: Timaru, Pleasant Point, Albury, Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, Twizel, Mt Cook, Geraldine, Mt Peel, Winchester, Temuka, St Andrews, Makikihi, Waituna, Waimate, Waihao Downs... involving a lot of driving in S Canterbury. (She was paid petrol expenses by her Timaru home school). Her beat involved intermittent teaching / advising / mentoring in 40 South Canterbury state schools, the biggest RT Lit beat in NZ.<br />
<br />
While itinerant teaching in S Canterbury state schools, Leah did not lose contact with Seabrook McKenzie Centre, London St, Christchurch. Using her own car: Part-time, during weekends & holidays, Leah continued as part of the SLD teacher training team, for teachers reading NZQA approved, SLD teaching diplomas. She also continued her lectures / seminars / mentoring / advising for SLD interested teachers & public. She also trained SLD teachers at Ashburton: at a state school, a church hall, a Community Centre. Busy travel years involving great driving mileage in Canterbury. (She was not paid petrol expenses by Seabrook McKenzie Centre).<br />
<br />
Leah's Work Background & experience which enabled her NZ Resource Teacher Literacy expertise:<br />
<br />
SA & UK.<br />
<br />
1975-77. Edgewood College of Education, Pinetown, SA: 3 year, pre-primary teacher diploma. (NZQA equivalent).<br />
1978-84. Durban, SA: Several years' teaching at pre-primary, state schools, incl a Northdene acting principal position & beginning an experimental class where pre-primary children were accommodated in a Montclair primary school, Durban. Other Durban districts where Leah taught pre-primary children: Woodlands, Durban CBD.<br />
1981. Our OE: Relief primary school teacher, various Haringey, London schools.<br />
1984-85. Year 1 teacher at Kleinzee, Cape: A De Beers mine, private school.<br />
Thereafter Leah was stay-at-home mother for our 2 sons.<br />
<br />
1995. Our family emigrated to Christchurch, NZ.<br />
1996-2004. Christchurch. Teacher aide (1996). Self-employed, SLD teacher while reading 2 NZQA approved, SLD diplomas at Seabrook McKenzie Centre. Private, one-on-one tuition for SLD students at our home office, state school offices & at Seabrook McKenzie Centre hired offices. Private, one-on-one tuition for SLD students at ordinary Christchurch schools, like Oaklands Primary, Halswell Primary, Elmwood Primary, McKenzie Residential School... The hourly pay rate was always low, pay rate set by Seabrook McKenzie Centre, enbling poor families to get SLD tuition. I did Leah's book-keeping & tax returns. For one year after our arrival in NZ we had to survive financially on our SA settling-in funds. Thereafter we could apply for NZ dole. In a low wage economy, as "Working Poor" we often applied for the dole to make ends meet! We had to inform dole personnel Leah's weekly earnings, so dole payments could be adjusted weekly.<br />
<br />
The 17 years Leah taught at Seabrook McKenzie Centre, as a self-employed tutor, on the dole, then as a full-time, classroom teacher at Jean Seabrook Memorial School, on the dole, honed her expertise as a respected & sought after teacher for SLD children. BUT, for years, Seabrook McKenzie Centre was doing Ministry of Education work for free, by training dedicated SLD teachers & paying them peanuts while the Ministry of Education sat on its hands doing nothing for SLD students!<br />
<br />
During the last 5 years as Resource Teacher Literacy, S Canterbury, Leah read a 3 year, correspondence, post-grad, Literacy Diploma, (with distinction) at University of Canterbury. Leah was the pioneering student for that post-grad diploma (NZQA, Hons degree equivalence). Now several other teachers have done that post-grad diploma at UC. Leah was expected to read the post-grad diploma at Victoria University, Wellington, N Island, a crazy idea as we lived at Pleasant Point, S Island. (During one semester, Leah had to attend weekly lectures at UC, lots of Pleasant Point - Christchurch travel involved). Leah had liaised with UC Education Faculty to start that post-grad diploma at UC.<br />
<br />
Chris, there you have it, the making of a Resource Teacher Literacy, a vague designation, hiding the failure of SLD remediation by the Ministry of Education for many years. I doubt NZ state primary schools have speech & language therapists & occupational therapists doing SLD remediation & psychologists doing standardized tests for SLD students & confidential reports for parents & SLD teachers, which Seabrook McKenzie Centre did. Neither would ordinary state schools have a low 1:6 teacher / student ratio as extraordinary Jean Seabrook Memorial School had for SLD students.<br />
<br />
Just pay Jean Seabrook Memorial School teachers a decent salary Chris!<br />
<br />
Yours faithfully,<br />
<br />
Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<br />
PS. I had a 22 year, primary & high school teaching career in SA, while going deaf, general science & biology specialist, teaching in Durban, Kleinzee, QwaQwa, East London, before our arrival in NZ.<br />
<br />
Coda:<br />
<br />
21.01.23. After PM Jacinda Ardern's resignation Chris Hipkins became the new Labour leader. 22.01.23. Chris Hipkins became NZ Prime Minister. 2024. Christ Hipkins became leader of the opposition after ousting by Chris Luxon, new PM, National Party.<br />
<br />
Jan 2023. After completing her last teacher training course for teachers at Seabrook McKenzie Centre, Leah stopped teacher training for good. Over the years she was never paid for all the teacher training, planning meetings she attended at Christchurch, or Ashburton, or Methven. Nor was she paid petrol expenses. She was paid a pittance by Seabrook McKenzie Centre for the teacher training courses she led during weekends & school holidays. As for our overnight accommodation costs at Christchurch when Leah lectured at Seabrook McKenzie Centre, Leah paid for motel accommodation, or we stayed at a friend's Riccarton flat, when available. The flat was owned by the family of a retired director of Seabrook McKenzie Centre. Our motel expenses were never paid by Seabrook McKenzie Centre. After 6 years return commuting, Pleasant Point / Christchurch, after the flat became unavailable Leah stopped teacher training, as our expenses were a huge loss. I did most of the driving, chauffering Leah to / from her teacher training meetings & teacher training sessions in Canterbury.<br />
<br />
Mar 2023. National teacher strike for more pay & support. That goes to show what nonsense ex minister of education & current PM Chris Hipkins talked. Leah is a Literacy support teacher for 40 South Cantebury schools, an impossible number of schools for one Literacy teacher to support adequately. Go figure.<br />
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-78209784653886821242020-12-23T01:48:00.366-08:002020-12-26T12:52:19.396-08:00Mueller Glacier, Hooker Glacier Walk, Aoraki/Mt Cook National ParkA 4 day, circular jaunt, NZ Alpine country:
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<br />
16.12.20. Day 1.
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Drove from Pleasant Point along SH 8 to Lake Tekapo. Attended the opening of rebuilt Lake Tekapo School & school pool. Having taught at the school recently, Leah enjoyed catching up with friends, staff & parents. In the school foyer we admired George Emson's mural photo of stormy Lake Tekapo & surrounding Alps. We often saw George Emson's Alpine pics on TV1 weather reports. We overnighted at Lake Tekapo Campsite in one of the posh new cabins. Sunset over Lake Tekapo & Alps reminded us of all the Alpine walks we'd done by Lake Tekapo over the years, especially at Mt Hay Station & Mt Gerald Station. As it was Covid pandemic time the only tourists were locals. In S Canterbury we hadn't seen a tourist bus for many Covid months.
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Day 2.
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Drove from Lake Tekapo to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park. En route, we stopped at the Lake Pukaki lookout to admire distant Aoraki / Mt Cook & Alpine ranges. Coffee bought at the Salmon Farm kiosk was expensive crap! Next door, old hydro-electric historical info boards had been revamped into new Ngai Tahu historical info boards with a window view over Lake Pukaki & Alps.
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En route to Mt Cook village, beside Lake Pukaki, we stopped at the biggest lavender farm in the S hemisphere. We sat on wooden chairs among rows of lavender bushes for happy snaps. By the farm carpark, a food caravan & a shipping container shop touted food & lavender wares. Mt Cook village: We booked into Alpine Lodge for 2 nights. The reception man said the hotel was about half full with Kiwi guests during Covid times, better than no guests at all. We wandered Governors Bush Track, about 1 hour walk through native bush. Descriptive signs along the way gave us an idea of Alpine flora we could see in the park, like parsley trees, snowberry bushes... Had fish & chips supper at The Hermitage cafe. Due to Covid, the cafe & restaurant was about quarter full. The cafe & our hotel bedroom had grand window views of Mt Cook & Mt Wakefield below.
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Day 3.
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<br />
Checked out the DOC info centre: Lots of displays & details about Mt Cook wildlife & historical & current climbing in the Mt Cook region. Tourist shop too. The DOC foyer gave daily updates about avalanche dangers & current weather conditions. Wind forecast: 40km/h for our Hooker Valley walk.
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Drove to Mt Cook campsite carpark for our Hooker Valley walk. Starting from the campsite saved us an hour or so walking to / from our hotel. Although Mt Sefton peak was cloudy, we had good views of its icefalls. We passed the dead mountaineers' memorial. After crossing the rocky, bushy terminal moraine, from the DOC path near the first suspension bridge (swingbridge) we had a grand view of Mueller Glacier Lake, but no sign of receding Mueller Glacier round a moraine corner, just steep, lateral moraine walls & waterfalls from icy peaks above. The wind whipped up dust devils above Mueller Glacier Lake moraine walls.
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Mountain walls both valley sides, the well maintained DOC path continued up windy Hooker Valley, over numerous wooden steps, 2 more swingbridges, a long, winding boardwalk & a small, wooden footbridge near 2 longdrop toilets. Smarter, durable concrete, longdrop toilets were being built nearby. Along the way many Alpine flowers bloomed: Wahlengbergias, celmisias, Mt Cook lilies, bush snowberries.
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Snowy Mt Cook loomed over receding Hooker Glacier at the end of its glacier Lake. At the other end of Hooker Glacier Lake, a DOC sign, red & white print, warned:
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<br />
DANGER
<br />
<br />
Glacier Lake - Mutiple Hazards Exist.
<br />
<br />
Unstable Icebergs.
- Icebergs can move & spin violently at any moment. Keep a safe distance.
<br />
<br />
Glacier Terminal Face is very unstable.
- Ice can break off from above or rise violently from below. Keep a safe distance.
<br />
<br />
Extreme Cold.
- The water is only 3 degrees Celcius.
<br />
<br />
Surge Wave.
- Ice can calve off the glacier & create a large wave.
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<br />
Thin Ice.
- When the lake is frozen, ice is not safe to walk on.
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<br />
Your safety is your responsibility.
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<br />
Lunch at the DOC wooden table beside Hooker Glacier Lake: The wind was so strong we held onto our daypacks to stop them blowing away. Using my binoculars, I checked out Hooker Glacier's terminal face, a high striated ice wall, grey moraine stones on top. No snow on top of the glacier, as it was high summer. A small iceberg was grounded near us in shallow awater near a lateral moraine where the path continued deeper into the Alps below Mt Cook. Despite Covid, we'd encountered many trampers on the Hooker Valley walk, 10 km return, approx 4 hours return including lunch. The walk rose gently from the campsite, only 124 vertical m, 800m - 924m.
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<br /r
Back at Mt Cook village we had fish burgers & chips at the Old Mountaineers cafe, the worst cafe meal we'd had in years. I got the impression either cafe staff didn't care about food quality served on paper plates on tacky tables, or the establishment was on its last legs, giving up due to Covid. Mt Cook view from the cafe window was good though.
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Day 4.
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<br />
Completed our circular trek: Mackenzie Basin, Twizel: Bought honey at the honey farm. Near Lake Ruataniwha: Bought fresh salmon at the Salmon Farm, had sushi lunch there. Past Benmore, down Waitaki River Valley, via Omarama & Otematata, past hydro-electric lakes Benmore, Avimore, Waitaki to Kurow for cafe tea. Over Elephant Hill. Down Waimati Gorge to Waimati. N1 to Timaru, SH8 back to Pleasant Point.
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-27156173849771625512020-12-21T15:17:00.089-08:002020-12-26T12:38:18.652-08:00Mt Barossa, Hakatere Conservation ParkMon 14.12.20. I drove from Pleasant Point to Mt Somers village & Hakatere Conservation Park.
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<br />
From Ashburton Gorge Rd, I climbed Mt Barossa, 1364 m, Topo50 map ref, BX19 573687, a 7 hour return climb, approx 4 hours up, 3 hours down, incl many catch-breath, pic & lunch stops. Distance: 7 km return, 820 vertical m. A sunny day with grand Alpine views & views of Ashburton lake district, most lakes seen from the top, incl lakes Emma, Roundabout, Camp, Clearwater, Heron...
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<br />
Many distant peaks were seen, too numerous to list: Some summits seen: Clent Hills incl Mt Barossa; Peters Range, branching off Moorhouse Range; Mt Tripp, slightly higher than Mt Barossa; Trinity Hill, Hakatere Station below; Tara Haoa Range, incl Coal Hill & Mt Peel; High Claytons; Sherwood Range, incl Mt Fox; Two Thumbs Range; Harper Range; Mt Guy; Dogs Range; Brother Range; Black Hill Range; Taylor Range; Winterslow Range; Mt Somers Range, Mt Somers coming into view on the right, about half an hour's tramp to the top of Mt Barossa. Canterbury Plains were hazy due to a high pressure system & brown smog over Timaru & Ashburton districts. As Mt Barossa summit ridge was above smog level, Alpine peaks were easily seen, like The Thumbs & D'Archiac.
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The DOC track started at the DOC carpark as an easement off Ashburton Gorge Rd. The track went up a middle ridge, gullies & ridges both sides, was well marked with DOC marker poles & occasional cairns near the top. About a third of the way up there were several tors to negotiate, some the track sidled by, some a rocky scramble with scree underfoot. My aluminium walker poles were handy as a kind of zimmer-frame. High summer, many alpine plants bloomed: Bulbinellas, Hebes, Snowberries, Celmisias, Pentachondra pumila, Wahlenbergias, Coral Broom, Spear Grass...
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The summit ridge had many big rocks for wind protection & many geode chips, bluish / grey agate, scattered amongst tussock grasses & Dracophyllum shrubs. Where someone had left hammered geode chips lying about, I took one as a paperweight souvenir. More weight in my backpack for my down-climb. My backpack had my usual safety kit, all weather clothes, food, water, maps. There was no cell phone coverage on top of Mt Barossa. I texted Leah on my return to Mt Somers village.
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-85061952152265228052020-03-08T21:50:00.000-07:002020-09-07T13:55:17.443-07:00Rangitata Gorge WalkThurs 05.03.20. I did the Rangitata Gorge walk, halfway along to the highest point on Rangitata Gorge track (aka Tenahaun Track), map ref BX 557545, on the 500m contour, about 6 km return - 2h to my 3km turning point, 1,5h return. A sunny, windless day.<br />
<br />
I drove 70 km from Pleasant Point, via Geraldine, crossed Rangitata River, upper bridge, and on the Mayfield Rd turned left along Ealing Montalto Rd, driving beside Mt Peel / Tara Haoa Range for about 20 kms, Mt Pukanui / Moorhouse Range straight ahead. I turned left at Klondyke Station turnoff & followed the Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR) canal along the canal dirt road for about 7 kms until the road ended at a DOC carpark, several signs at the entrance gate fence: RDR history info, DOC easement, Fish & Game Angler Access, Protect Our Waterways - Didymo... Outdoor Access video surveillance signs...<br />
<br />
A Public Works Department, bronze, memorial plaque said:<br />
<br />
Rangitata to Rakaia Diversion Race<br />
<br />
IPENZ recognises this engineering work as an<br />
important part of NZ's engineering heritage.<br />
Approved in 1936 to provide employment relief &<br />
a vision for Canterbury's future, this 67 km race was<br />
the first major river diversion for development of<br />
water resources. It supplies 66,000 hectares as well<br />
as 27 MW of hydro power in winter...<br />
Opened 1945.<br />
<br />
Besides Rangitata River & the RDR canal I wandered past 2 bucket cranes, one under a green canopy & surrounded by a fence, NO ENTRY signs on the fence. The RDR inlet had several DANGER signs on a fence above the inlet: KEEP OUT AUTHORISED PERSONS ONLY...<br />
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From the river terrace above the RDR inlet, I watched 5 rubber rafts, filled with thrill seekers, shoot the rocky weir across Rangitata River, flowing partly into the RDR inlet & mostly along its river course to the Pacific. Also from the terrace, I watched a farmer across the river in his blue ute & his 3 huntaways herd red deer down 3 river terraces through a farm gate on a lower Rangitata River terrace. The huntaways ran like wolves.<br />
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The DOC easement track followed a farm fence along the E lip of Rangitata Gorge & sidled W side of Mt Pukanui & Moorhouse Range with grand views of Rangitata River running several rapids between Waikari Hills W & Moorhouse Range E. Waikari Hills' vertical strata showed tortured seismic activity over geological time.<br />
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After the the second farm gate, above a Flying Fox over Rangitata Gorge, the DOC easement track became bogged by Hereford herd pugs, so I climbed through the farm fence & walked through matagouri scrub on farmland, a safer stretch, avoiding cattle pollution & the potential for being trampled by the Hereford herd gathered on a gorge ridge at another farm gate on the DOC easement.<br />
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I climbed through another farm fence to a sheep paddock below Moorhouse Range & wandered the sheep-muddy, 500m contour track, across steep ridges to my 3km turning point, the track eventually leaving Rangitata Gorge. Grand views of Harper Range at the head of Rangitata Gorge.<br />
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
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<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-92051618686727069602020-02-24T17:44:00.001-08:002020-03-03T20:02:46.566-08:00Mt Pukanui, Moorhouse Range, Summit RidgeMon 24.02.20. Near Mayfield, from Hinds River Gorge, I climbed Mt Pukanui, 1153m, Moorhouse Range, Map ref: BX19 562563. Moorhouse Range has Rangitata Gorge W side & Hinds Gorge E side.<br />
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Stats: From Chapmans Rd, DOC carpark easement, 10 km return hike / climb, 4 h up, 3.5 h down, 670 vertical metres climb. Beautiful cloudless day, gentle zephyrs, grand Alpine & Rangitata River views.<br />
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See <a href="http://tramper.nz/16461/moorhouse-range/">Tramper NZ </a>link for terrain pics. The Tramper time of 3 h 30 mins return for a 10 km hike / climb, 670 vertical m, was nuts!<br />
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From Chapman Rd, DOC easement carpark, for 2.5 km my hike undulated along a DOC marked farm track, sidling E around the bottom of a Mt Pukanui ridge & passing through paddocks & 6 farm gates to Hinds River Gorge, between Moorhouse Range E & Peter Range W.<br />
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2.5 km E Ridge climb: Beyond the 6th farm gate, I crossed a creek at the bottom of a tuatara-back ridge, E side of Moorhouse Range. The E ridge climb was between two more E ridges, creeks below each ridge, the S ridge, 815m, overgrazed farmland, the N ridge, 906m, bushy DOC conservation land. The "track" up the climbed ridge was <i>not</i> marker poled by DOC. By a creek the "track" began at the N side of the ridge before topping the ridge along a disused, overgrown, farm track, through snow tussock & matagouri, over a series of shoulders, then when the farm track petered out, the "track" followed a fence through snow tussock & Dracophyllum to Moorhouse Range summit ridge.<br />
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More alpine plants seen: Coprosmas, Porcupine Plants, Cyathodes, Wahlenbergias, Celmisias, Snowberries, Spear Grass, Geraniums, Gentians...<br />
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Moorhouse Range summit ridge was a series of knobs: Mt Pukanui S, 1145m... Mt Tripp N, 1378m... The E ridge I summited, 1153m was closer to Mt Pukanui.<br />
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The clear day enabled 360 degree Alpine views: E: about 150 kms across Canterbury Plains, hazy Banks Peninsula. SW: Mt Peel. W: Waikari Hills, Coal Hill on Tara Haoa Range. Further W: High Claytons, Sherwood Range & Mt Fox. Beyond: Two Thumbs Range with tops of Mt Edward, Mt Maud, Mt Dobson about 150 km away... NW: Ben McCleod Range & Main Divide...<br />
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Curving far NE: Mt Grey, Mt Thomas, Mt Oxford. Mt Hutt obscured by Mt Somers. Fresh snow on Old Man Range... Just some of the Alpine ranges seen forming headwaters for Ashburton River & Rangitata River, the latter flowing through Rangitata Gorge between W side of Moorhouse Range & E side of Waikari Hills.<br />
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Caution: Hill walking fitness, backpack, all weather gear, food, water, map, walking stick(s), boots, hat needed. There was cell phone coverage on top of Moorhouse Range.<br />
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-42958221558205825712020-01-30T13:12:00.081-08:002023-10-16T15:34:23.399-07:00Beyond Quake Walls. Greeting Friendship, Palu, Central Sulawesi, IndonesiaIndonesian email focus. Email exchange about Christchurch quakes:<br />
<br />
28.01.20.<br />
<br />
Hi Mark,<br />
<br />
My name is NM. I am a freelance writer and live in Palau City, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. I am very happy to find your blog and read your writings there, especially about the 2010 and 2011 Chch earthquakes. Unfortunately, I only discovered your blog when I returned from Chch last December 2019. For a week I was there to see Chch city immediately after the earthquake, including several locations such as the CBD, the red zone around the Avon River, Bexley, and as far as New Brighton.<br />
<br />
I want to ask you a few things which I want to know about, and hopefully you will be pleased to give me information related to my questions.<br />
<br />
1. Where were the residents moved / relocated in Chch after the government determined the red zone could no longer be inhabited?<br />
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2. What is the condition of the people who were moved from the red zone now? Do they have new, better life and better housing?<br />
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3. The city where I live in Palu experienced an earthquake which was followed by the tsunami and liquefaction on September 28, 2018. Some areas were decided as red zones and prohibited from being occupied. Residents in the red zone were moved to a new location with the construction of temporary shelters for them and waiting to be moved to a permanent location along with their dwellings. Does Chch also apply the same as this scheme?<br />
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4. There is an EQC in Chch, NZ. Before the earthquake, residents who have a house must pay insurance to the EQC? How much insurance costs do residents / homes have to pay EQC? Are payments monthly? or every year?<br />
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Thank you, Mark.<br />
<br />
30.01.20.<br />
<br />
Hi NM,<br />
<br />
Glad you found my blog useful. Your questions:<br />
<br />
1. Red zone residents moved elsewhere to houses or rentals of their own choice, in Christchurch or elsewhere. Some rented government built, small houses in 2 Christchurch parks. Government temporary rentals were expensive. And there were few govt rentals, some built many months after the quakes. Many people whose houses were damaged or destroyed moved elsewhere to live with family or friends [or lived in temp rentals] while dealing with payout settlements from EQC and / or insurance companies.<br />
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2. Condition: Those who got good payouts from EQC and / or insurance companies were OK. Many people had to fight slow EQC and slow insurance companies to get fair payouts. Some court cases are still ongoing today. [2023. Class actions still ongoing]. Slow payouts caused psychological damage to claimants. Please Google the <a href="http://eqcinquiry.govt.nz/">EQC Commission of Inquiry</a> for more details about slow EQC payouts & poor house repairs done by EQC.<br />
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3. NZ govt did not provide free housing for house damage claimants. NZ govt did supply temporary wage cover to businesses / workers who lost wages. My eldest son got 6 weeks wages paid by NZ govt for his job loss / wages lost in the hospitality industry during quakes. Thereafter he had to find another job. His house rental was smashed in the 22 Feb 2011 Killer Quake and he was out of work for 6 months. He overwintered in a garage with a chemical toilet during 2011, after February & June quakes. As parents we helped him with rent, cash, food, clothes, etc, till he found another hospitality job. Many families lived / survived like that during quake years 2010-13 incl - 16 000 quakes...<br />
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4. All NZ homeowners had to pay EQC premiums to NZ govt to cover some land, building, possession damages. [House contents no longer applies for EQC claimants]. Homeowners also had to pay premiums to their private insurance companies to cover more damages to housing & personal possessions, like clothes, furniture, carpets, cars, etc... I don't know the cost of EQC premiums. If you Google the <a href="http://eqc.govt.nz/">EQC website</a> you should be able to find details of EQC premiums & more information about EQC.<br />
<br />
Hope you have recovered from the 2018 quake.<br />
<br />
Kind regards,<br />
<br />
Mark.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
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Coda.<br />
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Deja vu 2010-13 quakes, Geonet: Wed 20.09.23, 9.14am, M6.2 quake, depth 10km, 45km N of Geraldine, Rangitata River region. Approx 70km S, shook our Pleasant Point rental house for several seconds, leaving us jittery. Leah cancelled her school visits, I filled up our 2 cars with petrol & our bath with cold water, just in case! Luke said he felt the quake in Christchurch! A local school which Leah visited weekly had a real-time "drop, cover, hold" practice. Geonet later downgraded the quake to M6, depth 11km. Quake boffins opined that the quake fault was a side fault off the Alpine Fault which eased pressure on the Alpine Fault.<br />
<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-6966270183626473752019-12-02T19:19:00.002-08:002019-12-08T14:43:41.890-08:00Coal Hill, Alpine Wind StormSunday 01.01.19. Via Mesopotamia Station road, after parking my car near Coal Hill Station gate & a DOC roadside sign: Coal Hill Summit 3 km 3 h, I wandered past an Oregon Pine shelter belt, through 3 undulating paddocks, & 4 gates. One terraced paddock was desertified beige by herbicides, the other 2 paddocks grassed. Another grassy paddock behind the shelter belt had a herd of inquisitive red deer. With my backpack containing my usual tramping gear, I weighed over 80 kg.<br />
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A DOC sign at the fourth gate said:<br />
<br />
Department of Conservation<br />
Te Papa Arawhai<br />
<br />
Public access through<br />
private land<br />
<br />
Keep to marked easement<br />
Please close gates<br />
Do not disturb stock<br />
<br />
No dogs. No shooting.<br />
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Further on, attached to the red deer fence a sign said:<br />
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STEW POINT STATION<br />
<br />
NO TRESPASSING<br />
POLICE. NO HUNTING. POLICE.<br />
<br />
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.<br />
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS OPERATING.<br />
<br />
MEMBER OF SOUTH CANTERBURY LANDOWNER'S SURVEILLANCE GROUP<br />
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I climbed Coal Hill, exposed snow-tussock ridge, Coal Creek & another steep ridge NW side & steep ridges the other, several steep shoulders, incl celmisia daisies & spear grass all the way up Tara Haoa Range to DOC Conservation Area, 600 m - 1600 m+, 6 km return. I followed a DOC goat track easement by the red deer fence, (1 shy tahr seen) 4 h up several shoulders, 5 h down. Some matagouri, coral broom, & dracophyllum scrub en route...<br />
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The hike began calm & windless with high cloud. Grand views of Canterbury Plains, hazy Banks Peninsula, Pacific, braided Rangitata River & Alpine Ranges: Waikari Hills, Moorhouse Range, Harper Range, Ben Macleod Range, Two Thumbs Range... Winterslow Range, Mt Somers Range, Old Man Range...<br />
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On the way up Coal Hill, a norwester started rippling snow tussock, soon becoming gale force. Near the top, a strong gust raked off my blue polaroids, flying them over the ridge, never to be seen again. The norwester whacked me down twice on stony ground. I ended up twice briefly dazed, after loose stones arrested my falls. I had a grazed knee, black eye, scabby nose, egged, grazed forehead. The norwester gale tried to topple me for at least 6 hours during the wind storm. I didn't make the summit, 1617 m, as it would've been fatal to continue following the red deer fence through exposed snow-tussock from the DOC Conservation Area sign to the top. Tomorrow's another day...<br />
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I returned to my car down Coal Hill, mostly crabbing alongside the red deer fance, arresting my descent, stopping me being blown off the mountain. I grabbed fence wires, full of fluttering tussock strands & grabbed fence poles thrumming in the gale. When my hands were sore, I slid on my bum on snow-tussocks, safest descent, using my booted legs to guide, like on a snow sled, watching out for castrating spear grass & prostrate matagouri. My aluminium walking sticks were useless in the gale, as the wind blew them sideways when I tried to walk. Trying to walk was too dangerous in the gale, bum-sliding & fence-grabbing was the safest way down the exposed ridge.<br />
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On the way down, when seated in snow-tussock for rests, I watched the gale making instant clouds by blowing clouds straight off the Rangitata River, the clouds hitting the NW end of Waikari Hills then veering eastwards down Rangitata Gorge. The gale blew topsoil off a tilled field near my car, the plume of dust disappearing over Waikari Hills towards Canterbury Plains. Way to go Farmer Brown, your poisoned, eroded land will soon be a desert inheritance.<br />
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On passing the shelter belt again, many wind-blown twigs were on the paddocks. On my 72 km return drive to Pleasant Point, via Peel Forest & Geraldine, many twigs, branches, leaves, cones & overturned, plastic, rubbish bins were on the roads.<br />
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Google Rangitata Gorge Images to show Alpine terrain & braided Rangitata River in the Coal Hill vicinity.<br />
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Coda:<br />
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Heavy norwesters would continue to blow the next week & on Friday night, 06.12.19, a heavy rain / thunder storm in the Rangitata catchment caused the Rangitata to flood, 3 Rangitata bridges at Arundel & SH1 closed on Saturday, 07.12.19, for Civil Defence to deal with flooding.<br />
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On Friday, we'd driven to a literacy teacher meeting at Christchurch: Arundel bridge was OK Fri morning, the Rangitata flowing strongly. Late that afternoon return drive, a heavy norwester battered Canterbury Plains, rain already shrouding the Alps, so we drove back to Pleasant Point on SH1 via the lower 2 Rangitata bridges, still quite safe. Only the following day, Saturday, after heavy night rains did Civil Defence wake up & close the 3 Rangitata bridges, a State of Emergency declared in Timaru.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-69724275336620082442019-11-13T20:12:00.051-08:002023-04-09T16:24:13.738-07:00Little Mt Peel Climb, Peel Forest ParkTues 12.11.19. From Blandswood carpark, I climbed DOC tracks through Peel Forest, via Emily Falls & South Ridge, then dracophyllum / flax scrub to Little Mt Peel summit hut & trig beacon, 1311m. DOC Intentions book in hut. Returned via Deer Spur down dracophyllum scrub then Peel Forest back to Blandswood carpark.<br />
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<b>South Ridge Track</b>, from Blandswood carpark: 3.5 km, 1000 vertical metres climb. My time 5h (incl 1h to Emily Falls, 4h up South Ridge).<br />
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S & W views: Alpine foothills, Four Peaks Range, Blue Mt, High Claytons, snowy Sherwood Range, incl snowy Fox Peak, 2330m. NW glimpse, snowy Mt Peel peak, 1743m.<br />
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E views: Braided Rangitata River; braided Orari River; Canterbury Plains; farms; towns; Pacific.<br />
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<b>Deer Spur Track:</b> 4.5 km, my down time, 3.5h, through dracophyllum / flax scrub & Peel Forest back to Blandswood carpark.<br />
<br />
N & E views: Rangitata Valley, Alpine foothills to snowy Alpine ranges, incl Coal Hill (part of Mt Peel / Tara Haoa Range); Mt Barossa; snowy Mt Hutt; Taylor Range; Old Man Range; snowy Mt Somers; Moohouse Range, incl Mt Pukanui; Peter Range; Surrey Hills. Canterbury Plains: meandering Rangitata River NE side of Deer Spur; braided Rangitata River SE side of Deer Spur; braided Orari River; farms; towns, like Timaru; Pacific.<br />
<br />
<b>Track Conditions:</b> Low cloud, both tracks, muddy, slippery after rains.<br />
<b>South Ridge Track:</b> Steep, rough, muddy, slippery. Well sign-boarded, marked with DOC marker poles & arrows. Rock scramble near summit hut & trig beacon.<br />
<b>Deer Spur Track:</b> Steep, muddy, slippery. Deep ruts in places. Some DOC duckboards through dracophyllum / flax scrub. Well sign-boarded, marked with DOC marker poles & arrows.<br />
<br />
<b>NB:</b> Hill walking fitness, Topo50-BY19 map, strong shoes, walking sticks, all weather gear, water, food needed. Beware exposure & unbelievably fast, DOC sign-boarded times: 3h 30min up South Ridge! 2h down Deer Spur!<br />
<br />
Mon 27.3.23. I climbed Little Mt Peel again, only Deer Spur track that time. <br >
<br />
My Stats:<br />
4h up from Blandswood carpark (DOC sign, 3h. Unbelievable!)<br />
4h down from summit hut, Little Mt Peel / Huatekerekere.<br />
Approx 1000 vertical metres climb from Blandswood carpark. Met 6 other trampers en route. Someone kindly left beers in the summit hut.<br />
Track conditions: Sunny day. Muddy. Wooden duckboards near summit, good condition. Wooden steps through Peel Forest, bad condition, many just mud boxes, many broken & dangerous. DOC needed to do repairs!<br />
Little Mt Peel summit: No cell phone coverage.<br />
<br/>
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-1685870578572974752019-10-26T19:50:00.004-07:002019-10-26T20:15:06.992-07:00Day Trip, Mackenzie Country, N Otago Sun 27.10.19. Did an approx 370 km road trip round Mackenzie Country & a bit of N Otago yesterday Sat, celebrating Leah's completion of her second year UC Literacy Studies.<br />
<br />
Asterisks * show some of the towns on her school literacy beat, "Best office in the world," we called it, taking in Alpine lakes & scenery: *Pleasant Point... *Albury... *Fairlie...<br />
<br />
Lunched at *Lake Tekapo between Two Thumbs Range & Halls Range / Gammack Range. Checked out Lake Tekapo School rebuild where Leah had worked for 3 years. Drove over Alpine hydro-electric canals, past Lake Pukaki lookout & Alpine Ranges, incl *Mount Cook to *Twizel. Bought honey at Twizel Honey Farm.<br />
<br />
Stopped at Lake Ruataniwha Salmon Farm for feeding salmon & salmon buys. Passed Benmore Range, via Omarama, down Waitaki Valley past hydro-electric lakes Benmore, Aviemore, Waitaki, & Alps to Ocean bike track to Kurow for tea.<br />
<br />
Returned to Pleasant Point via Waimate Gorge, *Waimate & *Timaru. Snow still specked Alps. Hot, dry, nor'wester blew all day. Highways: Labour Weekend busy.<br />
<br />
Blots on Mackenzie Country landscape: Too many giant irrigators for intensified cattle farming, aka overgrazing - Mary Burn stations & Ahuriri River stations, turning Mackenzie Country brown to sick green.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-71499212640526360452019-09-03T16:32:00.000-07:002019-09-05T16:53:32.168-07:00Waitohi - Pleasant Point Walk04.09.19. While driving to teaching at Winchester via Temuka, Leah dropped me off, cnr Waitohi Rd / Pleasant Point Rd. I walked back to Pleasant Point past spring-green paddocks. Distant Alps looked magnificent, still with winter snows, great for skiers at Mt Fox & Mt Dobson ski fields. Lots of snow on Two Thumbs, Sherwood, Ben Macleod, Four Peaks, Mt Somers Ranges. Little snow on Albury & Rollesby Ranges. Grampian Range had lots of snow, but there was less snow on Dalgety Range & Hunters Hills, Mt Nessing & Mt Nimrod. I never tired, viewing those ranges on my Pleasant Point walks.<br />
<br />
No hills on Waitohi Flats, so I could easily observe the shitty, brown pollution from cow excreta runoff in roadside ditches & culverts. Signs of local farmers over-stocking their cattle herds. NIWA would have a great time testing those ditches & culverts for bugs like E coli. Surprisingly, the stream below Ophi River terraces near River Rd crossing was free from cow shit, brown pollution. Braided Ophi River was low, but a fresh breeze cooled me when I crossed the bridge to Pleasant Point.<br />
<br />
More unpleasantness on road verges was rubbish, like empty aluminium cans chucked from passing cars, most common Ranfurly Draught. I even found a green, plastic, bottle bong, a bit of hose pipe sticking out of its side. So much for locals' booze & drug free driving. The road was busy with truck & car traffic enroute to / from Temuka & Geraldine.<br />
<br />
* 7 kms Waitohi - Pleasant Point, my time, 1.5 hours.<br />
<br />
Alternative Waitohi - Pleasant Point walks:<br />
<br />
* 8 kms Seven Sisters Rd turnoff - Pleasant Point.<br />
<br />
* 8.5 kms Richard Pearce Memorial - Ophi Terraces Rd - Pleasant Point.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://niwa.co.nz/">See NIWA.</a>Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-85699682106672872182019-07-06T17:31:00.002-07:002019-07-20T17:05:23.681-07:00Brashear Telescope, Lake Tekapo. Dark Sky IndeedSat 06.07.19. First day of the winter school holidays, I drove to Lake Tekapo to see the Brashear Telescope at the newly opened Dark Sky observatory, Lake Tekapo, S shore. In 2014, we'd lived at Lake Tekapo & lately we'd seen two trucks at different times hauling halves of the white, plastic, observatory, dome roof past our Pleasant Point rental to Lake Tekapo, incl a trek up Burkes Pass.<br />
<br />
Leah & I had breakfast at the new Youth Hostel's burger cafe, then lunch at the new Dark Sky cafe, food better than crap served at other Lake Tekapo cafes & Spa. After 50 years storage, then lately refurbishment at Fairlie, The Brashear Telescope was impressively installed in a concrete & glass walled observatory by the Dark Sky cafe, so customers could see the telescope while eating. Through roof to floor, cafe, front windows, there were magnificent views of Lake Tekapo & snowy Two Thumbs Range.<br />
<br />
Brashear Telescope info seen on the Dark Sky observatory, concrete wall:<br />
<br />
The South Island of New Zealand<br />
has the world's largest Dark<br />
Sky Reserve and the view of the<br />
stars is absolutely spectacular.<br />
<br />
The Brashear Telescope is<br />
a masterpiece of Victorian<br />
engineering. I hope that the<br />
Brashear Telescope will inspire<br />
a new generation to learn about<br />
astronomy and reconnect with<br />
the stars.<br />
<br />
Our patron, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth,<br />
Zara Tindall.<br />
<br />
The Brashear Telescope is one of the world's most<br />
famous Victorian telescopes. The 18 inch refractor<br />
was created in 1894 by renowned Pennsylvanian<br />
optician John Brashear. The pier, tube and<br />
equatorial mount were fabricated by Warner<br />
& Swasey Co of Cleveland, Ohio. From 1896 to<br />
1954 the Brashear was based at the University of<br />
Pennsylvania.<br />
<br />
The Brashear Telescope was hugely important in<br />
the history of astronomy. During Percival Lowell's<br />
studies of Mars, he famously used the telescope to<br />
see sunlight reflected off the Martian polar<br />
icecaps. The Brashear Telescope was also used by<br />
Walter Leight in his early examination of Saturn,<br />
where Leight first observed sub-divisions in<br />
Saturn's rings.<br />
<br />
In 1963 the University of Pennsylvania began a<br />
partnership with the University of Canterbury<br />
to establish a Southern Hemisphere astronomy<br />
programme in Takapo / Tekapo at Mt John. The<br />
Brashear Telescope was to be the centrepiece<br />
of the new Mt John observatory but there was<br />
insufficient funding to build the large building<br />
needed and the Brashear Telescope was consigned to<br />
storage for the next 50 years.<br />
<br />
In 2016 the University of Canterbury made a gift<br />
of the telescope to Tomorrow's Skies Charitable<br />
Trust for restoration. In 2019 the painstaking<br />
restoration was complete. We would like to acknowledge<br />
Dallas Poll for his dedication to this task and his<br />
incredible eye for detail.<br />
<br />
Thank you to the Brian Mason Trust for their<br />
support in restoring the Brashear Telescope.<br />
<br />
<b>UC</b> <b>PENN</b> <b>BRIAN MASON</b><b> </b>University of Canterbury University of Pennsylvania Scientific and Technical Trust<br />
<br />
Besides the high dome for the Brashear Telescope, the Dark Sky observatory bldg had a flat roof, high at the back, tilted towards the lake, with high, tilt-slab, concrete, back walls, blocking lake & mountain views for restaurants behind. An architectural cockup.<br />
<br />
After lunch I parked at Tekapo Spa carpark & we climbed Mt John path to Mt John observatories on top. At the cafe we had tea while viewing Mackenzie Country, lakes & Alpine views. Many Asian tourists gawked & took selfies too.<br />
<br />
Since our arrival in Lake Tekapo nearly 6 years ago, there was lots of development: Pedestrian bridge opened over Lake Tekapo outlet; revamped tourist carpark / buspark & fencing by tourist overcrowded Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo shore; more campsites at Lake Tekapo campsite, new public toilets there, by the boat club; new Dark Sky observatory & cafe; toll entry for the road up Mt John to University of Canterbury observatories; overcrowding at Tekapo Spa carpark, due to walkers up Mt John & Spa customers; new Youth Hostel & cafe; new 4 Square supermarket & public toilets; congestion at public carpark, due to few carparks, supermarket entry & busparks (no bus shelter built, cockup); The Cairns housing development; new kindergarten; massive new housing development beyond Aorangi Cres, causing Lake Tekapo School to expand with new buildings 3rd term, 2019 (school bldgs. made in Christchurch, trucked to Lake Tekapo); Godley Hotel, revamped facade; another new hotel mooted; never mind Freedom Campers crapping all over the show...<br />
<br />
Lake Tekapo, 700m above sea level, surrounded by Alps, was a cold place. Lake Tekapo village prided itself on clear sky & no light pollution. The above developments, especially new housing, would cause massive air pollution (due to home fires' smoke) & destruction of clear sky above Lake Tekapo. Dark Sky indeed.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<a href="http://www.brasheartelescope.org/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.brasheartelescope.org/">See Brashear Telescope, Lake Tekapo.</a><br />
<a href="https://mackenzienz.com/scenic-highlights/church-of-the-good-shepherd/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://mackenzienz.com/scenic-highlights/church-of-the-good-shepherd/">See Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo.</a>Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-64538814575052738762019-03-15T11:15:00.000-07:002019-05-16T17:19:40.126-07:00Christchurch Mosque MassacreFri 15.03.19.<br />
<br />
RIP 49 martyrs murdered at Deans Ave Mosque & Linwood Ave Mosque, Christchurch.<br />
<br />
Condolences to families & friends.<br />
<br />
Linwood Ave Mosque, 7 killed, near Leah's old school. Kids had left the school earlier before schools' shutdown. Jake flatted a few blocks from Linwood Ave Mosque.<br />
<br />
Deans Ave Mosque, 41 killed. Luke's girlfriend's kids arrived home after 5 pm due to school lockdown. 1 terrorist arrested by cops, Brougham St, near Luke's flat. 3 male terrorists, 1 female terrorist in custody, incl Aussie, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, to be charged for murder.<br />
<br />
1 martyr died at Christchurch Hospital, gunshot wounds. 48 in hospital treated for gunshot wounds.<br />
<br />
7 pm: TV1 speech by PM Jacinda Ardern, enabling "terrorist attack" jargon to be used...<br />
<br />
Sat 16.03.19.<br />
<br />
TV1: Bosses photo ops - Speeches by Christchurch mayor, Lianne Dalziel, 2 Christchurch Hospital bosses, Ambulance Service boss, Fire Service boss, Civil Defence boss, NZDF Liaison Officer, Victim Support lady & top cops Bush & Price, the cops praising their heroic minions ramming a car & arresting a terrorist within 36 minutes after Friday's POLICE EMERGENCY call out. After massacres at 2 Christchurch mosques, Tarrant was on his way out of Christchurch to murder more Muslims at Ashburton Mosque.<br />
<br />
At Lichfield St / Tuam St, Court House, Brenton Tarrant was charged for ONE MURDER. Best way to keep him in gaol, more charges pending, till his April court appearance.<br />
<br />
Christchurch Airport's departing passengers would be screened for 48 hours. Linwood Ave Mosque, 7 people killed. One of those killed was Luke's former Sullivan Ave neighbour. Jake's girlfriend's coworker had missed Friday prayers at one of the Mosques, due to work commitments. A fortunate escape.<br />
<br />
Bush alleged one person attacked both mosques. All within 1 hour, approx 1.40 pm - 2.45 pm. The 2 Mosques, allegedly 5-7 minutes drive apart, it was fantastic timing for a terrorist to drive approx 5 kms, unhindered, from Deans Ave Mosque to Linwood Ave Mosque, through many traffic lights, through busy Friday afternoon traffic, without anyone seeing him toting a helmet video camera, 5 weapons, 3 handguns, 2 assault rifles, ammunition & 2 IEDs attached to his car, to murder 49 Muslims & injure 48 Muslims at both Mosques, according to TV1 News.<br />
<br />
I've driven past those 2 Mosques many times & snapped pics of the Deans Ave Mosque during quake years. Although there were many possible routes to drive approx 5 kms, around Hagley Park from Deans Ave Mosque to Linwood Ave Mosque, the actual route the shooter took was via Harper Ave, Bealey Ave, Fitzgerald Ave, Avonside Dr to Linwood Ave. (16 traffic lights en route).<br />
<br />
PM Jacinda Ardern & Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, visited a Christchurch refugee & immigrant establishment, Ardern wearing a black hijab. She said gun ownership laws would be changed. Who needed a killer assault rifle in peaceful NZ? During the day, locals placed flower tributes on the road island, opp Deans Ave / Riccarton Rd cnr & placed flower tributes against a Botanic Gdns wall, Rolleston Ave, near Canterbury Museum. <br />
<br />
At first, media were up to their tired narrative tricks again, gushed years before during Christchurch quakes, like Emergency Services <i>heroes, resilient</i> Christchurch people, <i>event...</i> (Later on media did more relevant reporting).<br />
<br />
After receiving a Christchurch text from Luke about the shootings, my Facebook comments to RSA, Aussie, Scottish friends & family:<br />
<br />
Fri 15.03.19. Shootout at both Christchurch Mosques this Fri afternoon. Reported 9 killings so far, many injured at the big Mosque near Hagley Park. Emergency Services & Christchurch Hospital going flat out. Christchurch in lockdown. Jake & Luke OK. Check out The Press or TV1 for breaking news...<br />
<br />
@Diane: Thought I'd get the news out from the horse's mouth, so people like gran... don't panic from rumours...<br />
<br />
Latest: 49 dead, incl 41 at Deans Ave Mosque, 7 at Linwood Ave Mosque, 1 dead of gunshot wounds at Christchurch Hospital. 48 treated for gunshot wounds at Christchurch Hospital. 3 male terrorists, 1 female in custody. 1 [to be] charged with murder. Aussie Brenton Tarrant in custody...<br />
<br />
Jake's flat a few blocks from Linwood Ave at Woolston. Luke recently moved from Woolston to Spreydon. Leah's old school was not far from Linwood Ave Mosque. Fortunately the kids left school before lockdown. Luke's g.friend's kids only got home from school after 5 pm...<br />
<br />
One terrorist arrested by cops at Strickland St [sic Brougham St] around the corner from Luke's flat...<br />
<br />
Deja Vous Wit Wolf en AWB!...<br />
<br />
NZ must wake up, not isolated anymore...<br />
<br />
Mindless evil...<br />
<br />
Sat 16.03.19: [Brenton Harrison Tarrant] was charged for 1 murder, best way to keep him in gaol, more charges pending...<br />
<br />
Just heard that one of those killed was Luke's former Sullivan Ave neighbour. Media & cops quiet about who shot up Linwood Ave Mosque. Christchurch Airport departures being monitored...<br />
<br />
@Rod message: [Referring to a Brenton Tarrant video] - Couldn't hear him, [I'm deaf] but he looks a nut case. NZ TV news obscures his face till his court case next month.<br />
<br />
Sun 17.03.19. Death toll 50. RIP.<br />
<br />
Sat 06.04.19. Paid respects at Deans Ave, Al Noor Mosque & Botanic Gdns wall, where 1000s of floral tributes from all over the world could be seen. Some tributes seen at the Botanic Gdns wall:<br />
<br />
50 Wooden kiwis stuck on the back of an info board by Botanic Gdns gate near Canterbury Museum.<br />
<br />
Kia Kaha CHRISTCHURCH<br />
You are part of our community<br />
and part of our nation. Do not be<br />
deceived by one man's extreme views.<br />
<br />
No isolated community should ever suffer such<br />
a horrific attack just for having their own<br />
beliefs. The people of Christchurch<br />
are 100% standing with you and<br />
supporting you.<br />
<br />
Our thoughts and prayers are with<br />
you during this difficult time.<br />
<br />
Sincerely, Holly and Zara.<br />
<br />
THEY<br />
ARE<br />
US<br />
<br />
UNITED<br />
WE<br />
STAND<br />
<br />
#ARDERN UP<br />
#THEY ARE US<br />
<br />
ONE<br />
PEOPLE<br />
ONE HEART<br />
KIA KAHA<br />
<br />
No matter what colour,<br />
no matter what culture,<br />
we are all the same.<br />
Stick together Christchurch<br />
now and forever.<br />
<br />
FROM MY HEART TO YOURS<br />
EVA: Age 12.<br />
<br />
LOVE IS<br />
STRONGER<br />
THAN HATE<br />
<br />
He tried to divide us<br />
but he only United us.<br />
We stand beside you<br />
Our Muslim friends.<br />
We are so Sorry.<br />
Kia Kaha.<br />
<br />
WE LOVE PEACE!<br />
WE OPPOSE ANY TERRORISM!<br />
Christchurch Chinese.<br />
<br />
NZ is about equality and freedom.<br />
Freedom to be who you want to be,<br />
Do what you want to do,<br />
Live how you want to live,<br />
Believe what you want to believe.<br />
<br />
New Zealanders are a mixed<br />
bunch of all-sorts!<br />
But together<br />
we are<br />
ONE.<br />
<br />
AROHA.<br />
ALL LOVE FROM BRAZIL.<br />
WE ARE<br />
ONE <br />
FOREVER.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, this act of hatred<br />
has only succeeded<br />
<br />
in making the Islamic<br />
community STRONGER<br />
<br />
and unifying the people of<br />
this nation, Muslims and<br />
non Muslims.<br />
<br />
LOVED YOU YESTERDAY<br />
LOVE YOU STILL<br />
ALWAYS HAVE<br />
AND ALWAYS WILL<br />
<br />
FAMILIES CAN BE<br />
TOGETHER FOREVER [Written on a pair of slippers]<br />
<br />
Let peace and love reign<br />
over all people of this world. Sending<br />
love to all at this sad and<br />
difficult time.<br />
<br />
To all the Muslim Community:<br />
May the good memories of<br />
your loved ones be of<br />
comfort to you and<br />
carry you through<br />
this sad time.<br />
Kia kaha<br />
XX<br />
<br />
OUR<br />
HOME IS<br />
<u>YOUR</u><br />
HOME ALWAYS<br />
<br />
ONE RACE<br />
THE HUMAN RACE!<br />
AROHANUI<br />
All the way from<br />
Titahi Bay!<br />
Porirua, Wgtn.<br />
<br />
Words are unable to express the<br />
shock and grief we feel for what<br />
has happened in our midst.<br />
May our collective thoughts<br />
and love and prayers help to<br />
comfort you. May we all work<br />
together to ensure that this<br />
never happens again and that we can<br />
reach out in our love and understanding.<br />
Thinking of you<br />
our brothers and sisters.<br />
You are not alone. We are one<br />
People of Aotearoa.<br />
As-Salaam-Alaikum<br />
<br />
R.I.P.<br />
Hamza<br />
<br />
Different Cultures<br />
+<br />
Different Religions<br />
+<br />
Different Communities<br />
=<br />
One Family<br />
<br />
We are Christchurch<br />
We are <u>NZ</u><br />
Kia Kaha<br />
<br />
May all those who died be<br />
in peace.<br />
<br />
May all those injured be<br />
comforted and surrounded by<br />
our love.<br />
<br />
May all those left behind be<br />
strengthened with the knowledge<br />
of love and support from all in<br />
Christchurch<br />
<br />
My Heart Goes Out 15.03.09<br />
To Our Muslim Community<br />
<br />
Love thy neighbour<br />
as thyself<br />
Kia Kaha<br />
Christchurch<br />
<br />
It is a Jewish tradition to place a<br />
small stone or pebble at the grave<br />
of a person who has died.<br />
This is a symbolic act to indicate<br />
that someone came to visit and<br />
the deceased will not be forgotten.<br />
<br />
Stones last for eternity like the<br />
memory of loved ones.<br />
<br />
Immediate family members of<br />
victims should feel free to take a<br />
stone if they wish.<br />
<br />
WE ARE<br />
ONE [On a USA flag]<br />
<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
IS THEIR HOME<br />
THEY ARE US<br />
<br />
KIA KAHA<br />
OTAUTAHI [Christchurch]<br />
<br />
KIA KAHA<br />
SPREAD<br />
AROHA<br />
<br />
As-Salaam-Alaikum.<br />
May peace be upon you.<br />
<br />
We stand in unity with the Muslim<br />
tangata whenua (people of the<br />
land) against these hateful acts of terror.<br />
We are one.<br />
La gra. / With love.<br />
<br />
Your friends, colleagues and neighbours from<br />
the Christchurch Irish Society.<br />
<br />
If we have no peace it is because we have<br />
forgotten that we belong to one another.<br />
Mother Teresa.<br />
<br />
<br />
In our thoughts, with our deepest love.<br />
The people of Forsyth Barr Christchurch.<br />
<br />
WE STAND<br />
WITH YOU<br />
AS ONE WORLD<br />
<br />
[Laminated photo].<br />
<br />
Remember this shooting<br />
victim. He's not one of<br />
the few chosen for the<br />
news stories, but there<br />
were 50 people murdered<br />
and they all need their<br />
stories and lives remembered.<br />
<br />
Mo Mojammel Hoq<br />
Much love and missed XXX<br />
<br />
[Redacted name of shooter] is Diversity<br />
Behind the bars. Our<br />
Unfortunately his Strength <br />
ideology is not<br />
# Take a stand against it.<br />
<br />
ONE INJUSTICE COMMITTED AGAINST<br />
ANYONE IS A THREAT TO EVERYONE<br />
<br />
All good things in<br />
the world have<br />
already been said.<br />
It's time to just<br />
act on them.<br />
Love.<br />
<br />
# No to hate and terror.<br />
If NZ is like a vessel<br />
of milk filled to the brim, then<br />
consider immigrants as a pinch of<br />
sugar. We'll not bring the vessel<br />
to overflowing, but make the milk<br />
sweeter. We are together. Love.<br />
<br />
This is not "us".<br />
We are all Kiwis.<br />
We value and celebrate<br />
diversity and difference.<br />
X<br />
<br />
To all of those people who<br />
lost their lives and to all<br />
of the families who lost<br />
their loved ones, we want to say we<br />
are sorry. We are sorry for what<br />
has happened. R.I.P.<br />
7MW Medbury School.<br />
<br />
No-one is born hating another<br />
person, because of the colour of<br />
his skin, or his background, or his<br />
religion. People learn to hate, they can<br />
be taught to love, for love comes<br />
more naturally to the human heart<br />
than its opposite. Nelson Mandela.<br />
<br />
Love, Amy, Fernand, Sienna & Isabella.<br />
<br />
I promise to<br />
make a<br />
difference.<br />
<br />
With heartfelt<br />
sympathy for<br />
your loss.<br />
<br />
I came as one<br />
but stand as ten thousand<br />
Maya Angelou.<br />
<br />
WE STAND<br />
WITH<br />
OUR MUSLIM<br />
NEIGHBOURS<br />
Jewish Community<br />
Seattle WA<br />
<br />
Tanq, Hamza, Sayyad.<br />
<br />
3 wonderful young men<br />
taken so young, 3 beautiful<br />
souls taken to paradise.<br />
<br />
Gone but NEVER forgotten<br />
Thoughts and prayers for all of the families<br />
affected by this tragic event.<br />
<br />
SALAAM<br />
KIA<br />
KAHA<br />
RABBI GOLDSTEIN<br />
ON BEHALF OF THE NZ<br />
JEWISH COMMUNITY<br />
<br />
ONLY<br />
LOVE<br />
<br />
EVERYONE<br />
that chooses to call<br />
New Zealand home<br />
has the right to:<br />
Peace<br />
Love +<br />
Kindness<br />
<br />
ISLAMOPHOBIA<br />
WILL NOT BE<br />
TOLERATED. WE ARE<br />
ALL JUST HUMANS<br />
<br />
Appreciate that you made the effort to find out the timing of our noon prayer.<br />
Appreciate that you learnt more about our religion to know that Fridays are the days the men go to the Mosque for their congregational prayers.<br />
<br />
But I guess there were some things you, rather unfortunately, didn't get to learn.<br />
Perhaps you didn't know that you did probably made [sic] them Martyrs.<br />
And how you have single handedly raised the statuses of our brothers and sisters in the eyes [of] their beloved Creator with your actions.<br />
And how, through your actions they will be raised as the most righteous and pious of Muslims.<br />
Perhaps you didn't know that the doing that you did at the time and place you chose, it actually<br />
meant that the last words that escaped their lips were probably words of remembrance and<br />
praise of Allah. Which is noble and many Muslims could only dream of.<br />
And perhaps you didn't know, but what you did would almost guarantee them paradise.<br />
<br />
Appreciate that you showed the world how Muslims welcome, with open arms, even people like yourself into our Mosques, which is our second home.<br />
Appreciate you for showing that our Mosques have no locks or gates, and are unguarded because everyone and anyone is welcome to be with us.<br />
Appreciate you for allowing the world to see the powerful image of a man you injured, lying on<br />
[his] back on the stretcher with his index finger raised, as a declaration of his faith and complete trust in Allah.<br />
Appreciate how you brought the Churches and communities together to stand with Muslims.<br />
Appreciate that you made countless new Zealanders come out of their houses to visit the<br />
Mosques nearest to them with flowers and beautiful messages of peace and love.<br />
<br />
You have broken many hearts and you have made the world weep. You have left a huge<br />
void.<br />
But what you have also done has brought us closer together. And it has strengthened our faith<br />
and resolve.<br />
In the coming weeks more non Muslims will turn up at the gates of Mosques with fresh flowers<br />
and beautiful handwritten notes. They may not have known where the Mosques in their area<br />
was. But now they do. All because of you.<br />
You may have achieved your aim of intended destruction, but I guess you failed to incite hatred, fear and despair in all of us.<br />
And while I understand that it may have been your objective, I hate to say that after all that<br />
elaborate planning and the perverse and wretched efforts on your part, you still failed to drive a<br />
divide among the Muslims and non Muslims in the world.<br />
For that, I cant say that I'm sorry.<br />
Jinghan Naan, Singapore.<br />
<br />
IT'S TIME WE<br />
CAME TOGETHER<br />
THIS WILL NOT<br />
DIVIDE US<br />
<br />
ONE 15.03.19 <br />
HUMANKIND<br />
<br />
CHCH<br />
EMBRACE<br />
DIVERSITY<br />
<br />
One day can<br />
change<br />
everything<br />
<br />
R.I.P<br />
KALID [smiley face]<br />
<br />
THEY WE STAND<br />
ARE US TOGETHER<br />
<br />
Our thoughts<br />
are with you<br />
Dave & Chris<br />
Lincoln<br />
<br />
HATE<br />
CANNOT<br />
DRIVE OUT<br />
HATE<br />
<br />
BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED<br />
AND YOU WISHED US HATRED<br />
BUT LOOK AT THE LOVE<br />
AND THE TRIBUTES OF FLOWERS<br />
OUR LOVE WITH YOU CHRISTCHURCH<br />
[Watercolour painting: Victoria Mansions<br />
& Victorian Clock Tower, cnr Victoria St / Montreal St]<br />
<br />
AROHA<br />
NUI<br />
<br />
Our hands reach out<br />
to you with our love<br />
and support<br />
<br />
From Active Explorers' Daycare, Nelson<br />
<br />
We are many<br />
Nations not one.<br />
Love not<br />
hate.<br />
Love<br />
<br />
DIVERSITY IS BEAUTY<br />
WE<br />
LOVE<br />
YOU<br />
<br />
My deepest sympathy.<br />
I am thinking of<br />
you all. Stay strong.<br />
Lots of love,<br />
Susan: From Perth<br />
<br />
Love Peace<br />
Compassion Christchurch<br />
<br />
He ora te whakapiri<br />
Strength in unity<br />
Kia kaha Otautahi<br />
<br />
15.03.19<br />
[Crying kiwi pic]<br />
<br />
THIS IS NOT<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
As Salaam alaykum<br />
<br />
THIS OUR HOME<br />
AND YOU SHOULD HAVE<br />
BEEN SAFE HERE<br />
<br />
YOU ARE<br />
WELCOME HERE<br />
WE ARE SO SORRY<br />
<br />
WE ARE<br />
ONE<br />
<br />
To all our Muslim brothers and sisters. Please know that you are not alone in your grief.<br />
One person's madness does not represent anything of any value.<br />
And at this time I have to add my voice to those who stand for peace.<br />
<br />
Although we may not have met, you are in reality my brothers and sisters.<br />
We all live together under the same sky and sun shines equally on everyone.<br />
Although we may have different cultures and beliefs<br />
We can celebrate our differences and let them enrich us all.<br />
Just as many different coloured flowers make a garden, and the different colours of the rainbow make the world a more beautiful place.<br />
<br />
Let us hope that this time can be a catalyst for new hope, where<br />
everyone will know they are welcome respected and safe here in the home we<br />
share together.<br />
<br />
Love and best wishes,<br />
Jan. Sonya<br />
<br />
SORRY THIS<br />
HAPPENED<br />
TO YOU<br />
<br />
YOU HAVEN'T<br />
SCARED ANY 1<br />
<br />
Give no tolerance. Give no cheers. Give no<br />
laughs. Give no likes. Give no acceptance.<br />
Give no attention. Give no smiles. Give no<br />
welcome. Give no nods. Give no high fives.<br />
Give no kudos. Give no respect. Give no<br />
air time. Give no agreement. Give no place.<br />
Give no support. Give no encouragement.<br />
Give no power. Give no amplification. Give<br />
no money. Give no audience. Give no fuel.<br />
Give no indulgence. Give no endorsement.<br />
Give no home.<br />
<br />
GIVE<br />
NOTHING<br />
TO RACISM<br />
<br />
THERE IS NO FEAR<br />
IN LOVE BUT<br />
PERFECT LOVE<br />
DRIVES OUT FEAR<br />
1 John 4:18<br />
<br />
KIA KAHA<br />
WE<br />
ARE<br />
ONE NEW ZEALAND<br />
IS<br />
YOUR HOME<br />
<br />
ALL YOU<br />
NEED IS<br />
LOVE<br />
<br />
To our whanau in Christchurch,<br />
we are with you at this time, Our thoughts<br />
our prayers, our love. You are our family and our<br />
whanau, our people. You are always welcome<br />
here and you will always be part of our<br />
identity here in New Zealand. We stand with you.<br />
We mourn with you. We share in your pain<br />
at this time. Kia Kaha Christchurch<br />
Ota atu mei a mautolou kia moutolou kotoa.<br />
Love from us to you.<br />
Connection Co Church, Manurewa.<br />
<br />
Together we are one.<br />
Lots of love from the learners at<br />
Riccarton Primary school.<br />
<br />
[Pic of crying male head]<br />
We love<br />
you so much<br />
<br />
Many beautiful flowers have<br />
been picked from our<br />
Garden City, but they will<br />
continue to bloom in our<br />
City's Garden forever.<br />
<br />
May peace<br />
be upon<br />
you<br />
<br />
WE STAND<br />
WITH<br />
OUR MUSLIM<br />
NEIGHBOURS<br />
<br />
You are us [Pic of woman's head wearing a hijab, a Kiwi fern symbol across it]<br />
<br />
16.04.19. Christchurch City Council info board by the Botanic Gdns tribute wall said:<br />
<br />
<b> What's happening </b><br />
<b> to the floral tributes?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
With the support of the Muslim community we<br />
have begun the process of carefully removing<br />
some of the many floral tributes left here<br />
following the mosque attacks.<br />
<br />
The tributes will be sensitively sorted through<br />
at the Arts Centre, with cards kept, flowers<br />
composted and wrappings reused as far [as] we<br />
are able to.<br />
<br />
You are still welcome to place fresh<br />
flowers along the wall.<br />
<br />
For more visit: <b>ccc.govt.nz/newsline</b><br />
<br />
06.04.19. Some tributes seen at Al Noor Mosque, 2 cops, toting semi-automatic rifles, guarding the front entrance:<br />
<br />
LET ALL PEOPLE<br />
HONOUR<br />
THEIR OWN<br />
GOD<br />
IN PEACE<br />
AND WITHOUT<br />
FEAR<br />
<br />
Like having a<br />
nuclear bomb dropped<br />
on our land.<br />
New Zealand will never<br />
be the same again<br />
<br />
WE ARE ONE [Pic of woman wearing a hijab]<br />
<br />
Dear Sayyed,<br />
Our dear beautiful<br />
friend, we will<br />
always remember<br />
your calm way<br />
and gorgeous smile.<br />
Rest in peace.<br />
<br />
REST IN<br />
PEACE<br />
This was your home. You<br />
should've been safe here<br />
(Cashmere)<br />
<br />
WE<br />
ARE ONE<br />
KIA KAHA<br />
<br />
[Maori script]<br />
May peace be widespread.<br />
May the sea be like greenstone.<br />
a pathway for us all on this day!<br />
Let us show respect for others.<br />
Bind us all together.<br />
Ki Kaha<br />
<br />
Rest easy<br />
SAYYAD<br />
<br />
To all the families who<br />
have had their lives changed<br />
forever. I am very sorry for what<br />
happened to your family. I am<br />
thinking of you.<br />
Lots of love from Ella McNicholl<br />
(10 years old)<br />
<br />
To our Christchurch whanau:<br />
<br />
Again we send aroha and uplifting<br />
wishes to the people of the<br />
garden city.<br />
<br />
We can never feel your pain but we<br />
stand beside you.<br />
<br />
Kia Kaha<br />
<br />
Room 12<br />
Onewhero Area School<br />
Waikato.<br />
<br />
Kia Kaha Christchurch.<br />
Dear Christchurch please stay strong.<br />
From Tikahia.<br />
<br />
We are a nation of people with many different religions,<br />
skin colours and ethnicities, but we are all New Zealanders living,<br />
working and playing together in beautiful Aotearoa.<br />
We won't let this evil deed divide us, but rather bring us closer together<br />
and stand up against racism, bigotry and terrorism. "We are one."<br />
<br />
We are Christians and our hearts go out to the<br />
Muslim community, the victims, their families<br />
and friends. We share the loss of your loved<br />
ones and are grieving with you.<br />
<br />
Love peace and unity to everyone.<br />
God be with you.<br />
<br />
Larry & Joy Oakly (Nelson).<br />
<br />
We never knew<br />
you but you<br />
will always be in<br />
our hearts.<br />
<br />
You are with us<br />
in our hearts.<br />
<br />
This is your home,<br />
you should have been<br />
safe.<br />
<br />
PEACE<br />
[Pic of oldest man shot, an Afghani]<br />
UNITY<br />
<br />
WE ARE ALL<br />
FAMILY<br />
<br />
Nofa Ofa<br />
ia [Pic of a woman wearing a hijab] atu<br />
te<br />
oe<br />
<br />
This is <u>not</u> who<br />
we are. We love<br />
and embrace you<br />
in our community.<br />
This is your home<br />
and we are sorry<br />
you were not safe.<br />
The Puru whanau<br />
stand with you<br />
now and always.<br />
Tino Nui aroha.<br />
<br />
To all my Muslim<br />
brothers and sisters<br />
[Heart pic]<br />
<br />
We are so sorry for<br />
your loss.<br />
<br />
We will remember<br />
them.<br />
X<br />
<br />
[Pic of 2 hugging women in Muslim dresses]<br />
This is your home<br />
and you should have<br />
been safe here.<br />
<br />
To all the victims<br />
who died on Friday.<br />
<br />
May our God forgive<br />
this person who<br />
took your lives away<br />
R.I.P.<br />
<br />
We condemn this act of hatred.<br />
We stand with you.<br />
LOVE<br />
<br />
WE STAND<br />
TOGETHER<br />
In unity<br />
there is<br />
strength.<br />
<br />
THEY<br />
ARE<br />
M<u>US</u>LIM<br />
<br />
Lets rotate this EVIL<br />
into starting to LIVE<br />
again...<br />
<br />
[Yellow T shirt]<br />
Love & prayers from<br />
all at<br />
Vendetta Polo Team<br />
London<br />
<br />
To all Kiwi cousins<br />
Innalilahi Wainailahi Rojiiun: From God we come, to God we return...<br />
We are appalled this happened to your community and our heart aches for your loss.<br />
We stand with you and send our condolences and love your way.<br />
Love<br />
Read 3'z Re-Vu<br />
Network of Readers: Sydney, Australia.<br />
<br />
[Pic of goalkeeper]<br />
R.I.P. Atta Elayyan<br />
<br />
WE STAND AS<br />
ONE<br />
<br />
I [heart pic] New Zealand<br />
I am pilipino<br />
I Muslim<br />
I am strong<br />
I am proud to<br />
Stay New Zealand<br />
... ASHRAIN<br />
<br />
Permanent sign on Al Noor Mosque wall:<br />
<br />
MASJID AN NUR<br />
Canterbury Islamic<br />
Centre<br />
<br />
Thurs 11.04.19. TV1 reported NZ Parliament changing gun ownership laws, banning semi-automatic rifles, ammunition & attachments, like magazines holding more than 9 bullets. And a Buy Back Scheme for gun owners to return 1000s of semi-automatic rifles to NZ Police. Since the Mosque shootings there was whining from gun salesmen, sports / hobby shooters & farmers. Farmers complained about rabbit vermin. Farmers didn't need semi-automatic rifles to kill rabbits. Shotguns & poisons like Brodifacoum would do.<br />
<br />
Tues 16.04.19. I wandered past Linwood Ave Mosque - 2 cops with holstered automatic pistols & toting semi-automatic rifles guarded the driveway entrance. Boards on an entrance fence said:<br />
<br />
LINWOOD ISLAMIC CENTRE<br />
223A LINWOOD AVENUE<br />
LINWOOD CHRISTCHURCH 8011<br />
PHONE 021 166 5965<br />
LINWOOD ISLAMIC CHARITABLE TRUST<br />
INCORPORATED - 2652272<br />
SERVICES: 5 TIMES DAILY PRAYERS, JUMAAT, QURANIC CLASSES AND MANY MORE<br />
"Certainly the obligatory prayers have been prescribed to the believers to be performed at specific times." (Al Quran: 3-Verse-103) ...<br />
<br />
THANK YOU NEW ZEALAND<br />
WITH AROHA & PEACE<br />
FROM THE LINWOOD MUSLIM<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
<br />
By a nearby Buckleys Rd bus stop 2 posters said:<br />
<br />
NO ROOM FOR<br />
RACISM HERE<br />
LOVE & SOLIDARITY<br />
TO OUR MUSLIM<br />
WHANAU<br />
<br />
RESILIENT<br />
LOVE<br />
IN THE FACE OF HATE<br />
ZERO TOLERANCE<br />
FOR XENOPHOBIA<br />
<br />
A New Zealand Police ad in The Press said:<br />
<br />
[Pic of 3 rifles including 2 semi-automatic rifles].<br />
<br />
Help Keep<br />
<i> NZ Safe</i><br />
<i> Firearms Amnesty</i><br />
<br />
<i> Firearm laws</i><br />
<i> have changed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> Notify Police of your</i><br />
<i> prohibited semi-automatic</i><br />
<i> firearm online today.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
If you have a prohibited semi-automatic firearm in<br />
your possession, you now need to notify us online.<br />
There is a firearms amnesty in place and we need<br />
your help to keep New Zealand safe.<br />
<br />
For more information and to notify us online<br />
visit <b>police.govt.nz</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>or call <b>0800 311 311</b><br />
In the meantime, continue to store all firearms<br />
safely and securely.<br />
<br />
<i>Notify us online today</i><br />
<i>at</i> <b>police.govt.nz</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> NEW ZEALAND</b><br />
<b> </b> <b>POLICE</b><br />
Nga Pirihimana a Aotearoa<br />
<br />
03.05.19. The Press report: Death Toll 51. Injured Muslim man had died in Christchurch Hospital.<br />
<br />
15.05.19. Due to livestreaming of the Christchurch Mosque attacks, motivated by NZ PM Ardern & French President Macron, Facebook together with other internet companies Microsoft, Twitter, Google, YouTube, Amazon signed the Christchurch Call to Action to combat terrorist activities on social media.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111381874/christchurch-attacks-how-police-and-citizens-responded"><br /></a><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111372244/death-threats-for-members-of-gun-club-linked-to-alleged-christchurch-terrorist">See Death threats for members of gun club linked to alleged Christchurch terrorist (The Press / Stuff Co).</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111381874/christchurch-attacks-how-police-and-citizens-responded">See Christchurch attacks how police & citizens responded (The Press / Stuff Co).</a><br />
<a href="http://police.govt.nz/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://police.govt.nz/">See NZ Police. </a><br />
<a href="http://ccc.govt.nz/newsline"><br /></a>
<a href="http://ccc.govt.nz/newsline">See Christchurch City Council newsline.</a><br />
<a href="https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/05/christchurch-call-to-action"><br /></a>
<a href="https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/05/christchurch-call-to-action">See Christchurch Call to Action (Facebook).</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-86042809430359424632019-02-11T17:01:00.002-08:002019-02-14T15:37:15.130-08:00North Opuha Track to Spurs Hut.11.02.19. I drove from Fairlie along Claytons Rd, beyond the monument, left turned at Mt Fox Ski Field turnoff & 7 kms hence parked at the Fox Ski Field / DOC carpark. I wanted to walk the 7 km North Opuha Track to the old, 1896, Spurs Hut. (Map ref: 288452). The track rose gently, with undulations, from 660m at the DOC / Ski Field carpark to 800m at Spurs Hut.<br />
<br />
By the carpark was a DOC Intentions Book to be signed, 2 DOC signs & 4 private signs reading:<br />
<br />
Department of Conservation<br />
CONSERVATION AREA 7 KM<br />
Via public access through private land...<br />
<br />
FOX'S PEAK STATION<br />
PRIVATE PROPERTY<br />
NO HUNTING<br />
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED<br />
WANDERING DOGS WILL BE<br />
SHOT ON SIGHT<br />
<br />
SKIFIED<br />
ACCESS<br />
<br />
LILYDALE<br />
PRIVATE<br />
PROPERTY<br />
Permission must be<br />
obtained to enter<br />
<br />
Department of Conservation<br />
Public access through<br />
private land<br />
Keep to 10 metres wide easement<br />
Please close gates<br />
There is no public access to <br />
Fox Peak Ski Field <br />
<br />
CAUTION<br />
CAR ONLY BRIDGE<br />
MAX WEIGHT 2500 KG<br />
MAX VEHICLE WIDTH 1.9M<br />
OTHER VEHICLES<br />
USE FORD<br />
SKI FIELD <br />
PH 03...<br />
<br />
The vehicle ford was upstream, a low stone bridge covering concrete pipes allowing North Opuha water flow.<br />
<br />
A cool morning, I wandered upstream on the the true left bank of North Opuha River flowing from a vast watershed, swampland, below Sherwood Range westwards, Ben McLeod Range northwards & Low Claytons eastwards. The watershed's, west-east, widest area, about 1.5 kms wide, was below Walkers Spur, Ben McLeod Range. The watershed narrowed considerably southwards towards DOC carpark between Fox Peak in the west & Low Claytons in the east. Above track, Low Claytons gave morning shade, before hotting up to a scorching afternoon.<br />
<br />
For 2 hours, North Opuha watershed on my left, I tramped past Fox Peak, 2300m, with glimpses of summer-snowless, Mt Fox Ski Field, 1330-1900m & beyond past 4 Sherwood Range spurs with steep valleys between. The track eased northwards by Fox Peak Station fences towards Walkers Spur below Ben McLeod Range. En route I met a young hunter tramping down stream & greeted: "I'm deaf. I won't hear you. Did you shoot anything?" He shook his head & greeted, a praying gesture, palms together, pointing up, smiling & bowing.<br />
<br />
The track sidled NE over a small saddle into the Orari River watershed, swampland, surrounded by Low Claytons, High Claytons & Ben McLeod Range. Another DOC sign by a gate read:<br />
<br />
NORTH OPUHA<br />
CONSERVATION AREA<br />
<br />
A DOC sign on the gate read:<br />
<br />
Public access through private land<br />
No shooting - private land<br />
Keep to 10m wide marked easement<br />
Please close gates<br />
Do not disturb stock<br />
<br />
The relationship between DOC & shit polluting stock in that watershed was nuts! NZ was heavily polluted with cattle shat waterways.<br />
<br />
Midway across the wetland, beyond DOC land (?) a line of willows sheltered black cattle from midday sun. The contrast between sparse overgrazed vegetation on private farm land & luxuriant grass growth on DOC land was stark: Low Claytons had farm roads on the hills & sharp spear grass amongst stunted tussock. Brown, muddy streams I'd passed below Low Claytons trickled down to North Ophua swampland. Few butterflies by farmlands. My aluminium walking sticks enabled me to gauge muddy depths before stream crossings. <i>Argyrophenga,</i> Tussock ringlet butterflies, brown with black & white eye-spot wings, abounded in DOC tussock land, sucking nectar from tiny Wallenbergia flowers & others. Butterfly abundance was a sign of good DOC grassland conservation & bad pesticide use on overgrazed Alpine farmlands.<br />
<br />
For another hour the rest of North Opuha Track sidled around the end of Walkers Spur through Orari River watershed, tussock land to Spurs Hut, a small, 4 bunk, corrugated iron hut with wooden decking, porch for logs, basin, wood saws, chopper & inside fireplace, wood stove, grubby utensils on a kitchen work bench, DOC info signs & map on a wall, food left by other trampers / hunters, like tinned food, Watties tomato sauce, plastic bottle... Empty beer cans, booze bottles & a DOC Intentions Book were on a shelf above the fireplace. An empty wood basket was by a wooden bench on an unswept floor. A DOC wall sign read:<br />
<br />
! Danger<br />
<br />
The use of gas or liquid fuel, cookers, heaters and<br />
lights in enclosed spaces can be highly dangerous<br />
and could lead to death by Carbon monoxide<br />
poisoning. When using any of these appliances<br />
leave a window or door open to ensure adequate<br />
ventilation<br />
<br />
Midday, the iron hut was like a sauna, so I lunched outside in the shade of the stone chimney viewing the Orari River watershed in the Alpine basin & green longdrop. 2 mandarins & biltong scoffed.<br />
<br />
On my return trek I finished all my bottled water, over 2 litres. Alpine sunburn danger.<br />
<br />
Distance: 7 kms each way, 14 kms return.<br />
Climb: 140 vertical metres.<br />
Time: 6 hours return, excluding lunch break at Spurs Hut.<br />
<br />
Caution: Tramping & hill walking fitness needed. I always backpacked food & water on my Alpine tramps, incl winter & wet weather gear, hat, as well as aluminium walking sticks (for emergency tent) tent rope, blue tarp, Topo50 map, matches, space blanket, cell phone for emergencies. There was no cell phone coverage at Spurs Hut due to surrounding Alps.<br />
<br />
Personal Locator Beacons were too damned expensive (NZ$300 - NZ$1000+) yet whenever someone was rescued, rescue authorities spouted media gobbledegook about trampers / climbers needing locator beacons to help their rescue. Daily hiring a PLB from a Fairlie shop was a pain, as the shop only opened at 10am for equipment hire. I'd already tramped 2 hours by that time, early starter to avoid heat exposure.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-60813067491465384922019-01-28T12:41:00.271-08:002023-10-15T20:23:29.638-07:00Beyond Quake Walls. Daisy Fields, River RoadRichmond focus. Mon 28.01.19. While Leah attended a teacher training meeting at Seabrook McKenzie Centre, I did a half hour, circular trek along red zone, Avon River bank: <b>London St, Fitzgerald Ave, River Rd, Stanmore Rd, London St.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Fitzgerald Ave Bridge:</b> Bridge rail, torn sign:<br />
<br />
DEMO<br />
IN PRO<br />
NO E<br />
<br />
The bridge had been continuously used since the 2010-13 quakes, spans anti-clockwise rotated, NE abutment skewed by the quakes, bridge roadworthy over Avon River.<br />
<br />
<b>Fitzgerald Ave </b>& <b>Harvey Tce</b>: Red Zone, vacant land, where post quake CERA had taken houses along <b>River Rd</b> forming a small part of the post quake, residential red zone (about 4x the size of Hagley Park) on quake liquefactioned land. CERA had proclaimed red zone, so-called quake damaged land, paid out owners, demolished 7500 houses, cordoned & fenced red zone land & after 5 years had handed over the taken land to LINZ (Land Information NZ). It had been a huge taking by NZ National govt, trampling citizens' private land rights, taking vast areas of Christchurch private land, using quakes & a reluctance by NZ National govt to rebuild infrastructure as excuses to take red zone land.<br />
<br />
I read a Council info board extolling Victorian virtues on that section of <b>River Rd</b> between <b>Fitzgerald Ave</b> & <b>Stanmore Rd</b>, Daisy Fields, where Victorians had picnicked & watched rowing regattas by Avon River boat houses. Victorians had got that right: river bank sloping, enabling grand views of Avon River boating & regattas. Since the quakes, there'd been various suggestions for residential red zone land use. Presently a river walk from city to sea went along Avon River banks: great white footprints painted on abandoned, cordoned, red zone roads, like River Road.<br />
<br />
Council riverside sign:<br />
<br />
TE ARA<br />
OTAKARO<br />
AVON TRAIL<br />
10 KM<br />
<br />
Both ends of River Rd at Fitzgerald Ave & Stanmore Rd crossings, cordon fences, 3 threat signs:<br />
<br />
ROAD<br />
CLOSED<br />
<br />
AUTHORISED<br />
VEHICLES ONLY<br />
PEDESTRIANS CYCLISTS<br />
AND AUTHORISED<br />
VEHICLE ACCESS ONLY<br />
FOR INFORMATION<br />
CALL LINZ...<br />
<br />
FOR<br />
AUTHORISED VEHICLE<br />
ACCESS<br />
LAND INFORMATION<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
TOITU TE WHENUA<br />
PH...<br />
<br />
<b>River Rd: </b>Red zone cordon signs had been on fences since NZ National govt / CERA had taken the red zone. Citizens had walked the cordons ever since, banned from driving the residential red zone 8 years post quakes. All houses along River Rd had been demolished by CERA, just garden grass, flowers & shrubs left, yellow Daisy Fields blooming again, parkland, fence cordon threat signs:<br />
<br />
NO UNAUTHORISED<br />
ACCESS<br />
NO DUMPING<br />
LAND INFORMATION<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
TOITU TE WHENUA<br />
<br />
Alongside River Rd, AVONSIDE TENNIS CLUB courts was the only structure not demolished by CERA, amidst yellow Daisy Fields. Would Council & govt agencies consider rowing regattas again by Daisy Fields beside Avon River? A beautiful, peaceful spot, despite busy <b>Avonside Dr</b> on the opp river bank. When will red zone cordons completely open for citizens?<br />
<br />
Reckoning: 23.02.19. The Press reported that ever since Lange's 1980s Labour govt, succeeding NZ governments had pillaged EQC's National Disaster Fund to balance government books. That included Treasury oversight, Bolger's & Shipley's National govts & Clerk's Labour govt. During Key's National govt, soon after the 22.02.11 Killer Quake, EQC was insolvent. None of those governments ever revealed to Kiwis repetitive government pillage.<br />
<br />
Key's National govt enabled 2 States of Emergencies, military cordoned, red zoned CBD checkpoints for 28 months, CERA delays in demolitions / rebuilds, red zone residential takings & overseeing slow EQC payments. Never mind anguish caused to 1000s of citizens. PM Key jabbered about "a Rock Star Economy," wasted megabucks on a flag referendum, restructured Christchurch schools by mergers & closures, while EQC officials delayed assessments, payments & repairs for over 470 000 claimants (2010-2018). Key was awarded a knighthood. CERA minister Brownlee condoned EQC's insolvency & Fletcher's botched repairs. He denied a housing crisis in Christchurch & hailed MBIE bldg code guidelines, enabling crap repairs. EQC boss Simpson enabled EQC's slow assessments, payments & repairs, protected whining insurers by slow overcap assessments, then became GNS Science boss in January 2017. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, 8 years post quakes, despite 2 Royal Commissions of Inquiry, Coroners' Reports & a 3 years police investigation into the CTV bldg collapse, no one was held accountable for the CTV collapse & the dead. (Ditto 2023).<br />
<br />
October 2020: Covid19 election. PM Jacinda Ardern's Labour party, landslide victory over National & other parties, enough Labour MPs to govern NZ for another 3 years without coalition parties, but Labour would include Green party MPs in a Coalition govt. National deputy leader, Gerry Brownlee lost Ilam constituency to Labour. Brownlee had hogged Ilam since 1996. Brownlee lost his National deputy leader position, but would continue in parliament as a list MP. (Jan 2023. PM Ardern would announce her resignation. Chris Hipkins would briefly become Labour PM. 2023. PM Hipkins would lose the election to National Party's new PM Chris Luxon).
<br />
<br />
A decade post Darfield Quake, Brownlee's CERA Blueprint projects were slow going: Riverine, residential red zones, no progress, just swampy, LINZ fenced paddocks; Cathedral Sq, Christ Church Cathedral, many years' reintstatement still to go; Barbadoes St, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament was demolished for a modern rebuild across Colombo St, opp the refurbished Town Hall; Metro Sports Facility slow progress; Te Pae Convention Centre opened 2021; Barbadoes St Stadium, slow progress, 2023.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/104033296/christchurch-youth-trust-keen-to-build-adventure-school-on-abandoned-land">See Christchurch youth trust keen to build adventure school on abandoned land (The Press / Stuff Co).</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.linz.govt.nz/">See LINZ</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/110674808/plunder-how-the-bill-for-the-canterbury-earthquakes-was-passed-on">See Plunder - How the bill for the Canterbury earthquakes was passed on (The Press / Stuff Co).</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gns.cri.nz/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.gns.cri.nz/">See GNS Science.</a><br />
<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-35143595410934771582018-07-13T20:36:00.001-07:002018-07-21T12:24:20.088-07:00Bat Roost Trees, Pleasant Point DomainSat 14.07.18. I live on Afghan St, diagonally opp Pleasant Point domain, which includes sports fields, camping ground & a pleasant walk around part of the golf course beneath a mix of mature, exotic trees & native trees. The circular walk from my home takes about half an hour.<br />
<br />
Last week when I did my circuit round the golf course, I saw 3 mature, exotic trees, including a redwood, along the path, which had anti-predator, metal sleeves hammered onto the boles & above each anti-predator sleeve, a round disk reading:<br />
<br />
Bat Roost Tree. Protected under the Wildlife Act 1953.<br />
<br />
As there were native trees & shrubs growing beneath the exotics, like pittosporums & cabbage trees, it was daft that only exotic trees were used as roosts. Bat roosts were wishful thinking, as there was no bat crap beneath any domain trees, including the so-called Bat Roost Trees. The only crap I saw below trees was bird crap signified by feathers fallen from nests.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Council & DOC could be proactive & plant more natives like totara, matai & kahikatea as potential Bat Roost Trees.<br />
<br />
Geraldine, another South Canterbury town, about 25 kms away, boasted on their tourist, toilet murals about being the home of the NZ long tailed bat, <i>Chalinolobus tuberculatus.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Today, I did my circuit around Pleasant Point domain & looked out for the long tailed bats roosting in the Bat Roost Trees during mid afternoon, bat roost time. Not a single bat was seen!<br />
<br />
In future, if I see any bats I'll keep you posted...<br />
<br />
A July 2018, Environment Canterbury (ECAN) pamphlet read:<br />
<br />
South Canterbury<br />
<br />
The Long-Tailed Bat (pekapeka) is a shy<br />
South Canterbury native, classified as<br />
'endangered / nationally critical' by DOC<br />
An estimated population of just 2,300 can<br />
be found within a triangle from Geraldine to<br />
Cave and down to Temuka, A project between<br />
Environment Canterbury, DOC and forestry<br />
company Port Blakely is removing possums,<br />
rats, weasels and stoats from the area on<br />
Port Blakely's land to help protect the bats.<br />
These predators kill adult bats & pups,<br />
so keeping their numbers down is key to<br />
maintaining the bat population.<br />
<br />
ECAN did not say Port Blakely was a USA logging company, nor acknowledge that humans are the biggest predator of all, nor say what native trees Port Blakely company was planting, if any. Never mind all the slash pollution by forestry when harvesting trees, like radiata pine or douglas fir, leaving blots on the landscape for years, enabling exotic pests like broom & gorse to invade. When forestry companies & farmers burn slash on temperature inversion, wintry days, fires cause smoke pollution for miles around on Canterbury plains. Big companies love the conservation charade. I worked for DeBeers in SA in the 1980s & they did similar conservation, propaganda BS, exploiting the land.<br />
<br />
ECAN did not acknowledge that most exotic, forestry logs were exported, causing local firewood costs to rocket. I live beside SH8 and log trucks frequently pass, transporting logs to Timaru harbour for export. A wander around Timaru harbour enables anyone with eyes to see acres of export logs, piled high. Pity bats & ECAN bullshit!<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/longtailedbat"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/longtailedbat">See Long Tailed Bat (DOC).</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://portblakely.com/nz-forestry">See Port Blakely logging</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ecan.govt.nz/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ecan.govt.nz/">See ECAN.</a>Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-46188034196502727132018-06-28T15:01:00.001-07:002018-06-28T16:03:16.858-07:00Mt Oxford Climbs, Email ExchangeEmail exchange with JK, a Christchurch engineer, about permissions from local farmers for walkers to cross their private land up Mt Oxford.<br />
<br />
JK's email:<br />
<br />
Hi Mark,<br />
<br />
I have recently read your Woza Wanderer blog post of the Mt Oxford summit via Big Ben Saddle from 2010.<a href="http://wozawanderer.blogspot.com/2010/04/mt-oxford-via-big-ben-saddle-and-ashley.html"> [See Mt Oxford Summit via Big Ben Saddle and Ashley Saddle].</a><br />
<br />
Thanks for putting in the effort for such a detailed write up.<br />
<br />
I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction for gaining access to these areas?<br />
<br />
You mentioned getting permission to pass through private properties that this route used. Do you know who these landowners are and / or their contact details?<br />
<br />
I can't seem to find any information about who owns the land and the only other option I can think of is to drive there and do some investigating in person.<br />
<br />
Any help is much appreciated.<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
<br />
JK.<br />
<br />
My email reply:<br />
<br />
Hi JK,<br />
<br />
Your instinct to drive there & check out things yourself is best. If I do a mountain walk / climb in potentially dangerous, isolated places, I first recce the walk / climb with maps, binoculars & scout the area first to prep my walk in favourable weather. I watch TV weather forecasts like a hawk, before I do the walk / climb, ensuring I go in good weather.<br />
<br />
I used general road maps to drive to Mt Oxford, quite easy from Christchurch, or Oxford village. Topo50 maps can be bought from various shops, especially in tourist areas, which give detailed topography of a specific area. Topo50 maps cost about $8-10 each, depending on where you buy. Going up Mt Oxford is OK from Coopers Creek carpark, no permission needed, if you stick to the marked / pole route, but if you go off track it is advisable to find the farmer who owns the land & ask. Easier said than done.<br />
<br />
I don't know the farmers in the Oxford area, so I just did the walk you asked about & tried my luck. Once, I got through to Big Ben Saddle & Ashley Saddle, no problem. The next time I went, I was stopped by a forestry worker, but he let me continue after I explained what I was up to. If you're nervous about farmers / land owners, ask at town Info offices, who could give you advice about farmers' permissions. Info boards in town centres also give good advice about available walks. DOC parks are good too, with permanent map boards & poled walks.<br />
<br />
A locator beacon can be bought / hired from a reputable dealer, in case you have an accident, or have crap weather & need rescuing. I don't have a locator beacon, as they are costly to buy & hire. I let family know where I am going, with my intended walk / climb drawn or marked on a map given to my family before I leave. [Just in case.] I try to text family en route on my walk / climb. Valleys usually have lousy cell / text coverage. Mt tops or ridges, cell / text coverage is better, but not guaranteed, depending on how remote your position is.<br />
<br />
Find out about hunting season months, like now in winter, you don't want to be accidentally shot! Best walking months are warm, summer months (after hunting season closes) Nov-Mar incl. Farmers usually don't like walkers on their properties while hunters are there - too much chance of a shooting accident!<br />
<br />
Good luck. Go well & stay safe.<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
<br />
Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<br />
Not mentioned in my email reply: Farmers don't want walkers (or dogs) on their property disturbing sheep during lambing season, nor during mustering, like autumn mustering.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.<br />
<br />
<br />Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-61395870737742278802017-12-07T18:13:00.001-08:002023-11-13T19:44:32.643-08:00Misty Mount Nimrod, Hunters HillsWednesday 06.12.17. At sparrows' I drove 35km from Pleasant Point to DOC's Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve via Cave, Cannington & below Hunters Hills by Back Line Rd, the last 9km gravel road. Close to White Rock River, a wallaby bounced across the gravel, surprised during its dawn water quest.<br />
<br />
After scorching summer days, a misty morn, I tried to text Leah to tell her I was on my way. No luck, Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve campsite, at 400m height, had no cell coverage. I would try higher up. I tried to text Leah at the beginning & during my tramps for safety & progress reasons. I left her with a Topo50 map with my intentions, just in case. Having climbed Rollesby Range, Dalgety Range & Grampian Range over the last 5 weeks, I hadn't seen a soul on my climbs, just flora, fauna & grand Alpine views.<br />
<br />
Today would be different due to misty Mt Nimrod. For an hour I climbed the steep zig-zag track for about 1km, through native bush in the Nimrod Stream gorge. The going was humid & slippery over wet rocks & leaf litter. Dominant trees were <i>Melicytus ramiflorus </i>whiteywood with some <i>Fuchsia excorticata</i> & <i>Griselinia littoralis </i>broadleafs. Understorey: mainly ferns like Asplenium & vines, like <i>Ripogonum scandens</i> supplejack & <i>Rubus cissoides</i> bush lawyer. On the way up, I surprised another wallaby which stopped, having a good look at me before vanishing into bush. At the top of Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve track, bush diversified into <i>Leptospermum scoparium </i>manuka, tussocks, <i>Phormium</i> flax, <i>Astelias</i> & <i>Dracophyllum.</i><br />
<br />
At the top of Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve track, DOC recently made a new track by a farm fence, joining at a new DOC gate the recently opened 6km Hunters Hills Conservation Track, an easement through tussock grassland along Hunters Hills farm tracks to the Hunters Hills Conservation Area including Mt Nimrod, 1525m & extending NW almost to Mt Nessing summit, 1601m. The easement was part of a maze of farm tracks criss-crossing Hunters Hills.<br />
<br />
At the start of the easement track, on a new DOC gate & a farm fence, contradictory DOC & police signs said:<br />
<br />
Dept of Conservation<br />
<i>Te Papa Atawhai</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Public access through<br />
private land<br />
<br />
No firearms to be carried<br />
Keep to marked access<br />
Please leave gates as found<br />
Do not disturb stock<br />
<br />
<b> Police Support</b><br />
<b> Safer Communities</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Persons are advised this property is<br />
Listed as a member on the national<br />
Anti-poaching register.<br />
All persons entering must obtain<br />
Permission from the landowner or<br />
Occupier before entering or<br />
<i> </i>Face prosecution.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> Police </i><i> </i><br />
<br />
The easement track sidled past Hunters Hills tops in the mist, which obliterated views. I passed through 4 new DOC gates, visibility about 50m, often less. Farm gates & other farm track signs said:<br />
<br />
PRIVATE PROPERTY<br />
NO ACCESS<br />
<br />
Alpine flora: Tussock grassland converted to farm grassland in places, associated with <i>Discaria toumatou </i>matagouri, <i>Celmisia</i> daisies, <i>Gaultheria </i>snowberries, <i>Dracophyllum, Aciphylla</i> speargrass, lichens, <i>Scleranthus, Donatia, Cyathodes</i> & sphagnum moss mats.<br />
<br />
It took me 2 hours wandering up the 6km easement track, well marked with DOC marker poles, except after the 4th DOC gate on a saddle where DOC marker poles weren't close enough to see in the mist. I wandered downhill on a farm track until I realised I'd run out of marker poles & slogged uphill again. (Hint: More marker poles near saddles DOC, or else I wouldn't be the only tramper lost in the mist!) <br />
<br />
Near the end of the easement track at about 800m height when the mist lifted over Francis Stream Valley, 3 older gents passed me going fast. They each had the usual trampers' gear: map, boots, gaiters, shorts, shirt, jacket, water bottles in backpack pouches, hat, aluminium walking sticks. Camera & binoculars optional. By another DOC gate at Francis Stream I refilled my water bottle. During the 3 hours I wandered Hunters Hills Conservation area I saw no DOC marker poles, but enjoyed alpine flora.<br />
<br />
After crossing Francis Stream the 3 older gents sidled around the NW end of Mt Nimrod, into the mist. Non competitive, I followed at a more leisurely pace, climbing the misty, stony track for 2 hours to about 1200m height.<br />
<br />
I stopped for lunch by lichen covered rocks in the mist. I texted Leah, no problem at 1200m. Although my Topo50 map said I was on Mt Nimrod NW ridge, roiling mist obscured Mt Nimrod summit completely. Although I'd climbed through mist for 5 hours, I wasn't cold. Noon sun shone thorough mist, causing sunburn.<br />
<br />
I was high on adrenalin & endorphins. I returned from whence I came. No good summiting misty Mt Nimrod without any views. On my way back the mist lifted a bit, so I saw some pointy Hunters Hills, steep valleys, Nimrod Stream & the farm track maze. Due to mist, I never saw Mt Nimrod summit that day.<br />
<br />
Stats:<br />
<br />
Climb: 800 vertical metres.<br />
<br />
Total return distance: 18km.<br />
<br />
Included one way: 2km bush track, DOC Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve.<br />
6km DOC easement track to DOC Hunters Hills Conservation Area.<br />
1km to 1200 m height NW track up Mt Nimrod.<br />
<br />
Total time: 9 hours (excluding lunch).<br />
<br />
Time included:<br />
<br />
1 hour up Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve bush track.<br />
2 hours up DOC easement track from Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve to DOC Hunters Hills Conservation Area.<br />
2 hours from Francis Stream up to 1200m, Mt Nimrod NW side.<br />
1 hour down from Mt Nimrod NW side, 1200m to Francis Stream.<br />
3 hours down DOC easement track & Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve track to DOC campsite.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-79009058160852672022017-11-25T13:30:00.000-08:002017-11-27T16:24:43.849-08:00Mt Dalgety Summit, Mackenzie Country Thursday 23.11.17. I drove SH8 from Pleasant Point to the top of Hakataramea Pass, 965 m, via Albury, Fairlie, Burkes Pass, Dog Kennel Corner, Haldon Rd, Hakataramea Pass Rd, as I wanted to summit Mt Dalgety, 1752 m. Map ref: BZ17 088921.<br />
<br />
Road distances:<br />
<br />
* Pleasant Point SH8 tarseal to Dog Kennel Corner turnoff to Haldon Rd: 74 kms.<br />
* Haldon Rd tarseal past Rollesby Range & Dalgety Range to Hakataramea Pass Rd turnoff: 16 kms.<br />
* Hakataramea Pass Rd gravel road over 4 fords past Dalgety Range & Grampian Range to top of Hakataramea pass: 16 kms.<br />
<br />
Last Wednesday I'd summitted Grampian Range. Since then, Mackenzie Council had graded Hakataramea Pass Rd, so ruts & potholes were smoothed over.<br />
<br />
I parked my car near a closed gate at the top of Hakataramea Pass. There was no track to the top of Mt Dalgety marked on my Topo50 map, so I hopped over a fence & followed another fence E up a tussock ridge to about 1200 m where the fence took a sharp turn N. En route a ram had hung itself by entwining three of its legs amongst top 3 wires of the fence. It hung dessicated by Alpine winds & sun. A horrible way to die with views of Dalgety ridges & valleys each side & Grampian Range W the other side of Hakataramea Pass.<br />
<br />
I left the fence & continued climbing, following goat tracks where possible through more tussock, Spaniards & Alpine plants. Notable were <i>Gaultheria</i> snowberries, <i>Celmisia sessiliflora, </i>orange & green <i>Scleranthus, </i>minute <i>Hebes</i>, like whipcord hebes, mat broom & coral broom, <i>Carmichaelia </i>genus. Coral brooms & mat brooms were stunted, foraged by ungulates. I passed a host of cushion plants on my way up, including <i>Haastia </i>vegetable sheep & <i>Raoulia </i>scabweed covering rocks. There was also <i>Hieracium</i> hawkweed all the way to the top, ravages of over a century of Alpine sheep farming.<br />
<br />
On my way up, a series of giant steps up the ridge, I passed several rocky outcrops, vertical ancient sediments, with wind funnels above & below the rocky outcrops. A windless, sunny morn, I had no wind hassles, but had to drink lots of bottled water, stopping dehydration. I saw a bull tahr trotting over scree, hiding behind the ridge. He wore a magnificent, white mane below his backward pointing horns. Other fauna seen: brown skinks scurrying over hot rocks, brown grasshoppers, flies pollinating alpine plants, ladybugs hunting on <i>Donatia </i>hard cushions, a couple of seagulls short-cutting over Haka Pass from Snowy River Valley to Hakataramea Valley.<br />
<br />
I didn't stay long on Dalgety summit rocks as I was pestered by flies sucking my sweat. After snapping pics, I sat near the bottom of Dalgety summit rocks, admiring Alpine views & scoffing my lunch - scroggin, biltong, mandarins, water. Views:<br />
<br />
NE Rocky outcrops, Dalgety summit ridge to Rollesby Range & beyond to Hall Range incl Mt Haszard & Mistake Peak above Godley River Valley. Snowy Mt Erebus & Sibbald Range prominent. Snowy Two Thumbs Range incl D'Achiac peak, Mt Chevalier, Mt Edward, Mt Dobson prominent. Snowy Sherwood Range & Mt Fox prominent.<br />
ENE Albury Range.<br />
E beyond Hakataramea River, Mt Nessing.<br />
S Rocky outcrops, Dalgety summit ridge, Mt Nimrod, Hunters Hills, Hakataramea Valley.<br />
SSW Hakataramea Valley, Kirkliston Range.<br />
W Hakataramea Pass, Grampian Range.<br />
NW Mary Range, Lake Pukaki & beyond to snowy Ben Ohau Range, Mackenzie Peak, Dun Fiunary, Glentanner Peak, Mt Sealy prominent<br />
NNW snowy Mt Sefton & Footstool prominent.<br />
N Snowy River Valley, Lake Tekapo, Mt John, Fork River Valley, snowy Mt Stevenson & beyond to snowy La Perouse, Mt Cook, Mt Tasman prominent.<br />
NNE Mt Joseph, Cass River Valley, snowy Gammack Range, snowy Malte Brun prominent.<br />
<br />
Stats:<br />
<br />
Climb: 800 vertical metres from Hakataramea Pass top to Mt Dalgety summit.<br />
Return distance: 7 kms.<br />
Times: Ascent 3.75 hours. Descent 2.75 hours. A long day.<br />
<br />
Essentials: Tramping, hill walking fitness, backpack, map, sturdy shoes, all weather gear, sunglasses, walking stick(s), food, water. Cell phone coverage if cell pointed to Mt John.<br />
<br />
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285076406539746070.post-15215888788023240682017-11-18T14:40:00.002-08:002017-11-25T16:00:43.220-08:00Grampian Range Summit, Mackenzie CountryWednesday 15.11.17. I drove SH8 from Pleasant Point to Hakataramea Pass via Albury, Fairlie, Burkes Pass, Dog Kennel Corner & Haldon Rd, as I wanted to summit Grampian Range, 1921 m. (Map ref: BZ17 029891). At Hakataramea Pass, gravel road turnoff, a fence sign read:<br />
<br />
BE AWARE<br />
UNLAWFUL HUNTING<br />
<u>WILL NOT BE TOLERATED</u><br />
OFFENDERS WILL<br />
<u>BE PROSECUTED</u><br />
FIREARMS & VEHICLES MAY BE SEIZED<br />
FIREARMS LICENCES WILL BE REVOKED<br />
MAXIMUM PENALTY<br />
2 YEARS IMPRISONMENT $100 000 FINE<br />
OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM<br />
THE LANDOWNER / PERMITS (DOC)<br />
BEFORE HUNTING<br />
<br />
POLICE CRIMESTOPPERS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT<br />
[Ph]... NEW ZEALAND<br />
SPEAK UP, IT'S ANONYMOUS<br />
<br />
Typical NZ cop sign touting for snitches, when cops were thin on the ground. The only cops I saw in Mackenzie Country were cops fining speedsters on SH8. Evidence of hunting / poaching I saw were dead wallabies on roadsides. SH8 farmers told us poachers spotlighted on their farms at night, taking pot shots close to their homesteads. I often saw road-kill wallabies near wooded spots on SH8 & passes.<br />
<br />
A road sign read:<br />
<br />
CAUTION<br />
<br />
* NARROW ROAD<br />
* STEEP GRADES<br />
* FORDS<br />
* SEASONAL SNOW & ICE<br />
<br />
DRIVE CAREFULLY<br />
<br />
Hakataramea Pass, gravel road passed between Dalgety Range E, 18 kms long & Grampian Range W, more than 20 kms long. En route, I crossed 4 fords, streams trickling down to Snowy River below Dalgety Range. A stream crossing the road caused big potholes. 12 kms along Haka Pass, just beyond the 4th ford, a dead wallaby lay on the road, marking a farm track. (Map ref: BZ17 058919). My Topo50 map showed the farm track ascending Grampian Range to a scree saddle at 1800 m. Above the saddle, Grampian summit ridge track spit into a S farm track & N farm track. I would take the N farm track to Grampian summit, 1921 m.<br />
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From Haka Pass, I wandered up the farm track, zig-zagging up a steep tussock ridge, streams in valleys both sides of the ridge. Besides tussock grassland & spiky Spaniards, I saw many alpine cushion plants, mentioned in other blog posts. Notable were green or brown whipcord hebes amongst stones & many grey vegetable sheep clinging to rocks on steep slopes. Scab weeds & other cushion plants reminded me of zooanthids in coastal rockpools. Living scab weed branches were supported by dead scab weed branches, providing nutrients for the living.<br />
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A warm morning. A lone wallaby hopped down a tussock slope to a stream. Skinks scuttled across rocks. Brown crickets & bigger green crickets hopped about too. A lone falcon soared thermals, hunting while I climbed.<br />
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At about 1600 m, tussockland became steep scree, covered by snow patches & sparse alpine cushion plants. I compressed snowballs, sucking them, quenching my thirst, saving my bottled water for later.<br />
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From the 1800 m scree saddle, I didn't descend the farm track the other side, as it was still snow covered, making it difficult to pass Black Rocks. Instead, I followed a fence over scree, the last 100 vertical metres odd, to Grampian summit 1921 m. I added a stone to the cairn on the flat top, surrounded by stones & alpine cushion plants, mostly yellow. On the summit ridge I'd passed two farm gates, one bent by foul weather, the other still half covered in snow, amidst scree & cushion plants.<br />
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Clouds played above my head, while I admired alpine views: E, Rollesby Range, Dalgety Range, Mt Nessing. S, Hakataramea Valley. SSW, Kirkliston Range. SW Benmore Range, Lake Benmore below. W, Mary Range, Lake Pukaki, snowy Ben Ohau Range beyond. NNW, snowy Mt Sefton prominent. NW, snowy Mt Cook Range, snowy Mt Cook & snowy Mt Tasman prominent. NNE, Mt John & Lake Tekapo. Snowy Mt Stevenson prominent. NE, snowy Malte Brun prominent. Snowy Gammack Range. Snowy Hall Range. ENE, snowy Two Thumbs Range, snowy Mt Edward, snowy Mt Dobson prominent. Snowy Sherwood Range & snowy Mt Fox prominent.<br />
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I texted Leah from Grampian Range summit, no problems, as long as I pointed my cell towards Mt John. Any other direction, my texts didn't get through, like aiming my cell towards Hakataramea Valley, a waste.<br />
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Stats:<br />
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Climb: 1000 vertical metres from Hakataramea Pass to Grampian Range summit.<br />
Return distance: 12 kms.<br />
Times: Ascent 4.5 hours. Descent 3.5 hours. A long day.<br />
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Essentials: Tramping, hill walking fitness, map, all weather gear, backpack, sunglasses, food, water, walking stick(s). Cell phone coverage if cell pointed to Mt John.<br />
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Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.Mark JS Esslemonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749586039279026148noreply@blogger.com0