Christchurch earthquake
Volcanoes – not earthquakes – are Auckland’s biggest risk
Auckland is more at risk of a volcanic eruption or tsunami than Christchurch or Wellington are, but faces far less – if any – earthquake risk, according to a senior geologist.
Dr Steve Edbrooke from GNS Science, says Auckland is a low-risk earthquake area, mostly due to the boundary between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates diverging off [...]
Welcome news for Christchurch economy
It looks like good news for the Christchurch economy, with three big companies announcing plans to make major investments in the city.
Lion Nathan, Coca-Cola and Kathmandu Holdings are all committing to large-scale building projects in the city.
Lion’s Canterbury Brewery was damaged beyond repair by the quake and the company has struggled with its production since.
The [...]
Quake volunteers use the experience to study community engagement
Canterbury University students will be able to put their post-earthquake volunteer work to extra use next semester, with the introduction of a course called CHCH 101: Rebuilding Christchurch.
The 100-level, 15 point course will integrate students’ volunteer experiences after the Christchurch earthquakes with academic content on the concept of community engagement.
It will come at no cost [...]
Government contribution ‘just not enough’ to rebuild Christchurch’s heritage
The Government’s $10 million contribution to rebuilding Christchurch’s heritage buildings is not nearly enough, says the chairperson of the Earthquake Heritage Building Trust.
“The funds required to restore are inadequate,” says Anna Crighton. “The Government is contributing $10 million [but] only if $10 million is raised from other sources. In other words, they are subsidising dollar [...]
Hard times ahead for Fiordland tourism after Christchurch quake
Fiordland’s tourist industry is predicting hard times ahead as a result of the February 22 Christchurch earthquake.
Destination Fiordland’s Toni Ellis says the quake has had a detrimental effect on visitors travelling to Fiordland.
“It has particularly affected the international visitors travelling in the group market, which means that areas traditionally strong in this market such as [...]
Blind in Christchurch face even tougher challenges
The Christchurch earthquake on February 22 was terrifying for everybody concerned but for the blind and partially sighted members of that community, life has become even more complicated.
Representative for The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, Kerry Bothwell says: “The physical environment is now dramatically different. For our members who rely on their memory [...]
Christchurch drinking Auckland’s chlorine until Christmas
Christchurch City Council has praised the team of Auckland engineers who helped provide safe drinking water in the aftermath of the February earthquake, but thas said it would be months until the water supply was back to normal.
Water and waste manager Mark Christison said the speed and expertise from Auckland was a “great help”.
Watercare chief [...]
Lawrence Arabia leads shakedown for Christchurch music scene
About $4000 was raised for the Christchurch music scene at a benefit gig at the Kings Arm in Newton last week.
Respected New Zealand musicians, including Lawrence Arabia (aka James Milne), seasoned folk-popsters the Bats, and up-and-coming trio Street Chant, entertained an almost capacity crowd at the Sugarloaf Shakedown.
The benefit gig was to raise funds to [...]
Quake raises deaf community profile but NZ still lagging behind
The Christchurch quakes might have raised the profile of sign language interpreters but New Zealand still lags behind in the world, says Jeremy Borland, now known as “the sign language guy”.
Borland was one of the main interpreters working during February’s earthquake in Christchurch, helping the deaf community access vital information at Civil Defence briefings and [...]
New theatre hopes to revive Christchurch art scene
New Zealand’s largest professional theatre company is on the move in Christchurch – and getting ready to revive the city’s damaged arts scene.
Communications manager Jeff Clark says the Court Theatre was “quite badly shaken up” in the February earthquake, and has been looking for a new venue ever since.
The company was unsure the public was [...]
