NZ In Tranzit

Out bound buses loading at Northlands Mall, Christchurch July 2010. Immediately before the arrival of these buses several children on skate board,  an elderly lady, and a young family with a child in a pushchair and another three or four year old held by the hand all had to walk out onto the road itself , and along gutter area the the path of incoming buses, to get past the large group of children and other bus patrons blocking the footpath. NZ in Tranzit suggests part of car park needs be purchased to give adequate room and shelter for patrons and safe through passage for pedestrians at this prime suburban exchange spot   Photo; David Welch Hey you can't say the loud-mouthed self opinionated dwatted wabbit isn't one hotshot journalist, he's so close behind the latest hot news its still positively steaming!!  Catch this report he just chased to ground, the inside story -   "Furthermore in the city centre, and pos...

Wabbit doesn't normally do "news" (his last newshound scoop, news from 1962 was a tad past use-by-date) but loping home this afternoon he found a quiet suburban street blocked by army and police ....Christchurch gets more bizarre by the moment !!.....because a huge geyser had erupted. But rest assured dear local readers,  not a reawakening of the Lyttelton volcano (last eruption 5 million years ago or was it 12 million) - nope just a major water main playing havoc  - and I'll play newsboy [NZ "in-joke"]. No doubt the pipe has been stressed by the repeated earthquakes [a good kid's story -  "The big water pipe who couldn't" - "I just can't take anymore, I can't, I can't!!" gurgled the large concrete pipe "There. there dear you've wet yourself" said mummy earth, "And you've pissed all over me, you bloody little brat" she said throwing a large earthquake in disgust] . The pipe burst into o...

NZ in Tranzit The decision to use portacoms for waiting rooms in the temporary bus exchange appears to be another step in the degradation of Christchurch's bus service by those elected (or appointed) or hired to maintain it. According to a report in Voxy the "temporary exchange" is expected to be in use for up to two years. This dateline should be viewed with appropriate cynicism - the councils that have been elected over the last decade and a half have failed to complete many public transport project within the originally prescribed time frames, some never completed. If the council can't raise the Government funding, the moral energy, the required skill base or funding required to create a more adequate response now, with $400 million emergency funding for restoring transport in Canterbury made available for Christchurch recovery, the likelihood of achieving larger goals in this future time frame seems marginal. In what can only be described as a statement...

Probably the only element that hasn't changed in this photo of New Brighton,  taken 100 years ago,  is the obvious strength and coolness of that nor-east wind ! Groups alongside trams, Christchurch. Jones, Frederick Nelson, 1881-1962 :Negatives of the Nelson district. Ref: 1/2-025868-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22711484 The post earthquake plan put forward for New Brighton has some good features - Oram Avenue right through to Hawke Street and new entertainment centre directly across from beach and the (spectacular) library included.   However it misses the key thing that is needed - making New Brighton a place you can get a swim 365 days a year.   New Brighton has a gorgeous "here to eternity" long white beach and a good surf and by rights should be a hugely popular beach suburb but it also has on some days a killer on-shore "breeze".  The nor-easter that turns many a fine sunny day...