Day 68 - Local contact people needed

Addington Action needs a community minded person on each street as the point of contact for their neighbours. They will become a volunteer member of the Addington Action committee which meets monthly for an hour. They need to keep an eye out for;

• Homes that need emergency repairs
• Is a family in your street going hungry
• People who want to help

Contact Addington Action if you want to help.

Day 67 - it's solidarity not charity

I got asked a few weeks ago a question about "Addington Action's clients".

These people are not clients, they are our neigbours, friends, family, workmates.

We are not giving charity to people - it's simple human solidarity. Treating people the way all people deserve to be treated. This is important because there are very proud people in Addington who are in a bit of a pickle and who don't want to accept charity. Solidarity is a different kettle of fish - it works both ways.

And one other point, we are not speaking for those who can't speak for themselves. We are the people and we can speak for ourselves thank you.

Day 66 - Addington Action makes a plan

Yesterday, the committee decided on a course of action over the coming months to meet the challenges facing Addington residents from the unfolding social disaster in Christchurch.

• Make sure every home that needs emergency repairs gets them
• Reach out to immigrants in their own languages
• Organise repairs to uninsured homes of elderly or disabled residents
• Open a bank account to collect donations to pay for building materials
• Organise food distribution to the hungry
• Provide a point of local contact
• Help with the next Addington concert and fair in October

In recent weeks, Addington Action has been approached by organisations looking for ways to help, including Red Cross, Rotary, builders and others. To use this help to maximum advantage, a lot of preplanning will be done over the next few weeks before kicking into action.

Local residents with proven leadership skills are being approached to strengthen the committee.

Day 65 - SPCA 'Chip your Pet'

Maximize your chances of being reunited with your pet during or after a disaster or at any time…

Get your pet microchipped and registered on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR)

Hundreds of cats and dogs ran in fright after the February 6.3 earthquake. Many have returned home but some are still missing, separated from their owners.

Microchipping Facts:

• Over 80 per cent of animals that are microchipped are successfully reunited with their owners
• Microchipping does not hurt nor harm your pet’s health
• The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice
• The microchip lasts the lifetime of your pet
• Each chip has a number and when an animal is microchipped, the owner’s details are recorded against that number onto the NZCAR database.
• Vet clinics and SPCAs have access to the New Zealand Companion Animal Register
• If your animal is lost and taken into a vet clinic or SPCA, it can be reunited with you within just minutes or hours of it being found
• Microchipping can be used as legal identification if an animal’s ownership is in dispute
• Microchipping can help with legal identification in case your animal is stolen
• Animal microchips do not include GPS (Global Positioning System)

http://www.spcacanterbury.org.nz/

Day 59 - some rental homes not getting repairs

Addington Action has discovered that some tenants are still living in earthquake damaged rental homes in Addington, because their landlords have yet to put a claim in to EQC to get the emergency repairs done.

Details of landlords who fail to make a claim within a week of being informed of the necessity, will be passed on to the Tenants Protection Association (TPA) for further action.

Day 58 - need donations of working cell phones

Addington Action co-ordinates its volunteers via simple text messages and some of the volunteers need a cell phone.

If you have a working cell phone you no longer need, could Addington Action please have it.

Day 57 - meeting to establish Addington Action

Every since Addington Action was set up on February 23, it's had to deal with one crisis after another, making tough decisions on the spot to help the local community. There has never been an opportunity for a proper meeting apart from morning team briefings.

Today, most of the existing committee were contacted plus all the new volunteers. A meeting is being held next week to formally establish Addington Action as an organisation, take a stock take of what has been done and what needs to be done next.

Everyone is proud of what has been achieved so far and are keen to carry on. It should be a strong organisation because everyone on the committtee have proved they are competant and hard workers.

Day 56 - more homes needing repairs

Addington Action sent details about another two homes needing emergency repairs through today. EQR phoned the residents immediately to make arrangements.

Addington Action will be checking regularly to make sure the repairs are done.

Every since Addington Action was set up on February 23, it's had to deal with one crisis after another, making tough decisions on the spot.

More people are now putting up their hands to volunteer help and so an opportunity exists to organise a proper meeting in the next 10 days to take stock and get organised formally.

Organising a well attended public meeting in Addington has also been raised.

Day 55 - cold weather storm

The first really cold snap has hit Christchurch this weekend. Luckily the earthquake hit in summer, giving a breathing space for initial repairs to homes to be done before winter.

Its now going to be pretty miserable for anyone without a form of heating or leaking roofs.

Many of the Emergency Repair posters put up around Addington have been torn by the wet blustery weather, just as they were really needed. Hopefully enough remain for residents in difficulty to be able to make contact.

People can help by checking that their neighbours homes have had the emergency repairs done.

Day 54 - people needing emergency repairs contacted by EQR

The local EQR responded immediately to the list of names given them by Addington Action. They phoned the residents needing emergency repairs to make arrangements.

There was another 5.3 aftershock tonight that knocked out power in parts of Addington for over an hour. Rather annoying.

Day 53 - first lot of homes needing emergency repairs sent

The first batch of homes needing emergency repairs were sent thru today by Addington Action. Leaking roofs, no form of heating, and broken windows seemed to be the main problems. A number of people spoken to said they were confused by the process and what they were entitled to. They were getting desperate with winter coming.

Day 51 - help distribute posters for emergency repairs to Addington homes

Please help distribute these posters by downloading them and printing them. They need to go up in shops, clubs, workplaces and on power poles in the Addington area only.

Emergency Repair Poster (PDF 431 KB)

Thumbnail Poster (JPG 71 KB)

Day 50 - Addington homes yet to have emergency repairs

The Middleton EQR Hub is undertaking emergency repairs to houses in the Spreydon Heathcote Ward.

This includes Addington!

They are trying to find both homeowners and tenants in the community who need temporary repairs done to houses to make them

• Weatherproof
• Safe
• Secure
• And sanitary

They are identifying houses where there are damaged chimneys and occupants have no primary heat for the winter. This includes taking chimneys down to ceiling level in case there is another earthquake. In a big shake, bricks could come down through the ceiling onto someone below.

This means everyone including people who don’t have insurance.

This is important because a number of people have missed out on getting this work done. And winter is almost here. So you can all help by checking on your neighbours, talking to your friends, spreading the word.

So if you are needing Emergency Work done or winter heat installed, contact Addington Action
9800902
027-2105-042
info@addingtonaction.org.nz
http://www.addingtonaction.org.nz/

And we will follow it up for you and make sure it is done quickly. Those numbers are also on the posters on power poles all over Addington.

Day 47 - thunderbirds are go

Celebrate Addington residents helping each other and staying strong

Free Concert
Organised by Addington Action

• The Eastern
• The Haze
• La Petite Manouche
• A Capellago World Music Choir
• Mark Humpage

Fair
Organised by Gap Filler

• Old fashioned carnival games
• Cake and craft stalls
• Sausage sizzle
• Devonshire tea
• Face painting
• Bouncy castle
• Hourly races - egg and spoon, 3-legged, pancake

Day 46 - emergency repairs

Since the February 22 earthquake, the Fletcher Construction run Middleton EQR Hub is undertaking emergency repairs to houses in the Spreydon Heathcote Ward.

This includes Addington!

They are trying to find both homeowners and tenants in the community who need temporary repairs done to houses to make them

• Weatherproof
• Safe
• Secure
• Sanitary

They are identifying houses where there are damaged chimneys and occupants have no primary heat for the winter. This includes taking chimneys down to ceiling level in case there is another earthquake. In a big shake, bricks could come down through the ceiling onto someone below.

This means everyone including people who don’t have insurance.

This is important because a number of people have missed out on getting this work done. And winter is almost here. So you can all help by checking on your neighbours, talking to your friends, spreading the word.

So if you are needing Emergency Work done or winter heat installed, ring the EQR Middleton Hub at 341-9955

You can also contact Addington Action and we will follow this up for you and make sure it gets done pronto!

Day 45 - a dunny run

Another two long drops were removed today. The public loos in Church Square and the Dickens St park are now sitting on the Dickens St rubble pile waiting to be removed by the council. The holes have been filled.

The contractors who were cleaning up the rubble piles earlier in the week, seem to have left the job half finished. Some brick piles weren't removed and the separate demo timber piles were left. They also left a great mess of glass and plaster on the roads which were cleaned up by volunteers.

Looks like the council will need yet another reminder. Talk about inefficiency.

Day 44 - on youtube

Here is a short video about Addington Action filmed by Ben Ross. The people shown are myself, Ali Ahmadi, Anwar Ahmadi, Jim Anderton, Paul Poumale, Tony McDonald.

Day 42 - rubble piles picked up

Contractors worked throughout the day picking up some of the street rubble piles made by Addington Action a month ago.

They used a digger with rubber tyres to remove bricks without damaging the streets. There are still piles of demo timber yet to be removed and half of the brick rubble.

The contractors were working for the council. The council had previously agreed to pick up the piles. After written and phoned requests by residents were ignored, local MP Jim Anderton contacted the council directly to get the job done.

Day 41 - to the power poles

Posters for the Concert and Fair were put up this afternoon on 100 street corner power poles in Addington, in the area from Selwyn St to Barrington St and from the railway line to Barrington St. The entrance on Willard St to Addington School was also done. Thanks Erin for helping.

Sandy put posters up in Ward St.

Megan Woods and other members of the NZ Labour Party will put up more posters in a wider area Tuesday night.

Day 40 - gone with the wind

The Addington Rugby League season has started and the era of the public longdrop has come to an end.

A chap from the club rang up Friday night to get the longdrop in Addington Park removed in time for an out of town visitors game on Saturday 9. All good - it was organised to be done by Addington Action. Half an hour later it was gone.

Addington Action is not that fast - so thank you who ever it was that took it away and filled in the holes. The other public longdrops in our parks will be removed this week, if we can get to them before the mysterious benefactor.

Day 39 - stress relief at Manuka Cottage

Michael Buist will be available for ‘FREE’ 15-20 minute ‘acupuncture micromassage’ (no needles!) ‘stress relief’ treatments at Manuka Cottage, 45 Dickens St from 9.30am-12pm on Tuesday 5th April.

Women only.

No appointments needed, just turn up.

More info
His mobile number is 021 166 6928.  For more info see his website http://acumassage.co.nz/ .