Year 2 CERA. Reckoning: 01.12.12 Democracy Protest, Bums Protest

Democracy Protest, Bums Protest focus. In 2012, I'd attended some public protests, some I didn't attend, like Save the Cathedral protest, where the Wizard, Burdon, Anderton, Belton slagged off & hostile litigated bishop Matthews & the Anglican diocese, which owned Christ Church Cathedral land, Cathedral Sq.

Councillors & opposition politicians attended some Christchurch protests, some made speeches, like future mayor Dalziel, but no councillors, nor opposition politicians organized any Christchurch protests in 2012. 

Saturday 01.12.12, 2pm, Latimer Sq: Democracy Sucked protest: same song, different soloists, about a minority, NZ National govt messing up post quake Canterbury. Regarding Christchurch recovery, NZ National govt was dictatorial, unelected bureaucrats in EQC, CERA, CCDU, ECAN causing Canterbury strife.

2010-2011 was the year of big quakes. 2012 was the year of big protests, where Christchurch citizens aired grievances. Formats same, backdrops different, hired loud speakers & bull horns same, same soloists, pop-up understudies at every show.

The 01.12.12, Latimer Sq protest sang the same arias: Good, benighted citizens; Bad CERA / NZ National govt; Bad TC3 green-blue zoned housing by CERA; Slow repairs & rebuild of housing & CBD by bad EQC, insurers, CCDU / NZ National govt; Undemocratic ECAN misled by NZ National govt appointed commissioners, controlling pure Canterbury water & allocating it to dairy farmers. Bad MoE closing & merging Canterbury schools; Weak, dysfunctional Council subservient to CERA / NZ National govt; Citizens disempowered by NZ National govt, EQC, CERA, CCDU; Slow insurers; CERA's demolition of Heritage bldgs; NZ National govt / CERA taking CBD & residential properties; NZ National govt selling public assets; NZ National govt trying to force Council to sell ratepayers' assets like Lyttelton Port & Christchurch Airport to pay for CERA's / CCDU's / NZ National govt's Blueprint projects.

01.12.12. Manchester St, N red zone view, abandoned Ernst & Young & PGC demolition site where 18 people died in the 22.02.11 quake. Ernst & Young would be demolished

01.12.12. Manchester St Bridge, S view, red zone CBD. Quake buckling on bridge pavement. Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel beyond

01.12.12. CCDU proposed, E Frame, Oxford Tce / Manchester St. Bldgs in the E Frame would be bought by CERA. Luneys would be demolished for Margaret Mahy Family Playground

01.12.12. Oxford Tce view, CCDU proposed, E Frame. CERA would demolish bldgs for Margaret Mahy Family Playground

01.12.12. Oxford Tce view, abandoned ACC in CCDU proposed, E Frame. CERA would demolished ACC for Margaret Mahy Family Playground

01.12.12. Oxford Tce view, quake damaged, Centennial Pool & ACC on site of CCDU proposed, E Frame. CERA would demolish bldgs for Margaret Mahy Family Playground

Manchester St: I parked near the PGC demolition site, where 18 people died in 22.02.11 Killer Quake. Snapped N & E Frame (mainly demolition sites) along Manchester St, Oxford Tce, Madras St to Latimer Sq. NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint N & E Frame would mostly become Rauora Park, incl Margaret Mahy Family Playground in the N Frame. NZ National govt / CERA would take CBD land for its Blueprint CBD.

NZ National govt's / CERA's taking threats: "Late last month, the first Notices of Intention to Take Land were sent to affected landowners in relation to the North Frame, the northern part of the East Frame and the Bus Interchange.

The notices have also been published in the Gazette and local papers. Issuing the notices is part of the compulsory acquisition process. However CCDU General Manager Christchurch Central Project Delivery Greg Wilson, says this step is by no means a barrier to purchasing land by mutual agreement" [In 2015, a commentator in The Press would say, "Everything CERA touched turned to shit!"]

"This is an important step should the acquisition by agreement process fall down but it doesn't mean that we aren't working extremely hard to reach agreement with affected landowners..." (CERA Greater Christchurch Recovery Update, Issue 16, December 2012).

Parallels with apartheid SA: Green strip between group areas, SA Nationalist govt wanted to separate; minimal compensation & bulldozing of perfectly good bldgs for separated commerce; separate development of favoured & un-favoured CBDs; forced removal of un-favoured citizens...

Examples: Black Sophiatown, Johannesburg; Coloured District Six, Cape Town; Indian Durban North; Durban's West St CBD for whites & Indian Grey St precinct; Indian Cato Manor... SA apartheid govt forcibly moved citizens from all of those areas. There were many more.

Same happened in Christchurch: govt decreed, residential red zone demolitions of 7 000+ houses & red zone CBD bldgs, excuses being quakes, public safety, Frame land speculation for maintenance of core CBD property values.

There were dictatorial MPs like Key, Brownlee, Parata, Carter, English & appointed bureaucrats like Sutton, Isaacs, Ford & appointed commissioners in Council. Never mind principals, staff & students jackbooted out of closed & merged schools.

There were NZDF cordons & checkpoints ever since 22.02.11 Killer Quake. And citizen bannings inside CBD cordons, CERA passes needed for access.

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Edmonds clock tower left, decapitated for post quake restoration, Oxford Tce / Madras St

Oxford Tce / Madras St: Edmonds clock tower restoration, steel mesh fence cordon, Council sign:

THIS CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL FACILITY
          IS CLOSED DUE TO THE EARTHQUAKES.

The Council is striving to access and carry out work on
   its 1 600 buildings as quickly as possible as part of its
                                Facilities Rebuild Plan programme.

                                For more information...

01.12.12. Grassed Oxford Tce Baptist Church, demolition site, Oxford Tce / Madras St. The 185 Empty Chair Memorial for 185 quake dead would be relocated from the grassy site to St Pauls Trinity Pacific demolition site, Madras St / Cashel St

01.12.12. Oxford Tce / Madras St view, The Poplars apartments demolition site & quake trashed Free Legal Help, Madras St. The bldgs were demolished for the Margaret Mahy Family Playground carpark

01.12.12. Madras St S view, carparks, demolition sites around Armagh St crossing to Latimer Sq

01.12.12. Charley B's Backpackers demolition site, Madras St / Gloucester St. CCDU had an international competition for housing designed for the site. Latimer Sq beyond

01.12.12. Your City Gym bldg demolition site right, Madras St / Gloucester St, in CCDU's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park

01.12.12. Madras St, Your City Gym multi-storey, demolition site view, demolition sites by Gloucester St across Newstalk CBD implosion site to Manchester St. Creamy bldg, Design & Arts College. Trinity Church / The Octagon, sans tower below, in S red zone. Dark bldg, Westende House rebuild in the E Frame. All demolition sites, incl Westende House, in CCDU's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park. Brand new, Westende House would be demolished in 2015 for Manchester St widening

01.12.12. Madras St view, demolition sites in CCDU's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park to Manchester St, by gaudy mural. CBD red zone bldgs left, Cathedral Junction middle, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel right. Multi-storey carpark right would be demolished for CERA's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park

01.12.12. CCDU's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park / Newstalk ZB implosion site view, CBD red zone bldgs: Trinity Church / The Octagon, sans tower left. Behind - Design & Arts College & Government Departmental Building. Beyond - Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel. Westende House rebuild right would demolished in 2015 for Manchester St widening

01.12.12. NO ENTRY. Orange, plastic bollard cordon. Steel mesh fence cordon. Latimer Sq view, Latimer Sq / Worcester St, part demolished, The Christchurch Club would survive the quakes

01.12.12. Speaker trailer, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

Latimer Sq. Democracy Protest soloists: Organizer Wayne Hawker, Rev Coleman, councillor Livingstone, Labour MP Dalziel, understudies. Arias were sung from the back of an Abell, flatbed truck, festooned with Canterbury red & black balloons, below Latimer Sq trees. About 1 000 happy-clappy protesters cheered, chanted, raised their hands & placards. Anglican Cardboard Cathedral, new foundation across Latimer Sq, Hereford St / Madras St. Hallelujah!

Democracy Protest signs:

      RESTORE
CHRISTCHURCH
   DEMOCRACY

01.12.12. Protest signs, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

WE WANT OUR
   CITY  BACK
        RALLY
           FOR
 DEMOCRACY...

RESTORE
IT NOW!
DEMOCRACY

CHRISTCHURCH
DEMO !!
!! CRACY
EDUCATION
HERITAGE
ECAN etc, etc.

    HERITAGE
DESTRUCTION
         JUST
        STOP

TO BE DEMOLISHED
CCDU BLUEPRINT (pics of pre quakes, CBD bldgs)

CHRISTCHURCH DEMOCRACY
OUR CITY OUR SAY... (banner)

LISTEN TO
CHRISTCHURCH
GENUINE DEMOCRACY GENUINE CONSULTATION (banner)

01.12.12. The Wizard, democracy protesters, Latimer Sq

01.12.12. Democracy Protest truck, Latimer Sq

WECAN! (banner)

            RALLY
              FOR
      DEMOCRACY
OUR CITY OUR SAY...

 
BRING BACK
DEMOCRACY

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND... (Letter on board. Giant letter was presented to parliament by Green MP Eugenie Sage, ACT MP Denis O'Rourke, Labour MP Dalziel).

01.12.12. Open letter to the Prime Minister of NZ, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

WECAN - KEY CAN'T
ECAN FOR CANTERBURY,
NOT FOR KEY'S CRONIES

DEFEND
DEMOCRACY
KEEP THE
PREDATORS AWAY

IF AT FIRST YOU
DON'T SUCCEED
SECEDE
INDEPENDENCE
FOR
CANTERBURY

  NO MANDATE
TO TAKE AWAY
CANTERBURY'S
  DEMOCRACY
         SAVE
        ECAN

 
    RESTORE
DEMOCRACY
RECLAIM
* OUR SCHOOLS
* OUR CITY
* OUR FUTURE

DON'T PLUNDER THE PUBLIC
NO ASSET SALES

    DEMOCRACY  WAS FOUGHT FOR
     DON'T LET IT BE STOLEN AWAY
STOP THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER!

STOP THE RIP OFF
HALT ASSET SALES

WE WANT
A FAIR GO
  FOR ALL
   KIWIS

GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE.
 NOT FOR THE MANIPULATORS
   PROFITEERS AND PARASITES.
  WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS?
     WHO MAKES THE MONEY?
                  WHO PAYS?

STOP THE EROSION
OF DEMOCRACY
RESTORE ELECTIONS FOR ECAN

       SAVE
    DEMOCRACY
AND OUR SCHOOLS

HOME RULE FOR 
  CANTERBURY
   BRING BACK
  DEMOCRACY

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST
ALLIANCE
NEW ZEALAND'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY

01.12.12. Councillor Glenn Livingstone interview, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

GREEN
GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA (banner)

STAND
    UP
 FIGHT
 BACK

  BRING BACK
 DEMOCRACY
AND DIGNITY

PROTECT THE NATIONAL INTEREST
NOT THE NATIONAL PARTY
NO ASSET SALES

UNLOCK DEMOCRACY
AND THROW AWAY THE KEY 

VOTE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY
NO ASSET
SALES

ROGERNOMICS, RUTHENASIA
  NOW KEYHOLE SURGERY -
CUTTING BACK OUR DEMOCRACY

PROPERTY
   RIGHTS
    YEAH
    RIGHT!

      I CAN'T
        VOTE
      EITHER
        DOGS
            4
DEMOCRACY (dog's orange, Hi-Vis vest)

DISMISS
NATIONAL
NANNIES
RESTORE DEMOCRACY

BROWNLEE
WORSE THAN
EARTHQUAKE

CERA - 1
PROPERTY
RIGHTS - 0

CBD
THIEVES

PAY GV
FOR CBD

DONT
STEAL

COWS
HAVE MORE
WATER RIGHTS
THAN WE DO

TRANSPARENCY PLEASE
RELEASE
THE TEXT

            LOCAL
     DEMOCRACY
FOR CANTERBURY
            NOW
2016 IS TOO LONG

ECAN protest posters referred to ECAN being run by NZ National govt appointed commissioners since 2010, after elected ECAN managers were jackbooted out. In 2015, Key's NZ National govt would want ECAN management replaced by govt appointed commissioners & elected managers in 2016.

RESTORE OUR ASSETS (banner)

   IT'S OUR
     VOTE
  TO GIVE
NOT YOURS
  TO TAKE

                   DEMOCRACY! IS
      GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE!
OR THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE.
NOT JOHN KEYS STOOGES! WHAT
WE HAVE NOW IS FASCISM! RIGHT WING
AUTHORITARIANS OPPOSED TO DEMOCRACY
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND OUR RIGHT
TO CHOOSE!

KEY LIES

Heritage bldg pic (several at the protest)

SAVE
CRANMER
COURTS (pic crossed out)
SAVE
THE
PETERBOROUGH
CENTRE (pic ticked)
SAVE SAVE SAVE

DON'T
DESPAIR
WE STILL HAVE
A GENERAL
ELECTION IN
2014 -
(AT LEAST SO FAR)

01.12.12. Rev Mike Coleman, protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

OUR             OUR
CITY             SAY  
   IT'S         ONLY
   THE        WAY

RESTORE
CHRISTCHURCH
DEMOCRACY

 DICTATOR
      SHIP
        IS
      NOT
 WHAT WE
    NEED

DEMOCRACY
IS FALLING
THROUGH THE
CRACKS

DEFEND
DEMOCRACY
KEEP THE
PREDATORS
AWAY!

01.12.12. Labour MP Lianne Dalziel, protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq. Post Parker regime, Dalziel would become Christchurch mayor

  INSURANCE
       FRAUD -
GOVERNMENT
   COMPLICIT

 ECAN
JUNTA
  OUT

     SACK
NATIONAL

KEY
LIES

01.12.12. Yellow, Hi-Vis vested, Maori warden, protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

VOTING IS A KEY RIGHT
 ECAN IS A KEY WRONG

  IF YOU'RE
  WAITING
FOR A SIGN
      THIS
      IS IT

        SHOCK
     DOCTRINE
WORKING WELL
       IN CHCH

Two lampoon portraits, CERA minister Brownlee, one with Brownlee as a suffragette:

   DEMOCRACY
(Brownlee portrait)
          NOPE

WE HAD DEMOCRACY ONCE
                PROTECT IT
      FROM THE HIJACKERS

     CRONY
CAPITALISM

CHRISTCHURCH
LOVE
YOUR
DEMOCRACY (heart sign)

OUR (water, pic of tap)
OUR (schools, pic of ruler)
pic of bell warning

01.12.12. Protest speakers, Wayne Hawker, Rev Mike Coleman, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

 
STOP ERODING DEMOCRACY
     WE DID NOT VOTE FOR
            DICTATORSHIP

SAVE
DEMOCRACY

        KEY'S WAY
     EXPORT JOBS
  THEN VICTIMISE
THE UNEMPLOYED

FRACK FREE (green NZ map on black T shirt)

 
"FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP
   NOT THE BEEHIVE DOWN"
- DAVID SHEARER (Labour red banner)

BRING BACK LOCAL
DEMOCRACY
STOP THE HIJACK

   ECAN
STUFFED

   BULLIE
BROWNLIE

  WHY IS OUR WEALTH
  BEING TRANSFERRED
TO THE ALREADY RICH?
              UNFAIR!

GOING UP
POVERTY
INEQUALITY
UNCERTAINTY
GOING DOWN
FAIRNESS
TRUST
HOPE

GERRYTOCRACY

   NO
ASSET
SALES

GETTING SUFFRAGE WAS
A BATTLE WON
NOT THE WAR
FIGHT
TO PROTECT
DEMOCRACY

  FRACK FREE
CANTERBURY (car sticker)

SAVE OUR OURUHIA SCHOOL 
         AREA FOR GROWTH (car sticker)

KEY AND CO.
OUR SCHOOLS,
    LISTEN TO
 THE LOCALS!

DEMOCRACY
RULES

 HAVE A
   VOICE...
     THE
PEOPLE'S
 CHOICE

NZ DEMOCRACY
NOT 4 SALE

SHAME!
DON'T SELL NEW ZEALAND

SAVE THE CATHEDRAL
               STOP
          HERITAGE
     DESTRUCTION

   BROWNLEE
 WORSE THAN
EARTHQUAKE

NOT TOO
SHAKEN TO
VOTE
- THANK YOU

        CHRISTCHURCH
          SURE TO RISE
STOP THE DESTRUCTION (pic of Christ Church Cathedral on Edmonds can)
     SIGN THE PETITION...

S.O.S. AVONDALE PRIMARY
WE DON'T NEED NO RELOCATION... NO... NO
WE DON'T NEED NO AMALGAMATION... NO... NO
WE NEED TRUTHFUL INFORMATION... YEAH... YEAH
WE NEED GENUINE CONSULTATION... YEAH... YEAH
HEY HEKIA LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS ALONE
ALL IN ALL JUST ANOTHER KICK IN THE GUTS!

There were oldies, kids, families, dogs, cyclists, pram pushers & a wheelchair lady swelling the throng. N end of Latimer Sq, a music stage was erected for a concert, bordered by a steel mesh fence cordon. Opp Latimer Sq in the E Frame (Arrow House demo site) an ad for ZM 91.3 Today's Hit Music, Xmas art was painted on 4 layers of 24 shipping containers. Containers were an art form in quaked Christchurch.

AFFORDABLE
ELECTRICITY
FOR ALL -
NOT JUST
PROFIT FOR THE
PROSPEROUS

DEATH
KNELLS
FOR OUR
DEMOCRACY
ECAN TAKEOVER (crossed out)
CERA (crossed out)
RMA CHANGES (crossed out)
ETS CHANGES (crossed out)
TPPA (crossed out)
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
ABOLITION
BILL (crossed out)

WHERE WERE
     YOU DAD
  WHEN THEY
        STOLE
          OUR
       WATER?

80% OF CANTERBURY WATER IS USED FOR
IRRIGATION ALLOCATED BY GOVERNMENT
COMMISSIONERS
RETURN CANTERBURY WATER TO DEMOCRATIC CONTROL

        SAVE
    DEMOCRACY
AND OUR SCHOOLS

NZ IS SUPPOSED
      TO BE A
DEMOCRACY!
NATIONAL NEEDS TO GO

TRANS PARENCY PLEASE (Referring to Trans Pacific Partnership)
               RELEASE
              THE TEXT

           NCW
CHRISTCHURCH
             NZ (banner)

   ECAN
STUFFED

      100%
NITRATES
CADMIUM

       SHOCK
    DOCTRINE
WORKING WELL
      IN CHCH

OUR
WATER
OUR
VOTE

 GIVE
 CHCH
A FAIR
SHAKE (hat)

GIVE BACK "OUR CITY"
WECAN ECAN VOTE!
OUR CITY OUR PLAN!
HERITAGE? YES PLEASE!
EXTRADITE BROWNLEE WHERE?

     STOP THE RIP OFF
BRING BACK A FAIR SOCIETY
HALT ASSET SALES

WE WANT OUR
    CITY BACK...

      INTL LAW.
             NO
 CONFISCATION
 WITHOUT FULL
COMPENSATION

NO MANDATE
TO TAKE AWAY
CANTERBURY'S
DEMOCRACY
SAVE
ECAN

STOP THIEF
GIVE US OUR
VOTES BACK!

ASSET SALES WILL
PRIVATIZE PROFITS
            AND
SOCIALIZE COSTS

THERE ARE OTHER
  VOTERS IN THIS
       COUNTRY
        BESIDES
      JOHN KEY

UNLOCK DEMOCRACY
AND THROW AWAY THE KEY

THIS GOVERNMENT IS
VENAL, RAPACIOUS
AND UNPOPULAR
(ONLY 32% OF US VOTED NATIONAL)

01.12.12. Green MP Eugenie Sage, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

ANOTHER YEAR OF
GROWING INEQUALITY...

01.12.12. Act MP Denis O'Rourke, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

100%
DEMOCRATIC
NEW ZEALAND

HAVE A
 VOICE...
    THE
PEOPLE'S
 CHOICE

CLOSE THE
      GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau}
  NOT THE
        SIS (Security Intelligence Service)

BROWN-LIE
   FULL OF
         IT

DEMOCRACY NOT AUTOCRACY
STOP THE HIJACK
SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

Half way through, protesters marched to Cranmer Sq, past red zone CBD demolition sites & ghosts, via Worcester St, Manchester St, Gloucester St, Montreal St. En route the crowd stopped on Gloucester St Bridge, while The Wizard fastened a signed protest banner onto the red zone, steel mesh fence cordon by Provincial Council ghost, awaiting restoration.

01.12.12. The Wizard, marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

DICTATOR
      SHIP
        IS
      NOT
 WHAT WE
    NEED

HONOUR THE
SUFFRAGETTES
DEFEND
WHAT
THEY
WON

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

    SACK
NATIONAL

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Latimer Sq

     DON'T TURN
            OUR
TOWN HALL INTO
  A DAIRY FARM

         DEMOCRACY...
               A JOKE
BULLSHIT = BROWNLEE

 STOP
  THE
THEFT (stop sign)

NO
MORE
BROWNLEE
PROMISES
RESTORE
ECAN
ELECTIONS

OUR WATER
OUR SCHOOLS
OUR
CITY
OUR VOTES
STOLEN!

STOP THE
CREEPING
TAKEOVER

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Worcester St

I'M NOT A
 TOURIST
  PLEASE
  LISTEN!

    NO VOTE
          NO
DEMOCRACY

  DEMOCRACY
    IS FALLING
THROUGH THE
      CRACKS

    RESTORE
DEMOCRACY
        NOW

JOHN KEY
EARTH IS
OUR PLANET
NOT
YOUR ATM

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Worcester St

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Worcester St / Manchester St. Red zone, Trinity Church / The Octagon, sans tower, Design & Arts College, Government Departmental Building left. Westende House rebuild right would be demolished for Manchester St widening

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Manchester St. Cathedral Junction mural & quake cracked Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel beyond

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Manchester St / Gloucester St. Design & Arts College right

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. Sampan House, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel The Press left

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. Cathedral Junction, The Press left

01.12.12. Orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. Red zone, Isaac Theatre Royal, New Regent St restorations left

01.12.12. Orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. New Regent St restoration left, The Press right

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. Red zone, quake trashed, Christ Church Cathedral left. Abandoned Camelot Hotel right awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild

01.12.12. NO PUBLIC ACCESS. Steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, red zone Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint, Gloucester St / Colombo St crossing

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St. Abandoned Central Library right by Farmers demolition site. All bldgs in the pic would be demolished for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, red zone, Chancery Lane Arcade, off Gloucester St. Chancery Ln bldgs would be demolished for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae

01.12.12. NO THROUGH ROUTE. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St Bridge. Government Life behind awaited demolition, Cathedral Sq

DEMOCRACY
        NOW

     SACK
NATIONAL

STOP THE RIP OFF
HALT ASSET SALES
BRING BACK A FAIR SOCIETY

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St Bridge

STOP THIEF.
GIVE US OUR
VOTES BACK!

WITH THE CATHEDRAL
HEART OF OUR CITY
SHAME
THE OWNER
WANTS IT
DOWN
SHAME
SHAME
OUR
CITY
HERITAGE

   THANK YOU NZ GOVT
AND SPECIAL THANKS TO
EQC FOR STUFFING
UP OUR LIVES 

 MAKE
   ART
   NOT
MONEY

01.12.12. Democracy Protest banner, protesters, quake trashed, Provincial Council, Gloucester St Bridge

WE PLEDGED
TO STAY
NOW HEAR
OUR SAY

(Post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake, some citizens had signed a pledge to stay in quake damaged Canterbury & not flee).

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Durham St Nth / Gloucester St

 
DEMOCRACY & FREEDOM
SECURE PROPERTY
RIGHTS

MCDONALDS
DEMOCRACY
OUR WATER
OUR CITY
OUR VOTE

OUR
WATER
OUR
VOTE

WE'VE BEEN
SILENCED
TOO LONG (protester had black tape over her mouth)
 

GOVERNMENT
BY THE PEOPLE
FOR THE PEOPLE
NOT AGAINST
THE PEOPLE
 

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St

01.12.12. Marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Gloucester St / Montreal St, by Christchurch Art Gallery / Civil Defence HQ during quakes states of emergencies

01.12.12. Cranmer Sq view, marching protesters, Democracy Protest, Montreal St / Armagh St

01.12.12. Democracy Protest, Cranmer Sq

Cranmer Sq: While the crowd re-gathered, 4 pretty girls, wearing orange, Hi-Vis vests, did a movement number on the flatbed, Abell truck.

Whiners like The Wizard & others sang their arias. Were 2012 protests any use? Protests were ignored by CERA / NZ National govt. (Brief mentions on radio & TV news). 2012 protests were street rituals, weak, noisy, sung by welfare state, baby boomers. There were no cops at the Democracy Protest, Saturday afternoon, cop sloth. Only Maori Wardens in yellow, Hi-Vis vests crowd-controlled at the Squares & directed traffic. There was even a Maori kid, Trainee Warden.

01.12.12. Councillor Livingstone, Democracy Protest, Cranmer Sq

DON'T PLUNDER THE PUBLIC
           NO ASSET SALES

     DON'T TURN
             OUR
TOWN HALL INTO
  A DAIRY FARM

SHOULD THE
GOVERNMENT
SELL OFF OUR
PUBLIC ASSETS?

01.12.12. No Asset Sales, petition signing, Democracy Protest, Cranmer Sq

01.12.12. Democracy Protest, Cranmer Sq

Kilmore St: When the street opera finished, I returned to my car, past Crowne Plaza Hotel demolition site & Peterborough St, past ghosts & demolition sites.

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned restaurant awaiting demolition, Kilmore St / Durham St Nth

01.12.12. Faux pissoir, Convention Centre demolition site, Peterborough St. Red zone bldgs behind. Abandoned Town Hall right. The old Convention Centre demo site would be vacant for years. After 2021, a hotel, apartments & offices would be built on site opp the restored Town Hall

01.12.12. Mural by demolition site, Peterborough St / Colombo St

A demolition site mural, Colombo St / Peterborough St, quoted Anne Frank:

Isn't it wonderful that nobody need waste a single moment to improve the world.
 

01.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Quake trashed bldg by demolition site, Colombo St / Peterborough St

01.12.12. Garden & mural on demolition site, Colombo St / Peterborough St

01.12.12. Abandoned flats, Peterborough St. The flats would survive the quakes

*Trekked Manchester St, Oxford Tce, Madras St, Latimer Sq, Worcester St, Gloucester St, Cranmer Sq, Kilmore St, Peterborough St, Brighton Beach. 407 images.

Sun 02.12.12, 11am, Cenotaph, New Brighton Beach: Bums protest was against Council, as Council did little to improve New Brighton, enduring trashed infrastructure, roads, homes, small businesses, including increased tagging. Scumbags tagged the Cenotaph!

02.12.12. Bums protest, New Brighton tagged Cenotaph

Organizer Tony Brooks spoke to about 80 protesters at the tagged Cenotaph. I counted: 80 bums, 160 glutes, clothed & unclothed, a few plastic bums handed out too, for those shy to show their glutes.

02.12.12. Councillor Peter Beck, bums protest, New Brighton tagged Cenotaph

02.12.12. Councillor Glenn Livingstone, bums protest, New Brighton tagged Cenotaph

Councillors (ex priests), Glenn Livingstone & Peter Beck prattled, then protesters went down to the beach, faced the Pacific, lined up, bum saluted Christchurch.

02.12.12. Bums protest, New Brighton beach

During the week, Council announced a New Brighton Mall revamp, new plan for New Brighton. Another broken promise, like so many broken promises for New Brighton? (Mar 2013, councillor Beck would hand in his resignation to mayor Parker).

Marine Pde: I liked New Brighton Mall improvement proposal, but putting a pool bldg on Marine Pde on the shore line, blocking the only N-S, access - egress, shore road between North New Brighton & Southshore was dumb.

02.12.12. Bums protest, New Brighton beach

Driving the S-N length of Marine Parade would show planners their pool bldg would bottleneck both sides of their mall / pool complex. Never mind quick exit should a tsunami arise. The hydro slide idea was daft as the best hydro slides were waves on the beach.

14.05.15. The Press would report a Council proposed, dune promenade from Waimairi Beach to North Beach.

02.12.12. Whale pool, New Brighton beach

02.12.12. Gulls, New Brighton beach shower

02.12.12. New Brighton beach

02.12.12. New Brighton beach club house

Mon 03.12.12. CERA minister Brownlee showed his preference for secrecy, censorship & contempt for a free press when he said the The Press was "the enemy." Brownlee was like apartheid politicians who'd castigated a free press & other media, hence censorship in apartheid SA.

Mon 10.12.12. Released to the public, Royal Commission of Inquiry report into collapse of CTV multi-storey in 22.02.11 Killer Quake, killing 115 people. Report was scathing about remiss engineers: bad design & supervision; bad Council consenting & supervision; bad construction & supervision; bad repairs & bldg manager supervision; bad green sticker inspecting by Council workers (non engineers) post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake & 26.12.10 Boxing Day Quake.

CTV collapse survivors & families of the 115 dead considered litigation, as nearly 2 years post 22.02.11 Killer quake no one was held accountable for CTV collapse. Yet lawyers opined it would be hard to get a conviction, as there was no corporate manslaughter law in NZ. Those lawyers should prevail on parliament to sort out a new corporate manslaughter law, as ACC was inadequate for CTV grieving families & survivors.

Coda:

May 2020. New Saltwater Hot Pools, Te Puna Taimoana, were opened on New Brighton foreshore (no traffic obstructions) near Council Library & Pier.

2024. Still no one held accountable for CTV multi-storey collapse!

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Public consultation a farce say MPs (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Open letter to the Prime Minister of NZ (The Christchurch Fiasco blog).

See Baring bums for Brighton (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Bold ideas to bring life back to area (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Hydroslides in Brighton rescue plan (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Canterbury Royal Commission Reports 1-7 (NZ Govt).

See Democracy neglected in Canterbury (The Press / Stuff Co).

See Christchurch City Council wants ECAN sidelined (The Press / Stuff Co).