Ali's Blog

185 Hearts is a tribute to the 185 people who lost their lives in the February 22nd Christchurch Earthquake.

185 hand painted stones were placed and photographed around our city. Some stones are brightly painted and sit in wide open spaces while others have a subtle splash of colour and nestle in the cracks of our city.

Check out for them  around the inner city streets, Latimer Square, Cashel Mall and Hagley Park.

If you find one take a moment to reflect and remember.

1 Comment | In: Christchurch- City Life | | #

 This is so good I have reprinted it in full- it is written by Vicki Anderson, who has written some great pieces since Feb 2012, and was published in The Press and on the stuff.co.nz website

After the shock, this is what it means to me to live in Christchurch right now.

It means waking up with uncertainty in my soul each morning.

It means to inwardly wince when my children jump at a car backfiring, mistaking it for an aftershock.

It means watching my 4-year-old son shaking his fist at the ground during an aftershock and cry "stop scaring me" and being powerless to stop his pain.

It means financial hardship and struggle.

It means watching your children lose a layer of innocence.

It means watching those you love battle unemployment.

It means an uncertain future

It means thinking "but I'm not over it" when you hear other people say how over it they are.

It means watching an elderly couple with poor health leave their once proud, now ruined, Avonside home of 40 years, with tears streaming down their faces.

It means getting upset when someone says: "Why don't you just leave?"

It means coming to work and having a colleague show you the photos they took of themselves on their cellphone when they were trapped by fallen concrete. And, when they say: "If things got worse I wanted them to know the body was mine".  It means not knowing how to respond without weeping uncontrollably.

It means being described as "brave and resilient" when you feel scared and traumatised.

It means laughing for the wrong reasons at the Novus "show us your crack" TV commercial.

It means endless goodbyes at the airport, watching lifelong friends leave for a new life in another country.

It means watching people you love crack.

It means taking your car to the garage a lot for its munted suspension

It means telling people you live in Christchurch and feel forced to add "but the house I'm in is OK now".

It means getting used to moving house.

It means wherever you go you're usually outnumbered by people wearing fluoro vests.

It means witnessing on a daily basis people's ability for kindness and understanding.

It means being humbled by fellow Cantabrians' inventiveness and spirit.

It means acknowledging, more than ever before, the need to be more patient and understanding with everyone you meet.

It means always checking that the cupboards are full of dry food and the emergency kit is OK.

It means discovering who really cares about you and who just says they do.

It means trying to keep the car full of petrol in case "something" happens.

It means waking each morning knowing that today could be the day another big one hits.

It means thinking every day: 'Today might be the day we have to flee our house; am I prepared?'

It means never parking your car under or close to a big building.It means watching my 12-year-old daughter mature overnight because of her earthquake experience into a caring, wise, young woman.

It means being frightened of simple things like catching a bus or going to a mall, and gradually conquering those fears.

It means only shopping where you feel safe, constantly aware of what is beside you and above you while you do so.

It means entering a building and immediately scoping out somewhere you could shelter if a quake were to hit.

It means always checking your cellphone is fully charged.

It means showering more quickly than you used to with a cellphone within reach. Who wants to be naked if "it" happens again?

It means truly cherishing each moment you have with those you love.

I want those who live elsewhere to understand that we still have the capacity to be happy.

But, yes, some days we feel as broken as the buildings in the CBD.

I want Kiwis around New Zealand and overseas to truly know how deeply we feel their kindness, how thankful we are of ordinary Kiwis who did their best to fill our brokenness with their heartfelt words, hugs, songs, offers of holiday accommodation and fundraising efforts.

I don't want to remember

But I cannot forget that day

I cannot forget the days the earth roared

I cannot stop imagining the pain and suffering of those who lost their lives or who were trapped or injured on February 22

I cannot forget the fear on the faces of my fellow Cantabrians

In the last year I have learned to make peace with the anxiety that walks beside me

But for now it is always there, just under the surface, like the faultlines.

1 Comment | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | | #

Local artist Henry Sunderland's idea of brightening up our city by decorating the road cones with flowers really took off, and it was heartening driving round the city yesterday to see how many road cones had gained flowers overnight. Thanks to everyone for brightening our lives and puttinga  smile on our faces on a very sad day. I hear flowers sprang up in a number of places across the world and wonder what Londoners made of the roadcones and flowers in their city.

These ones were taken on the route to my son's school-it is not an easy route, through the heart of the residential red zone with abandoned houses and empty sections everywhere, with many roads closed and continual diversions and roadworks, yet yesterday we all drove through with a smile as every cone had been decorated.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

One year on we gathered and remembered the events of February 22nd 2011, and the impact it has for all of us in Christchurch.

We are a very different city now- not only physically, but emotionally- that day changed our world for ever- for the worse and for the better. We have seen amazing acts of bravery, untiring acts of service, the support and aroha of our friends & our families and a coming together to communities, especially in the harder hit areas (such as where we live).

We are tired, and sometimes a bit grumpy, but I think on the whole we are better people now. We are nicer to each other, we value our families more, and no longer take things for granted, and we genuinely care about each other and about our city. 

Yesterday we looked back and remembered, we thought of those who did not make it, those who continue to endure the injuries or losses they suffered, for the buildings and landmarks that are no more, and for the sense of complacency that we all had in our lives.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

Gap Filler is a creative urban regeneration initiative started in response to the September 4, 2010 Canterbury earthquake, and revised and expanded in light of the more destructive February 22, 2011 quake. It is now administered by the Gap Filler Charitable Trust.

Gap Filler aims to temporarily activate vacant sites within Christchurch with creative projects, to make for a more interesting, dynamic and vibrant city.

Gap Filler uses vacant sites – awaiting redevelopment as a result of the many earthquakes or otherwise and utilises them for temporary, creative, people-centred purposes. They work with local community groups, artists, architects, landowners, librarians, designers, engineers, dancers – anyone with an idea and initiative! The Trust assists by handling the legal contracts and liability insurance, to help ideas become a reality.

Gap Filler is temporary in nature, seeking to activate vacant sites for relatively short periods, to demonstrate that the city can grow in important ways without large capital expenditure or major construction. Gap Filler projects can pop up as spaces become available around the city. All projects will be able to occupy or vacate a site quickly. See below for the map of current projects.

Photos taken from the Gap Filler project in North New Brighton. The pianos have been donated by the Christchurch School of Music, and painted by University of Canterbury students.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | | #

I had intended to post this on December 23rd which was the day that we went to the Canterbury Musuem, but the events of that afternoon (a 5.8, followed by a magnitude 6.0)  rather distrated us, and here we are 3 weeks later and I finally get round to finishing the post off.

At the Museum I was thrilled to come across this amazing exhibiton. Not amazing in contrast to many of the exhibits they have had over the years, but amazing in the love and aroha which went into the production of the hearts.

After the earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February 2011 and caused so much loss of life and damage to our city, the whole of New Zealand rallied round and supported our city. There was a general sense of sorrow and support for our communities, which was very much appreciated by all of us down here

People talked about their hearts going out to Christchurch and Evie Harris, a member of the stitich-craft community from Napier started to gather hearts made for Christchurch.

"I don’t think there is a minute in the day when the word Christchurch isn’t in my head – sometimes with nothing other than the word. It is what is in the hearts of other that have helped launch this journey and the gathering has begun."

What started, at first, as a gentle trickle soon became a torrent, as hearts started arriving from all over New Zealand and shortly after, from all over the world. Stitching groups from New Zealand, Australia, Europe, North and South America, Asia and the Pacific have amassed over 4000 lovingly crafted hearts.

If you would like to contribute to this wonderful memorial, her address is

Hearts for Christchurch 
c/- Evie Harris

523 Main North Road 
Bay View 
Napier 4104 
New Zealand

2 Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | | #

It hasn't been a great year for our area, with severe land damage from the earhquakes and with at least 50% of the houses in this area (ours included) needing to be demolished-however this montage shown on the chch earthquake facebook page reminds me once again why we love the area.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch. | #

What we came home to after the 2 big quakes-now filling in contents claim #5 for the year

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

We all had such high hopes of the Christmas holidays-time to recharge the batteries after what has really been an annus horribilis for everyone in Canterbury, but no Mother Nature had another wee trick or two up her sleeve and hit us with two major quakes on Fiday (23rd) afternoon. 

As the website below shows since then we have a rock and roll ride as more and more aftershocks hit our poor city.

The shocks have all been centered just off the coast from where we live, and are felt strongly in the East of the city. We were actually on the beach at Sumner when the first one hit, very scary for our visitors from Sweden, and a bit unnervy for me as only one road out of their past cliff faces which have been crumbling since February. Luckily the council have put shipping containers at the bottom of the cliffs, so although the beach got dust everywhere when the cliff face collapsed, the road remained clear and we managed to escape home relatively unscathed.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

Reprinted in full from WeCan site

From the centre of three earthquakes we write this letter to you, the people of New Zealand.

Can we ask you to listen to us?

Please hear our hearts' cry.

We would like to know what is really happening to the people of Canterbury. What you have been led to

believe is not the reality for thousands of Cantabrians. There has been dishonesty in the way the

Government has portrayed their handling of people affected by the earthquakes. They are not telling the

truth.

There were never 11,000 sections ready for more than 5,000 displaced households as stated by Mr

Brownlee on a street corner in June. There is no affordable land in Canterbury for many of these people.

Our Government, on your behalf, are forcing thousands from their land with no hope of being able to

purchase new land. This will become another dark reality in our history and we are the generation

allowing this to happen.

Rateable value is not market value. Mr Brownlee's statement to our nation that 'the offers are extremely

fair' is dishonest. He has the facts in front of him and he knows for over 2000 people rateable value is not

the value of their home's equity. Yet he persists in telling you the opposite. He is not telling you the truth.

The Government knows people throughout Canterbury are in major battles with their insurance

companies. The Government has left us to fight these corporates on our own. Elderly New Zealanders

are being financially slaughtered by corporate giants; many Cantabrians are in this terrible fight. These

insurance companies who have been receiving our full replacement premiums for decades are arguing

over fine print to minimize their responsibility. There is a level of dishonesty flowing through many

insurance claims. They break their own Fair Insurance Code by failing to act in good faith with openness

and fairness in their dealings with clients. Their secrecy and now their escalation of premiums will mean

billions will flow from this country in the decades to come. We New Zealanders need to stand up and

demand a fair deal from our insurance industry. We need the Government to stand up for all New

Zealanders in this fight, but instead they collude with the insurance companies in back room deals.

Many Cantabrians now have their land branded and stigmatized. Some areas with homes hardly

affected by the quakes are being forced off their land and other areas where most homes are seriously

hit must stay on their land. It is reasonable and fair for people to know why. The government needs to be

more honest and transparent about the full logic behind these decisions.

Cantabrians throughout our region have been asking, pleading for open dialogue with this Government.

There has been and is a systematic shutdown from Mr Brownlee and this Government to the people of

Canterbury. Key decisions for our future are made without consultation. Our heritage is being destroyed

in the inner city. Our houses and magnificent trees are being cleared in the red zone with no thought to

the future. We have asked for a Memorial River Park to be created to honor those who have left their

land due to the earthquakes. This reserve will be a testament to what has happened here in Canterbury.

All we get is silence. The lack of listening to our people is frightening. We have zero say or control on

what is taking place on this land of ours.

New Zealand, we know this is hard to hear. We know our 'quake struggles' since 4 September 2010

have been immense. We know many of you wish it would just go away.

We also know that this letter is the reality.

There is an elephant in the room of this nation and it is Canterbury.

Please do not shut yourself off to our plight.

Please back us when you hear us battling on so many fronts.

We are ordinary kiwis like you.

We are not wanting something we do not deserve.

We want a reasonable outcome considering the premiums and levies we have paid for decades.

We want an open and fair process. This is all any of you would ever ask for.

To make this happen, we need an independent advocacy to support us who are battling. The Ombudsman is not resourced or able to meet this need.

We need an independent Advocacy Commission.

We are asking the Government in this letter to implement this body on our behalf. We are asking them to

do what they said in their June cabinet papers they would do, provide some way to a mediation and

disputes process. This advocacy commission is vital for fair outcomes for all.

Please New Zealand, hear this reality and get behind us. Support us. We are also doing this for you. We

are paving the way in case you are struck by a disaster of this magnitude.

From this day on let this be out catch cry,

We will listen to the concerns of people in this nation,

We will strive to seek fairness and justice for every man, woman and child in this wonderful country of

ours, Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Rev Mike Coleman

On Behalf of WeCan!

and the many Cantabrians who are struggling to be heard.

November 2011

3 Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: earthquake. | #

McAfee's 12 Scams of Christmas

1. Mobile Malware: Malware targeted at mobile devices is on the rise, and Android smartphones are most at risk. McAfee cites a 76 per cent increase in malware targeted at Android devices in the second quarter of 2011 over the first, making it the most targeted smartphone platform.

New malware has recently been found that targets QR ('Quick Response') codes, a digital barcode that consumers might scan with their smartphone to find good deals, or just to learn about products they want to buy.

2. Malicious Mobile Applications: These are mobile apps designed to steal information from smartphones or send out expensive text messages without a user's consent. Dangerous apps are usually offered for free and masquerade as fun applications, such as games. For example, last year 4.6 million Android smartphone users downloaded a suspicious wallpaper app that collected and transmitted user data to a site in China.

3. Phony Facebook Promotions and Contests: Who doesn't want to win free prizes or get a great deal around the holidays? Unfortunately, cyberscammers know that these are attractive lures and target Facebook with phony promotions and contests aimed at gathering personal information.

A recent scam advertised two free airline tickets, but required participants to fill out multiple surveys requesting personal information.

4. Scareware, or Fake Antivirus software: Scareware is the fake antivirus software that tricks someone into believing that their computer is at risk—or already infected—so they agree to download and pay for phony software. This is one of the most common and dangerous Internet threats today, with an estimated one million victims falling for this scam each day. In October 2010, McAfee reported that scareware represented 23 per cent of all dangerous Internet links, and it has been resurgent in recent months.

5. Holiday Screensavers: Bringing holiday cheer to your home or work PC sounds like a fun idea to get into the holiday spirit, but be careful. A recent search for a Santa screensaver that promises to let you "fly with Santa in 3D" is malicious.  Holiday-themed ringtones and e-cards have been known to be malicious too. Perform a security scan on the file before installing or sending the file.

6. Mac Malware: Until recently, Mac users felt pretty insulated from online security threats, since most were targeted at PCs. But with the growing popularity of Apple products for both business and personal use, cybercriminals have designed a new wave of malware directed at Mac users. According to McAfee LabsTM, as of late 2010 there were 5,000 pieces of malware targeting Macs, and this number is increasing by 10 per cent month on month.

7. Holiday Phishing Scams: Phishing is the act of using phony email or social media posts to trick consumers into revealing information or performing actions they wouldn't normally do online. Cyberscammers know that most people are busy around the holidays so they tailor their emails and social messages with holiday themes in the hopes of tricking recipients into revealing personal information.

• A common holiday phishing scam is a phony notice from UPS, saying you have a package and need to fill out an attached form to get it delivered.

   

  The form may ask for personal or financial details that will go straight into the hands of the cyberscammer.

• Banking phishing scams continue to be popular and the holiday season means consumers will be spending more money—and checking bank balances more often. From July to September of this year, McAfee Labs identified approximately 2,700 phishing URLs per day.
• Smishing — SMS phishing — remains a concern. Scammers send their fake messages via a text alert to a phone, notifying an unsuspecting consumer that his bank account has been compromised. The cybercriminals then direct the consumer to call a phone number to get it re-activated—and collects the user's personal information including Social Security number, address, and account details.

8. Online Coupon Scams: An estimated 63 per cent of shoppers search for online coupons or deals when they purchase something on the Internet. But watch out, because the scammers know that by offering an irresistible online coupon, they can get people to hand over some of their personal information.

• One popular scam is to lure consumers with the hope of winning a "free" iPad. Consumers click on a phishing site, which can result in email spam and possibly dealing with identify theft.
• Consumers are offered an online coupon code and, once they agree, are asked to provide personal information, including credit-card details, passwords and other financial data.

9. Mystery Shopper Scams: Mystery shoppers are people who are hired to shop in a store and report back on the customer service.  Sadly, scammers are now using this fun job to try to lure people into revealing personal and financial information.  There have been reports of scammers sending text messages to victims, offering to pay them $50 an hour to be a mystery shopper and instructing them to call a number if they are interested.  Once the victim calls, they are asked for their personal information, including credit card and bank account numbers.

10. Hotel "Wrong Transaction" Malware Emails: Many people travel over the holidays, so it is no surprise that scammers have designed travel-related scams in the hopes of getting us to click on dangerous emails. In one recent example, a scammer sent out emails that appeared to be from a hotel, claiming that a "wrong transaction" had been discovered on the recipient's credit card.  It then asked them to fill out an attached refund form. Once opened, the attachment downloads malware onto their machine.

11. "It" Gift Scams: Every year there are hot holiday gifts, such as toys and gadgets, that sell out early in the season. When a gift is hot, not only do sellers mark up the price, but scammers will also start advertising these gifts on rogue websites and social networks, even if they don't have them.  So, consumers could wind up paying for an item and giving away credit card details only to receive nothing in return. Once the scammers have the personal financial details, there is little recourse.

12. "I'm away from home" Scammers: Posting information about a holiday on social networking sites could potentially be dangerous. Someone connected with that poster on Facebook or other social networking sites could see their post and decide that it may be a good time to rob them.  Furthermore, a quick online search can easily turn up their home address.

"We don't want consumers to be haunted by the scams of holidays past, present and future," said Jim Walter, manager at McAfee Labs. "With the increase in malware and other attacks on smartphones, tablets and Macs, users need to stay vigilant and ensure they protect all of their devices, not just their home PC — they can't afford to leave the door open to cyber-grinches during the busy holiday season."

How to Protect Yourself
Internet users can protect themselves from cybercrime with the following quick tips from McAfee:

• Only download mobile apps from official app stores, such as iTunes and the Android Market, and read user reviews before downloading them.
• Be extra vigilant when reviewing and responding to emails.
• Watch out for too-good-to-be-true offers on social networks (like free airline tickets). Think twice before you reveal your address, financial or other such personal information just to participate in a promotion.
• Don't accept requests on social networks from people you don't know in real life.
• Wait to post pictures and comments about your holiday until you've already returned home.

NOte hve reprinted this is full from Yahoo as thought it would be useful. Thanks.

No Comments | In: Uncategorized | | #

Yesterday the first shops reopened in our City Mall. In February 4 people died in that street, and many more were injured, so I did not know how I would react going back there but it looked so different as so much has been demolished, that it felt OK.

Great sign- the restart of our city, right here, right now.

Lots of planters, greenery and seats to soften the atmosphere.

Graet to see Johnson's the Grocers reopened- with Mr Johnson and family behind the counter. Frys Chocolate Cream, Yorkie bar and Walkers Cheese and Onion crisps-yum:)

There are even 2 coffee shops in the new mall, so we can now have meetings again in the central city.

Liked the cover of thid brochure from Ballantynes- "Back where we belong"- yes we are.

Diggers and demolition ensure you don't forget where you are-there is still an awful lot to do.

There was a lot of interest in the Red Zone-tantalisingly close behind the cordons. Both the Hotel Grand Chancellor (tall left building) and the Westpac Centre (Backright) will be coming down.

Nevertheless this is our new reality, and it felt great to be back amongst the city we love.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

Friday morning get a phonecall from local press to say that there was likely to be a land announcement that afternoon- till then we thought there would just be another holding announcement where they announce when they might announce the decision. They asked how I felt- it was hard to say, we have been in limbo for so long, it was hard to believe that we might finally get a decision.

The day dragged on- we had TV, 2 radio stations and multiple websites set up, the appointed time came and went, not sure why they did not do a live broadcast given that over 7,000 people were potentially affected by the news. Eventually a phone call from the press conference- All greeen. The news we had been waiting for since February, we can rebuild on our land.

However it is not as easy as that as not only are we green, we are now blue (Christchurch has become a very colourful city with the multiple colours we now have on our maps). Blue means that  we are Technical Category 3 (TC3) "For properties in TC3 (blue), moderate to significant land damage from liquefaction is possible in future significant earthquakes. Foundation solutions should be based on site-specific geotechnical investigation and specific engineering foundation design where foundation repairs or rebuilds are needed. This might involve deep pile solutions" (full details on the CERA website). We have no idea what this will mean long term-there are rumours that remedial work on the land could add tens of thousands to rebuild costs and that insurance companies are baulking at the additional costs they will have to wear.  I worry that insurance companies will try to fix houses rather than rebuild to save money, and worry that the insurance company has not yet confirmed our house will be demolished, although we have had 5 different structural engineers say it cannot be fixed. Long term what will happen with house prices- who will want to buy houses on blue land, and then of course the usual questions-how long will it all take, when will we have to move out and where will we live whilst they rebuild?

So we wanted to go green, I have worried for months we woud go red, but now blue? We all ended up feeling a bit flat- red would have been sad, but at least it was a decision. Now we feel we are just at the start of a another long journey.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: earthquake. | #

Photos by Ross Becker 

The words of Martin Edmond have been circulating around for the past few months- he was describing the changing face of central Sydney, but for us it is Christchurch we have lost control of. Since people ran for their lives during the lunchtime of 22 February the city has belonged to others-first Civil Defence whilst we lived under a state of emergency with the army guarding every possible entrance to the city centre, and then later by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) who now control access to the CBD.

Since then the city we know has changed forever with over 600 buildings already demolished and a similare number still to go. The photos above and the one below (photographer unknown) show the devastation to the central city and the large gaps where buildings used to be. Already we are forgetting what was there and our history is disappearing more and more ecah day. In his article in today's Press  Phillip Matthews ponders whether we are ready to go back in and see the changes. In the coming weeks one small area will be opened with shipping containers converted into shops, later on bus tours will be started to let locals (and visitors I suppose if they want) to view the central city.

In the same addition Martin van Beynen encourages us to reclaim our city  "Instead of boarding the probably sanitised bus tours, we should be tearing down the fences, streaming into the city like a vanquishing horde and reclaiming what is rightfully ours". Whilst residents to appreciate that safety is important, by closing off the city for what is now exactly 8 months we have been isolated from the full horror of the destruction, I think will find it harder to adjust when we return to a landscape which bears no resemblance to our memories.

A bus tour won't work for me- I need to do this in my time, stopping and mourning at places that were (are?) important to me, the thought of being shut on a bus on a whistle stop tour of collective grief leaves me cold. As van Benyen says " Christchurch people and visitors should be allowed to take their time, feel the cold wind on their faces, smell the decay, turn away from the dust (wearing dust masks, of course) and look up unimpeded at the buildings being stripped ready for being smashed to bits".

We need once agin for the city to belong to us.

No Comments | In: Aotearoa, Christchurch- City Life | tags: Christchurch, earthquake. | #

“Hope transforms pessimism into optimism. Hope is invincible. Hope changes everything. It changes winter into summer, darkness into dawn, descent into ascent, barrenness into creativity, agony into joy. Hope is the sun. It is light. It is passion. It is the fundamental force for life’s blossoming.”

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