Tag Archives: Christchurch

SuPPPer School for Aranui – ‘devil beast’ for all of us

Yet another brick in the wall? The Education Ministry’s $41 million proposed year 1-13 super school for Christchurch is set to be funded by the private sector, a document reveals. The document, obtained by APNZ, outlines advice given to Education … Continue reading

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Back to school in happy town

How are you feeling? If you’re in Christchurch, CERA thinks you’re doing really well. A media release cheerily announced that ‘Wellbeing Survey reveals positive outlook‘. Conducted for CERA by Nielsen Research from August to October, 2012, “2,381 residents completed questionnaires [of whom] … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Freedom, New Zealand Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

And to the victors, the spoils – ‘business as usual’ in Christchurch

[Warning: Very Long Post] The strangely mis-named Christchurch and Canterbury ‘recovery’ continues to unfold in highly predictable ways. Even Christchurch’s arsonists appear to have aligned their activity with the interests of the ‘recovery’ – or at least with the plans … Continue reading

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From the ‘Gomer Pyle’ files – Boys’ High Head Trevor McIntyre Resigns

Boys High Head Trevor McIntyre Resigns | Stuff.co.nz. [A very short post!] For those who paid any attention to the announcements over Christchurch schools (including my previous posts on the topic), it will come as no surprise that Trevor McIntyre … Continue reading

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The school of hard knocks and ‘the curious incident of the dog …’ – Part II

What was it all for? One answer has been given by the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata: The education sector, just like everything else in greater Christchurch, has experienced huge disruption due to the earthquakes. Buildings have been damaged and … Continue reading

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The school of hard knocks and ‘the curious incident of the dog…’ – Part I

Often the best way to learn something is the hard way. You tend not to forget when you get bruised in the process. If that’s the case, then many Cantabrians are gaining memorable lessons about what it is like to … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Education, Freedom, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

ECan, the government and the ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’

It is hard to understand why it appears to have received so little attention or commentary nationwide (with some honourable exceptions). The extension of the rule of the ECAN Commissioners announced by David Carter (Local Government Minister) and Amy Adams … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Economics, Fascism, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Coming up for air in the New Jerusalem

The grand plan for New Zealand’s own ‘New Jerusalem’ has been revealed. The excited assurances that, indeed, the Promised Land has been glimpsed have been echoing around the media ( e.g., here, here, here, here, here and here) – fired in perfect sequence, like a 21 gun salute. … Continue reading

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A rainy Christmas Day in Christchurch

Monday night last week was like Christmas Eve in Christchurch. As the evening darkened, the presents – carefully wrapped and prettily presented by the best PR Christmas wrappers CERA could buy – were lain beneath the brightly lit Christmas Tree … Continue reading

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Under cover, under hand and under the radar – ‘all about sport’ in Christchurch

The Prime Minister, John Key, has come out in favour of a “world-class covered stadium” for Christchurch. At the time of writing, opinion on the accompanying stuff poll is split 52% in favour and 48% opposed (485 votes). It has … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments