Muddling through in Chch

19 comments on “Muddling through in Chch ”

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1. Afewknowthetruth 1

   28 September 2011 at 11:16 am

   It’s not just a Christchurch/Canterbury phenomenon: the muddling through until it all collapses philosophy is being applied throughout the nation.

   In fact it goes further than that. The philosophy in vogue at the moment is: squander the last of our precious resources on idiotic projects and distractions.

   The dumbed-down masses love it.
   • Bored 1.1

     28 September 2011 at 11:29 am

     Too right: I have taken to heart the approach of leading by doing it. Cant wait for politicians, markets, and all the associated charlatans.

     At work we will carry on by ensuring that our operation scales to suit market conditions, keeping cash reserves and being very brutal with costs and debts. Like any business we are not a welfare organisation so if we have to lose people it is to keep the rest of us working.

     At home its get rid of all debts and exposures, ensure food and water contingencies are in place..its fairly easy to get to this stage if you dont have a mortgage….if you do problems abound.
2. Hemebond 2

   28 September 2011 at 11:24 am

   That “left for overseas” link doesn’t seem to work.
3. Andrew 3

   28 September 2011 at 5:30 pm

   Does anyone on this blog live in Christchurch. We have half the damaged buildings down, every time I venture into the CBD new land has opened up. 10,000 is nothing considering the damage to the city. That amounts to only 0.025% of the regions population and from my experience most intend to move back when the city is back on it’s feet or are those afraid of the aftershocks, which the government cannot control (maybe labour has a plan I am unaware of). As we are coming into spring, businesses have settled into the new reality and we have all adjust to life in the suburbs, the city certainly had a positive feel. Overall the vast majority of red zoners are happy with the offer and thankful we live in a country which does not cast aside those hit by disaster. Of those unhappy, perhaps they can put forward a more cogent argument as to why the working class should pay for maintaining middle class home equity to a greater extent than they currently are.
4. Andrew 4

   28 September 2011 at 5:30 pm

   Does anyone on this blog live in Christchurch. We have half the damaged buildings down, every time I venture into the CBD new land has opened up. 10,000 is nothing considering the damage to the city. That amounts to only 0.025% of the regions population and from my experience most intend to move back when the city is back on it’s feet or are those afraid of the aftershocks, which the government cannot control (maybe labour has a plan I am unaware of). As we are coming into spring, businesses have settled into the new reality and we have all adjust to life in the suburbs, the city certainly had a positive feel. Overall the vast majority of red zoners are happy with the offer and thankful we live in a country which does not cast aside those hit by disaster. Of those unhappy, perhaps they can put forward a more cogent argument as to why the working class should pay for maintaining middle class home equity to a greater extent than they currently are.
   • Colonial Viper 4.1

     28 September 2011 at 5:55 pm

     Overall the vast majority of red zoners are happy with the offer and thankful we live in a country which does not cast aside those hit by disaster.

     I reckon your post is total NAT astroturfing, but let me give you the benefit of the doubt for a sec and just answer me this:

     Which survey did you use to ascertain that “the vast majority of red zoners are happy with the offer”. How is it you even know that the vast majority have responded positively to their red zone offers?

     Or did you ask them all yourself individually to find that out?
   • Rijab 4.2

     28 September 2011 at 7:08 pm

     Hey Andrew, I live in Christchurch and have met people who have both found satisfaction with the red zone offers by the Government, but also many who are in despair. I cannot fault the Government for coming to the aid of the people but more action is needed, urgently. I notice you mention you are unaware of Labour’s plan, check out their campaign site which details all aspects of their plan for Canterbury.

     http://www.ownourfuture.co.nz/canterbury
5. Andrew 5

   28 September 2011 at 7:21 pm

   Viper,

   I don’t know what astroturfing is so i’ll leave that to one side. As far as I am aware there has never been a survey of Red Zoners as to whether they are happy or not. I do know that a protest 2 weeks ago was attended by 200 people only out of 6000 red zoned properties and approximately 15,000 people minimum, a portion of that included those who do not live in the redzone. Considering their life savings are at stake I consider this a very low number to attend.

   I also work in a profession which deals with red zoners and from a survey of colleagues it appears that yes, the vast majority are thankful we live in a country which is prepared to bail them out. Remember the government was under no obligation to do so.

   Concerns seem to hinge on whether they will be paid for kitchen and bathroom upgrades. I simply cant see the argument as to why someone like myself, who is saving for a first home and is currently renting and paying tax, should pay though tax to preserve the equity created by someones investment in a fancy kitchen?
   • bbfloyd 5.1

     28 September 2011 at 7:54 pm

     it seems that to be able to compare ourselves favorably with the likes of haiti is proof of what a good job the govt is doing…..laughable if it wasn’t being taken seriously by a few deluded souls…

     sounds exactly like the sort of bullshit “old pink eyes” would use to escape his responsibilities…..

     yes, the response has been more western, as in texas western… (shades of new orleans)..

     the rest of your argument is meaningless word games andy…..you’re gonna have to go back to the boss for some ideas…although he’s looking like he’s been on a three week bender by the looks of him..must be at least two months since his last holiday…. needs another before he gives himself cirrhosis of the liver….so he might not be useful for that at presesnt.
   • Colonial Viper 5.2

     29 September 2011 at 12:53 am

     BS

     Can’t even google “astroturfing” eh?

     the vast majority are thankful we live in a country which is prepared to bail them out. Remember the government was under no obligation to do so.

     You’re a neolib asshole at heart. I can tell because the concept of a “social contract” is not one you are familiar with.

     Turns out your assertion of “vast majority happy” is full of shit too. You did a survey of your colleagues? How did you ensure there were no double counts? How is it that your colleagues could tell most red zoners were happy before most could even open their offer letters? Where were the numbers published, asshole.

     Your team need better astroturfers you’re all too fucking transparent.

     Next handle please.
6. Andrew 6

   28 September 2011 at 7:35 pm

   Rijab,

   I have read Labours plan in detail. I was referring to a plan to stop aftershocks (sarcasm is hard to write in text).

   They want to pay for those fancy kitchens I mentioned earlier at our expense. They are going to buy 1500 sections and sell them at cost, when the red zoners where paid on 2007 market value? seems like property development at the risk if tax payers. No mention as to who gets to take up this amazing land deal or how the government will decide which are the lucky families and why they get cheap sections and not the thousands of other families deserving of good housing.

   They want to create an additional layer of bureaucracy between CERA and the government to somehow speed things up. Insurance commissioner is good old fashioned labour policy of giving some dude a title and claiming they did something. Then will be insurer of last resort, well the government has not ruled this out and it would be on the cards for any government if things ever got that bad.

   I like using youth unemployment to fill skills gap and would support this but isnt much use in the short term, it takes years to train an apprentice
   • Rijab 6.1

     28 September 2011 at 7:43 pm

     Sorry I should have noticed if I had actually taken a moment to reread the actual sentence preceding it!

     We’re never going to be able to control the aftershocks, just like we’re unlikely to ever predict when a quake will hit other areas of New Zealand. That is no reason for the Government not to act if Insurance companies are unwilling. (we have to have insurance one way or another … right?)

     The fancy kitchens is a bit of a stretched call don’t you think? Have you talked to any of these people supposedly asking to have their fancy kitchens covered? I think most of them are actually people who are only asking to have their equity fairly determined, simply because their value is unfairly represented by the 2007 valuation.

     I like to think that the Labour policy has come about by the hardworking Canterbury MPs who have been on the ground with residents for the last 12 months ensuring they understand what is needed. I think all of their measures are steps in the right direction, and hopefully National will choose to take up much of the substance.
7. Andrew 7

   28 September 2011 at 7:53 pm

   Well when rating valuations are determined, the documents clearly prescribe how to challenge the figure if owners think it is too low. Guess how many do it….

   None. Because no one wants to pay more rates, if the differences are as bad as they claim, they have only themselves to blame for not being prepared to pay the proper rating amounts on their properties. Any improvements beyond this date I am prepared to say fall into the category of fancy kitchens (or new kitchens if you prefer)
   • bbfloyd 7.1

     28 September 2011 at 8:13 pm

     which financial year are you referring to andy? i can’t imagine that the council would be assessing properties for rates in the red zone for this year…so it would be last years valuation levels you allude to…which if true, makes a nonsense of your argument…. why don’t you just accept that you’ve been sprung… cv had you nailed….

     and please, don’t waste my time demeaning whole communities by alleging blanket greed or dishonesty in order to avoid a few dollars in rates… to allow the land to be undervalued would cost more through lower sale prices than any perceived savings in rates…. anyone who has sold a house would understand that the value of any house is the land it sits on….
8. Afewknowthetruth 8

   28 September 2011 at 8:45 pm

   Andrew.

   If you are waiting for the shaking to stop you may have to wait 5 years. The Earth is in no hurry.

   With respect to people turning up to meetings, do note that a lack of people is simply indicative of nothing other than the apathy or feeling of powerlessness that characterises most NZers.

   A while ago I went to a series of climate change meetings -climate change being THE big issue of our times. There were about 12 people there from a population of 60,000, i.e. 0.02% attendance.
   At a recent environmental film festival there were 8 people there, i.e. 0.012%

   Anyway, don’t worry about Christchurch: most of Christchurch will be under water soon enough. (The meltdown of the planet is accelerating). Move to higher ground if you are really concerned about the future.
9. Afewknowthetruth 9

   28 September 2011 at 10:41 pm

   ‘The recovery ‘delayed‘ again. It’s clear we still haven’t hit bottom.’

   I’ve just had a look at that link. What a laugh!

   You’d have to be a complete idiot to believe anything NZIER says.

   They have a graph showing a clear trend downwards they do not like the look of, so they conjure some figures out of thin air and draw a graph that goes up for some mysterious reason, so that it shows a recovery.

   It used be called talking up the market. Post peak oil the chances of talking up the market are exactly zero.
   • muzza 9.1

     29 September 2011 at 12:41 am

     If if were not all so tragic that most of those (who read news at all) are blissfully happy yo believe the BS which continually spouted in the MSM.
     NZ has become such a sorry place to lay witness to.
     We are some considerable distance away from the bottom, however that does not mean it is considerable time period away. It might happen quickly…No I dont want it to, no I am not a doom-monger, yes I am a realist who researches & understands the sytems and what they all mean!
10. Brett Dale 10

    29 September 2011 at 12:41 pm

    The streets here are screwed, the cbd will never be the same, I dont see how it ever get back to how it was.
11. Andrew 11

    29 September 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Yes, travel is rough and the old style large cbd is certainly not going to emerge as firms enjoy cheap rent in the suburbs and realize that with computer communication and mobile technology it is no longer essential to be close to one another, but a new style city will emerge in years to come, which hopefully draws people into the CBD for the parks, Avon, social life and cultural precinct. We just need to hang in there and work through it. From reading this blog anyone would have thought National caused the earthquake and is to blame for every bad thing that has flowed from it.

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