Day 370 - Addington Action office closed till March 14

The office of Addington Action will be closed from Thursday 1 March 2012 till Wednesday 14 March 2012 to give volunteer staff the first real holiday break since 22 February 2011.

Any messages sent by post, email, phone or text will be answered after that date.

Thanks
Mike Peters
Organiser
Addington Action

Day 368 - State housing in New Zealand (1945)

Copied from Monte Cecilia Housing Trust website

A historic look at the creation of state housing in NZ  

Here’s a look back at the beginnings of State housing in NZ.

“Ensuring a healthy, happy, family life for every person in NZ.”

This was the original goal of state housing in NZ. This documentary offers a fascinating look back at the housing needs of NZ in the 1930′-40s and the creation of state housing. In 1935 there was a national housing survey conducted which showed that there were many instances through-out NZ urban areas of over crowding and in adequate housing.

In 1936, a Labour govt passes the Housing Act – recognizing every citizen of NZ the right to affordable rental accommodation and the right to own their own home.

After WW2, in 1945 the Housing Improvement Act was passed – recognizing the urgent need for state housing. The building industry took off. Returned service men built state houses in 200 towns across NZ. “Hundreds of women were consulted”.

By 1946, 20,000 state houses had been built. These houses had a life expectancy of 60yrs. The population at the time was 1.75mill. For every 12 statehouses built at the time, there was one private home built.

It was estimated that by 1970 there would be a need for 100,000 state houses; 12,000 homes each year. “We will go on building homes for New Zealanders until the demand is over run” – is the last thing said in this documentary. Unfortunately, demand is not over run as yet!




33 minutes. Produced by Public Works Department Film Unit this colour film shows the initial phases of New Zealand's state housing scheme. This includes design, construction and fitting out of houses. 2K scan from 16mm reversal print


And this today....

Preprinted from The Dominion Post
26 February 2012

By Steve Kilgallon

Housing NZ shutting offices Housing New Zealand is to shut its offices to clients and only talk to them through a national call centre, a move attacked by voluntary organisations as an abdication of its responsibilities to society's most vulnerable people.

David Zussman, director of the South Auckland housing charity Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, said the changes had come without consultation and the first he had learned of the move was a letter sent last week by Housing NZ.

The letter said that after April 10, all calls – such as those from state house tenants or homeless people seeking housing – to Housing NZ staff and offices would be redirected to a central 0800 number. Clients would not be allowed to turn up at HNZ offices unless they had a pre-arranged meeting with a case manager.

The letter encouraged those without a phone to try logging on to the HNZ website at a public library.

HNZ is already encouraging clients to use the 0800 number and Zussman said it was causing significant issues for his already-stretched staff.

Mike Leon, manager of the Wellington Night Shelter, said the change was "annoying", and had ended his close relationship with HNZ case managers, as he now had to leave a message with the call centre and wait for return contact up to 48 hours later.

"Everything is so impersonal, so many people will struggle with a phone call to access it [the service]," said Zussman, who works with homeless South Auckland families to find accommodation.

"With our advocacy work, how are we going to represent people? No one has come to talk to us about how we are going to access Housing New Zealand to represent people."

Zussman said the change was part of an overall retrenchment by HNZ. "Housing New Zealand have backed off and their minister has said that's fine, hands off, nothing to do with us any more. HNZ used to engage with us. We weren't 100 per cent happy, not even close, but the point is if HNZ are stopping services, who is filling the gap? Nobody. It's depressing ... we are going backwards."

Labour housing spokesman Annette King agreed, saying Housing NZ was "backing out of its responsibility for being anything other than a landlord as fast as they can, on the instruction of their minister ... you can just imagine what it will be like being on the end of a queue ringing up – as people have found with IRD running a similar system."

The changes follow on from the end of the so-called "state house for life" policy in favour of reviewable tenancies and a new system for how Housing NZ assess housing needs, including an income means test. Housing Minister Phil Heatley said those changes were designed to produce a fairer system which ensured those in most need were housed the quickest.

The community housing sector says it is "bursting at the seams" to contain a growing homelessness problem, which it says has gone unrecognised by the government. It has been calling for a national inquiry into homelessness since 2008

Day 367 - Barrington Big Fun Day today

Time: February 26, 2012 from 11:30am to 2:30pm
Location: Barrington Park
Street: Barrington Street

Website or Map: http://bethere.co.nz/community/2012/8727-barrington-big-fun
Phone: 941 8999

Come and enjoy an exciting line-up of stage entertainment, community stalls, food stalls and guaranteed free fun activities for the whole family!

BRING cash (limited EFT-POS facilities), blanket for a picnic, and dogs must be on a leash.

Music from local musicians will keep everyone entertained while the gymnastics and dance demonstrations might inspire budding performers.

Also featuring a crowd favourite, 'Carrot and Pickle', presenting a lunch-time magic show. Other free 'have-a-go' activities available all day for children include Climbing Tower, pony rides, bouncy castle, face painting and much more.

Support local, discover over 40 community groups and support agencies in your area. Visit the CCC tent for info on classes at Pioneer and other recreation activities in the area.

This event is kindly supported by the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board.

The last photo is of the Addington Action display at the park. Got more volunteers for the work crew, people to join the committee for their street, promised donations of paint, posters taken away to put up in workplaces and streets.

Day 367 - rental accommodation crisis

Reprinted from The Addington Times
March 2012

Rental Accommodation crisis - is it greedy landlords or is it increased rental market demand.

What is it that is pushing rents up in Christchurch?

At a monthly meeting on Feb. 3rd the Addington Wellbeing Group expressed deep concern at the current Christchurch accommodation crisis.

Members of the group reported rental increases by landlords pushing the rents for solo families beyond the level of accommodation supplements paid by WINZ in Christchurch. This left one solo mum looking at the scenario of having to move out of her rental home to live in her car with two young children.

Others told of the move by landlords to evict and/or exclude community organisations from renting houses, to work from. It was reported that one of the reasons given for this was red tape around the definitions of residential and commercial properties for EQC payouts. EQC has not answered our request for clarification on this yet. Another reason given was the refusal of insurance to renew policies on houses used by NGO’s.

It was also reported that there are 600 fewer Housing New Zealand Houses in Christchurch and that many people displaced from their homes, while they are being repaired, are finding themselves with inadequate or no temporary accommodation.

Coll Harvey.
Assistant Editor
Addington Times.

Day 367 - Expert Q&A: Engineers on the Canterbury earthquakes and building earthquake-resilient cities

Almost a year on from the devastating February 22, 2011 Canterbury earthquake, the Science Media Centre put a series of questions to structural engineers on the implications for how buildings are designed, constructed and earthquake-proofed in New Zealand.

The engineers include John Hare, president of the Structural Engineering Society, Win Clark, executive officer at the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, Mark Batchelar a consultant engineer and earthquake engineering expert David Hopkins.

This Q&A (Earthquake Engineering Q&A Feb 2012) was put together in association with the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ). Feel free to use the comments below in your reports.

What is an earthquake-prone building?

Earthquake-prone is a term defined by law (in the Building Act 2002). It applies to all buildings except small residential structures of less than two stories and three household units. In broad terms, one that would collapse in ground shaking one-third as strong as that used to design a new building on the same site.

How do they vary in terms of factors causing their “prone-ness”?

Main contributors to proneness are lack of strength compared to forces likely to be induced, and brittleness, such as for brick buildings. The identification of earthquake prone buildings can be complex. This is particularly the case with non-ductile concrete buildings, where the difference may hang on some small details that may only be revealed through intensive investigation.

In the wake of the quakes and the current commission, can we expect to see the building code or enforcement changed?

It is highly likely that there will be changes to the Building Code, but it should be remembered that the Building Code is always evolving, as new research is completed and practices are amended. The Structural Engineering Society (SESOC) has issued some interim recommendations for code changes. This document is intended to allow designers some confidence in the design of new structures that should not be downgraded against future code changes.

What possible areas of the code might be focused on in future review of the legislation?

One of the founding principles of the current Building Code is to protect life safety as far as possible, but it is less concerned with damage to buildings. One of the broad philosophical questions to be reviewed is whether New Zealand as a society wishes to review this approach.

New design techniques are being researched to reduce damage in the event of earthquake, but these are still in their infancy. However, even current conventional design techniques can be employed in ways that will be more resistant to damage, but possibly at the expense of some utility in the buildings, and greater construction cost.

Why does it take so long to analyse a building? What does it involve?

Analysis of a building can be more technically challenging than designing a new building.

The analysis process involves assembling all critical loading conditions that the structure is likely to be subjected to during its design life, and applying these to a theoretical model of the structure based on known material performance properties. This is often an interactive process, where the behaviour of one element may have implications for the performance of others.


What are some of the ways a building which is earthquake prone can be brought up to a higher standard?

The simplest method is to simply ignore the existing building lateral load resisting system and add a new structure capable of independently supporting the building.

However, it is important to ensure that the stiffness of the new structure is reasonably close to that of the existing. Too flexible, and the existing structure will absorb the initial load, and have to fail substantially before the new structure can be effective.

Too stiff, and there is a risk that it will impose greater load on the existing structure, literally shaking it to pieces. The next approach is to enhance the ductility of the existing structure so that it behaves more like a new structure.

This may be applicable to older non-ductile concrete structures, where confinement of the concrete can allow it to resist greater levels of movement. This may be done for example by wrapping column elements in fibre reinforced polymers (FRP).

At the upper limit of what may be done, it is sometimes possible to base isolate older buildings in order to reduce the seismic load demand. Base isolators work similarly to suspension and damping in a car, using the isolators instead. Forces in the structure are reduced, but a consequence of this is that the building must move greater distances, in excess of half a meter in some cases.

Typically, base isolation has been used only in cases where the building has contents of great value, or is of high heritage value itself. An example of this is the Parliament buildings which was base isolated in the early 90’s.

To what extent will the strong ground motions recorded in the Christchurch earthquakes lead to changes in New Zealand’s building code?

The Canterbury earthquakes are hugely significant for New Zealand and worldwide practice. This is the first strong motion event in a major urban area in New Zealand in the modern building era, and has inevitably prompted research which will continue for some years.

A re-evaluation of seismic loads may eventuate, but this must occur hand-in-hand with the development of our design Standards. It is vital that engineering input is obtained and taken note of at critical decision stages.

Has enough been learned in engineering terms to reduce the damage that liquefaction and lateral spreading does to foundations of structures?

It is possible, through good engineering and sound construction practices, to build on most ground. However, it is important also to consider the infrastructure necessary to sustain these areas.

Where there is already considerable investment in the infrastructure, particularly damage-prone in-ground services, there may be reason to spend the extra money required to build in these areas in order to realise the current investment.

However in the case of new subdivisions or cities, more careful site selection may prove a better long-term solution.

And if sea levels rise 2m over the current century, will the higher water table increase the risks of liquefaction in Christchurch or Wellington?

A 2m rise in sea levels has much greater implications than simply a rise in water table, threatening the viability of coastal cities, regardless of ground conditions. Restricting the consideration to liquefaction, it is important to note that water table is only one of the components of liquefaction issues.

Liquefaction occurs generally loose sands and silts, which are prevalent around Christchurch. Other areas where the soils are of different origin may not suffer liquefaction even with a high water table, although there are many other areas in New Zealand that can liquefy with sufficient ground shaking. These areas are generally identified by the Regional Council hazard studies and the information will be recorded on LIM reports for properties.

Should households pay insurance premiums based on the perceived seismic risk of their site, the anticipated performance of their house design, and the risk that the suburb around them may be abandoned even if their specific house survives?

This may happen following the Canterbury earthquakes, at least in suburbs where issues such as rock fall or liquefaction can be identified on an area-wide basis. However, it is questionable whether the risk can be fully quantifiable for many of the more specific matters that may affect potential future claims, such as the construction of an individual home.

The extent to which the insurance companies may impose such conditions will depend on their appetite for risk in the future. It is more likely that some forms of building may become uninsurable, unless engineers are able to demonstrate adequately that the risk is not as high as perceived. An obvious category is un-reinforced masonry Buildings (URMs), which unfortunately include many of our most significant historic buildings.

URMs have been recognised as a very high risk category for a long time, but have been able to be insured almost as easily as any other building. This is unlikely to be the case in the future. However, they may be strengthened successfully, as has also been demonstrated in the Canterbury earthquakes with a number of well-strengthened buildings having performed as well as much newer structures.

A more interesting question may be whether NZ will be able to afford to carry the level of earthquake insurance in the future, that it has to date. It is also relevant to consider how society may consider managing seismic risk in the future. Risk transfer (insurance) has always been an expedient answer, but it is evident that it may not be the best way to solve the problem.
Although insurance may go a long way to replacing lost assets, there are questions with respect to timeliness of the settlements and damage to the overall community from having so much of our building stock out of commission for so long. In the future a mix of mitigation and transfer may prove a more robust policy.

By more effective strengthening and replacement of the worst of the building stock, damage from a similar event may be dramatically reduced. Money saved from insurance policies over time will go a long way to offsetting the added costs of redevelopment and strengthening]

Should homeowners be rebuilding to a standard which will enable their homes to perform much better in the next big quake – such as a major shake on the Alpine Fault – rather than simply suffering exactly the same damage all over again?

There is nothing to prevent owners from building to higher standards than the minimum set. The minimums are intended to meet the basic expectations of owners in general. It is possible to make designs more conservative and thus reduce the probability of damage / collapse / business interruption, but it will be at a cost.

It takes time to change building codes and this process cannot get into full swing until the Royal Commission has published its findings. In the interim, advice is available to engineers and homeowners.

Through the Department of Building and Housing (DBH), the Engineering Advisory Group has published its Revised guidance on repairing and rebuilding houses affected by the Canterbury earthquake sequence – November 2011 .In addition, the Structural Engineering Society (SESOC) has published recommendations for interim building controls – a series of recommendations for additions to the current Building Code.

Day 366 - Campbell Live - free repairs for quake damaged uninsured

This story was made by TV3 reporter Jendy Harper about the situation facing the quake damaged uninsured in Christchurch. Jendy interviewed Addington Action members and volunteers Peter, Tracy, Marina, Lynette, Mike, and Bob.

From TV3 Campbell Live
24 February 2012

A total of 140 Royal Humane Society awards were handed out in Christchurch to people who made a difference after the earthquake.

People who saved lives, people who gave kindness and the vast majority of the medals went to people who gave service to others

Michael Peters was one of the award recipients because he and a team of volunteers helped a group of victims that have hardly had a mention in the media - the people who were uninsured.

We've heard a chorus from the insured, but the uninsured are reluctant to speak publicly. Read more: 
 


If you want to help

Volunteers
We need keen volunteers to join the work crew - and we provide lunch, lots of fun and training all for free. To join please send your first and last name, cell phone, land-line, email and residential address to Addington Action. On the days that are worked, a text message is sent out each day at 7.30am to all crew members and work starts at 9am for those who can make it  that day.

Donations
Donations are gratefully accepted of money, building materials, paint, tools, and storage space and anything else useful.

Phone
980-0902
027-2105042

Please make donations out to "Addington Action" and send to
Addington Action
PO Box 9000
Tower Junction
Christchurch 8149

or direct deposit to
Addington Action bank a/c
03-1594-0216654-00
And send a message to tell us that you have done this.

Repair jobs
We need the names of uninsured people who need free repairs. The only criteria is that they live in their own home and are elderly, disabled or single parent families with young kids.

Legal
We need a team to take up the case of all those who were genuinely unable to get in to pay their insurance around the time of the quakes and were then cut off by the insurance companies. Most had paid for 20 or more years.

Contact Addington Action
Use this form

or

send a text to 027-210-5042

Day 366 - Fruit and Veggie Co-op

Tracy, Tony and Bob the Builder spent the morning getting a repaired room ready for painting.

Bob and Tony fixed some damaged taps that were leaking.

Lynette and Mike attended a workshop organised by DHB Community Health about extending the existing Fruit and Veggie Co-op to more suburbs. The co-op has been in existence for 20 years and was founded in Bryndwyr.

Since then Christchurch Cathedral has taken organisational responsibility for weekly buying at the markets and a single processing depot for packing fruit and veggies for Woolston, New Brighton, Shirley, Sydenham and Bryndwr.

Lynette from Addington Action will be organising the establishment of another local processing depot for making up the weekly fruit and veggie packs to be distributed to working people via local community centres initially in Rowley, Addington and Sydenham. Other areas in Christchurch are planning to do the same.

Day 365 - Inside information on EQC’s practices

Reprinted from Avonside Blog

Today’s Press has an opinion piece by builder Gideon Cooper, who worked as an estimator for EQC. Now, back working as a builder, he has put some of his experiences in writing.

The following is quoted from part of the story about iPads:

But when it came to damage, that was a different story.

The iPad was an excellent data-collection tool but a poor tool for scoping a repair strategy. I don’t think it would have mattered how much training was given simply because the iPad gave you limited options and this would lead to ridiculous repair strategies being given.

Not only that, it was impossible to suggest that a structural engineer needed to look at a house unless it had basically fallen over.

What this means for homeowners is that many assessments have been done by under-qualified, under-trained, well-meaning people on a poor performing tool and the result is reflected in the scope of works that both homeowners and Fletcher get.

You can read the article here, to have many of your experiences validated and suspicions confirmed.

Day 365 - Bob and Phil the builders

This morning Tony, Phil, Bob and Mike finished plastering room and patched a floor.

In the afternoon, the crew visited another house to plan rebuilding a collapsed bathroom.

Day 364 - and one year later..

Alan Hudson a member of Addington Action

Lynette, Tony, Deb, Bob, Katie and Tracy with Christchurch Earthquake Award given to Addington Action.

Day 363 - Bob the Builder is now in town

Bob the builder (from Oz), Deb and Mike gib stopped a room in Hutcheson St. 2 more coats of plaster and then painting and then carpet to go. The plan is to move the lady of the house into her new bedroom by the end of this week. Then gut the next room so a dehumidifier can dry it out over the next month before it gets redone.

TV3 filmed interviews with Bob and Mike for Campbell Live. Maybe broadcast on Thursday night 7pm??

Then at the end of the day - the whole crew plus Tracy attended the opening of the Earthquake exhibit at Canterbury Museum and a cuppa.

Finally Mike attended the anniversary celebration of CanCERN as the rep for Addington. CanCERN is an organisation of dozens of residents groups in Christchurch and Kaiapoi dealing with the quake. Interesting how the public mood is noticeably shifting towards getting very pissed off over the bungling incompetence of EQC and City Council efforts to disorganise the recovery.

Day 363 - Govt eyes blind to housing crisis

Published in NZ Herald
21/2/2012

By Bernard Hickey

New Zealand faces two crises, and one opportunity that the Government seems either ignorant of or unwilling to address.

The first crisis is of housing supply in two regions. Auckland and Christchurch now have huge shortages of waterproof and undamaged homes that regular families can afford to own.

The problem is set to get much worse in the years to come, given the lack of building happening and the population increase projected.

The Department of Building and Housing forecast this month that New Zealand needs to build 20,000 to 23,000 housing units a year over the next five years to keep pace with population growth.

We have been building at a rate below 15,000 a year for the past three years.

It could be argued that this also ignores the destruction or degradation of large swathes of housing stock in Auckland and Christchurch because of the leaky-building disaster and the earthquakes of 2011.

Auckland needs at least 10,000 new homes each year, yet less than half of these are being built. The crisis has intensified since 1999, with the introduction of the Metropolitan Urban Limit and the revelation that an entire generation of homes is leaky. Yet the lack of debate within New Zealand's political leadership is astonishing.

John Key has focused the Government on selling up to half of the shares in the state-owned power generators to avoid borrowing more money.

The Government has virtually ignored the strong analysis last year from its own Productivity Commission on housing-affordability problems, which are mostly about a lack of new house building. The Department of Building and Housing's advice to the incoming minister made no public impact.

Even Auckland Mayor Len Brown seems to be focused on other things, in particular a rail loop. He seems more interested in the underlying infrastructure for the very long term than the immediate crisis of a lack of housing.

The most obvious increase as a result of the shortage is in the price of homes and rents. Both are rising quicker than the inflation rate and price rises outside Auckland and Christchurch. Young Auckland and Christchurch workers, those who are not property owners, give up. They are leaving the country.

The second crisis is youth unemployment. New Zealand has 83,000 people aged 15 to 24 who are not working or in education. The youth unemployment rates for Maori and Pacific Island youth, mostly in Auckland, are scandalous at 30.4 per cent and 29.8 per cent respectively.
Yet, again, we hear nothing from the likes of Key or Brown. We have yet to hear our leaders even acknowledge the problem.

That brings us to a huge opportunity. Why can't we, as a nation, take a strategic decision to solve these two crises by training these 83,000 young people as plumbers, chippies, electricians, roofers and the like in preparation for a national-scale building programme?
Government-owned land would need to be opened up and town planners overruled. Taxpayer money would need to be invested, and lots of it. But is anyone even talking about it, let alone doing it?

bernard.hickey@interest.co.nz

Day 362 - two worlds - two viewpoints

Today was a day of lessons

Addington Action had applied to the MSD Canterbury Earthquake Community Response Fund for resources to rent a building to use as a material depot, repair workshop, food bank distribution depot, office to take calls requesting help and a place to provide lunch for the volunteers each day. This depot would enable more work to be done by the local community to help our local elderly, disabled and single parent families with young kids who have missed out on any government assistance since the quakes.

A meeting was requested by MSD today to discuss the application saying it had neither been approved or declined by their panel.

Well what a waste of time it turned out to be.

Apparently Addington Action did not have an existing working relationship with MSD prior to the quakes so was not eligible for funds. So why weren't we told that months ago, instead of official nods from the Regional Manager down at their conferences that we would be eligible and should definitely apply.

They also had the cheek to say we were not dealing with their priority people. So what other description could there be for describing clearing out raw sewerage underneath the home of a sick women and her child. Or patching the roof and windows of homes of elderly so they can stay warm in winter.

These individuals are professional time wasters - their own and everybody elses. No wonder the recovery in Christchurch is so badly organised. Sad thing is it's people like this who are in charge, which is why so many people are suffering.

But then, a phone call in the afternoon came from people in Rowley offering office space for free. 10 minutes later, an onsite visit, a quick chat, lots of smiles and all sorted. No problem at all.

Two worlds, two very different results. Amazing the attitudes you find.

Day 362 - greetings from Cuba

Ambassador of Cuba, Maria del Carmen Herrera Caseiro visited Addington today.

She visited the Christchurch South Community Gardens and will be speaking at a public meeting tonight organised by the NZ Cuba Friendship Society.

María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, was interviewed on Plains FM. Click here to listen

Day 359 Hendersons Rd bathroom

Today went very easy - putting more undercoat on a bathroom in Hendersons Rd in between throwing the ball for the resident dog.

Followed by a recce of Hoon Hay to suss out what might need doing.

Followed by Lynette and Mike filling in forms to open trade accounts with suppliers. Addington Action is now incorporated and hopefully will soon be a registered charity. Making the requirement for the Lynette the Treasurer to pay the bills rather Mike the Organiser writing out cheques whenever picking up supplies.

Just part of getting better organised!

Day 358 - Campbell Live arrive

9am and 5 turned up for the work crew today. Lynette, Tracy, Peter, Marina and Mike came to work and to be filmed and interviewed by Campbell Live for a programme to air next Tuesday.

We went and worked on an uninsured place on Parlane St belonging to Mr Chick. The reporter Jendy Harper, interviewed all of the crew. They are coming back to film Bob the Builder and friends on Tuesday as they rebuild.

Then a bit more paint prep on the Christchurch South Community Gardens building, followed by a volunteer lunch which was also a special thank you for Marina who has just finished her job at the gardens.

Then a visit to Ann Drozdowski who donated her late husbands work tools to Addington Action.

Bernard "Bernie" Drozdowski (1928-2011) was an electrician but had many different tools in beautiful condition which are now going to be put to use fixing uninsured houses, damaged household appliances and furniture.

Thank you Ann and Bernie.

Day 357 - green fingers day

Today Peter, Tony and Mike took Dug the Truck out to deliver gardening supplies to people wanting to establish home veggie gardens.

Christine Blance from Christchurch South Community Gardens came with us and supplied 49 tires which were dropped off in Lyttleton St and Bolton St. The tires are filled up with compost and used to grow spuds, pumpkin, yams, etc.

Alex the mechanic from Ace4WD fixed a brake light trailer wiring intermittent problem with a smile.

Lunch for the crew in Addington Bush Reserve cooked by Tracy.

A load of soil was then shifted from Walton St to Walsall St for another garden.

Robyn rang from Ngai Tahu offering help for people in the area. A meeting needs to be arranged soon about this.

In the afternoon, Peter and Mike attended a meeting of Older Adults Network, and spoke about the work Addington Action was doing about the elderly and the situation we have found them in. Great questions, lots of helpful suggestions and some offers of practical help made which have been accepted. One woman offered to donate her late husbands tools to Addington Action which is wonderful and has been gratefully accepted.

Afternoon tea at Christchurch South Community Gardens to catch up.

Josie came from CERA to get some good photos for an article being written.

Jendy from TV3 Campbell Live rang up to finalise filming arrangements for tomorrow morning of the work crew.

Day 356 - not only food parcels

Tuesday is the day for ordering and picking up food parcels for delivery to hungry families affected by the social impacts of the quakes.

The morning started with a visit to Community Energy Action out at New Brighton to see if it is possible to insulate damaged uninsured homes in our area as we are repairing them. Seems all possible so will start to act on this offer.

Then an interview by Peter Luke who is writing an article for CERA's next monthly insert that goes in The Press. Christine, Dianne, Lynette and Mike took part.

Then checking off all the food parcel orders being organised by Florence, Dianne and Dawne.

Then a funding application to The Christchurch Rotary Earthquake Fund to buy more building materials.

Then a call from another crowd that is offering to make a donation.

Then sorting out a billet for Bob the Builder from OZ who arrives next week. 

Then finally a website login arrived from the Charities Commission. They are very slow at the moment going thru some restructuring. Still waiting on charitable status to be approved.

Then picking up our "Dug the Truck" who was having one door's central locking replaced by Ace4WD. When we bought the truck, it had just come into the yard and still needed some work done to be ready for sale, so Frank has been diligently fixing anything that needs doing. Thanks Frank.

Dug joining the team has made an enormous difference with twice as much work now getting done with the same amount of effort.

Going pretty good now.

Day 356 - Megan Woods make her maiden speech

Our local MP for Wigram.

Day 355 - Hagley night classes

Hagley Community College has great night classes for adults running all year.

The After Three… Evening Programmes for Adults

Opening up Learning
After Three gives people the opportunity to study a wide range of Hagley’s courses away from their daytime commitments. To minimise barriers for adult learners there is no enrollment fee to study the After Three programme.

Is After Three for me?
Courses are particularly suitable for adult learners who may be looking to transition into a new career, wishing to upskill, or just wanting to learn a new skill that they’ve always talked about. Your reasons no doubt will be as diverse as the subjects we offer.

When are the classes on?
Most courses run once a week from Monday to Thursday across four modules (one per school term) throughout the year, with teaching starting at 6.30pm. While the face to face class is two hours per week, all courses offer the option of individual tutorial time with the teachers for half an hour before, and half an hour after each class. An additional hour each week is available for further learning outside the class using ICT. This hour is for further study, research, or follow up tasks out of class as directed by the teacher. Students without ICT access are able to use Hagley facilities.

Pathway Programmes to Further Learning
‘After Three’ courses are aligned with Hagley’s curriculum areas. Each course offers assessment opportunities for those who wish to gain credits towards an NZQA Record of Achievement. Those who do not wish to undertake assessments are not required to do so.

A great example of a fantastic class is (and it still has vacancies 'cos of quake disruption 2011)

Metalwork/Light Engineering

Create your own light engineering projects from metal and other hard materials. Learn to use lathes, milling machine, sheet metal equipment, welders, a forge and foundry equipment.

Module 1: Workshop Equipment and Skills
• Learn how to use tools.
• Learn the health and safety requirements of a workshop.
• Work on projects to develop these skills.

Module 2: Design and Development Techniques
• Learn draughting techniques.
• Develop and build projects using the equipment as required.

Module 3: Project Construction 1
• Students are able to build their projects
• Learn specific workshop skills as required.

Module 4: Project Construction 2
• Build your own projects.
• Learn specific workshop skills as required.

Teacher: Ryszard Dybka
Day: Mondays
Start Time for First Class: 6.30pm
Materials Fee: $40 + cost of additional materials as you use them.
Pathways: Level 1 and 2 Practical Skills for Trades courses at Hagley or part and full time. Pre-Trades, motor body restoration, or welding courses at CPIT.

More information here

Ring the Hagley Enrollment Centre 364-5156

Day 355 - office catchup day

Mondays are currently set aside to find volunteers, money, equipment and following up on jobs to be done for residents.

A fare bit of fundraising and organising is now underway to support a 3 year earthquake recovery project in this area. There is a lot to do for people in a bad way who have missed out on any government help following the quakes.

Thanks today to Ben a driver from the Salvation Army for advice about box trucks with tail lifters. And also Kerry from 0800 Hungry yesterday!

Also Robyn of Opawa who donated a working electric lawn mower, John from Anglican Care for a useful discussion about support available for people in the poo and Jay from Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board for advice on funding available.

A productive day!

Tomorrow the team are distributing food parcels.

Day 354 - 0800 Hungry

Addington Action is to provide ongoing computer system support for 0800 Hungry.

0800 Hungry is the largest food bank in New Zealand, occupies a large warehouse and operates on an industrial scale with a fleet of vehicles.

0800 Hungry supplies the food parcels that Addington Action distributes in the Addington area to hungry families affected by the social impacts of the quakes. Many churches and organisations in Christchurch who distribute food parcels also source those food parcels from 0800 Hungry.

The volunteer work for 0800 Hungry now underway includes;

• Upgrading the database
• Adding GIS mapping to speed up deliveries
• Remote interoperability with external datasets
• Enabling the database to send automated text messages
• Realtime ordering and tracking
• Partner remote access
• Enhanced reporting

These enhancements are needed to make the system more robust, efficient and easier to use so that more food can get out the door with the same amount of effort.

The improvements will be done in stages with a series of planned upgrades to allow for testing and minimal disruption to warehouse operations, starting with the most important first.

Once this has been done, support work for 0800 Hungry will then shift to servers, networking, security, hardware upgrades and software.

Day 353 - back on the water-blasting

Today Matthew and Mike returned to the Christchurch South Community Gardens on Strickland St Sydenham to finish off water-blasting their building.

Its looking pretty good. Maybe one more small go, then wire brushing a few tough spots. Fill the cracks, wee bit of plaster here and there to repair small holes in the stucco, 2 coats of paint and all done.

Someone else is fixing up and painting the windows and doors.

Place will look a lot nicer.

The crew return to the gardens on Wednesday to pickup and deliver free bulk gardening materials to homes around the area so that people can put in veggie gardens so they can feed their kids, despite the social effects of the quakes.

Day 352 - bathroom paint job 1

Wee job today in a wee bathroom.

Matthew and Mike undercoated a bathroom and toilet for a woman In Hendersons Rd, Hoon Hay. She has had a stroke on top of quake damage which has stopped her from working..

Will need to come back next Friday for second undercoat/prep, and two top coats after that, then sealants.

This was the first day of using the Addington Action Bookings Book for all jobs. From now on, all new jobs will be booked in a diary at a set day and time if necessary weeks or months ahead so people have some certainty, given what most people are experiencing with bureaucratic delays Christchurch wide.

And we got our first tire puncture, but were given a donated wheel brace which was nice. A kind neighbor came over with a proper vehicle trolly jack.

Day 351 - water-blasting garden's house

Today Matthew, Alan and Mike took Dug out for the day to do a number of jobs.

• Check out a new job in Phillipstown for a deaf 87 year old gent living alone in his damaged rubble strewn uninsured house.
• Fixing minor problems with Dug at the 4WD dealers.
• Visiting Gapfiller's new office in Sydenham
• And the main job for the day - water-blasting the outside of the house used by the Community Gardens on Strickland St, Sydenham.

The house needs a repaint and the gardens have been working with Addington Action to establish home veggie gardens through out the area. So the crew offered to give the place an external repaint as a contribution to the effort.

From next week, every Wednesday, Addington Action will deliver bulk free gardening materials to local homes supplied by the gardens, and Christine Blance and friends will follow up by providing the expert advice and seedlings to new gardeners.

Day 350 - The Hope Centre

The Salvation Army Christchurch City Community Ministries 2012 Term 1
at The Hope Centre.

We offer quality, holistic services that are relevant to meet people’s needs. Our desire is to empower those who enter our doors in their day to day living and give them hope for the future.

Services offered include:
Advocacy, Budgeting, Family Support, Individual and group personal development,
Parenting with individuals, P.P.P., 1-1 JobSearch Skills assistance, and Life Skill Courses

Courses for term 1 include:

First Steps with Music
Monday 13th Feb. afternoon 1pm registration
Tuesday 14th February 9:15 registration
A weekly interactive music session for preschoolers, parent / caregiver.

‘Men on a mission’
Monday 13th February (7 week course)
(12:30 to 4pm)
A group to discuss life issues and overcome isolation. Helpful life-skills information, guest speakers and outdoor activities.

Positive Lifestyle Programme
Thursday 16th February (7 weeks)
(10am-12 noon) Childcare available.
Includes stress management, building self-esteem, assertiveness, grief, conflict resolution and goals

Job Search Skills Course
Friday17th February (7weeks)
(10am – 12 noon) Childcare available
Skills for those wanting to return to the workforce.

Stretching the Dollar
Tuesday 28th February (6 weeks)
(1 o’clock to 2:30 ) Child care available
Includes everyday cooking, practical sewing skills, green fingers, budget ideas and pampering ourselves

If you are requiring childcare for the sessions stated please arrive 15 minutes earlier to settle your child before session starts.

Cost:
Gold coin donation per session.

For further information and to register
Phone 366 8128
Email christchurch_cm@nzf.salvationarmy.org

The Salvation Army
Christchurch City Community Ministries
Moorhouse Ave
CHRISTCHURCH

Day 349 - Landlord forced to evict welfare group

Published by The Press
7/2/2012

By Clarlie Gates and Michael Wright
A landlord has been forced by his insurance company to evict a Christchurch welfare group.

Landlord John Hunter was told by AMI Insurance that his tenant, Anglican Social Services, was a "commercial activity" and so his building could not be insured.

The group has been a tenant in the Gloucester St house for about five years.

Hunter said he was outraged by the AMI decision.

"I think this is just disgraceful," Hunter said.

"These are good people who are trying to help in the recovery of Christchurch and AMI are saying 'we don't want that'.

"It beggars belief what they are doing. These people do such good work."

Divisional manager for the family and community section of Anglican Social Services, Jan Rogers, said the eviction was "devastating".

"We are a not-for-profit organisation and we have been his tenant for over 10 years. We will have to try and find another place," Rogers said.

"We are devastated by this because at the moment what we are doing is really needed in Christchurch.

"This has come like a bolt out of the blue. This takes us away from doing what we do best, which is helping the community."

Rogers said they employed 11 community workers and had been helping people affected by the quake.

Hunter said the welfare group was the best tenant he had had.

"The house is in a better condition than when they moved in, but now they have to go," he said.

"AMI have said it's a commercial activity. I've said no, it's not a commercial activity, they don't make any money, they distribute money. They're not a business, they're a non-profit organisation.

"They look after the property, they mow the lawns. They have work scheme people come in.

"They prune the roses. They keep the place look-ing absolutely immaculate. They're never late with their rent. They're just the most magical tenants anybody could have."

An AMI spokesman said the property was insured as a private dwelling rather than as "commercial premises".

"Once AMI became aware the property was commercially rented, coverage under AMI's policy was no longer available and Mr Hunter was advised that if the property continued to be occupied as a commercial premises, that termination of this policy would result," the company said in an email.

"On the basis the property reverts to residential usage, an undertaking that we have received from Mr Hunter, AMI is willing to continue to insure the dwelling on a rental or owner occupier basis," the email said.

"We have had discussions with Mr Hunter and believe the undertaking to insure the property once its use is residential in nature is satisfactory to both parties."

Day 348 - Bob the Builder is coming

Bob McConachie, a retired plumber - builder from Brisbane has volunteered to come over and help with the repairs of uninsured homes damaged in the quakes.

He will be working from Tuesday 21st February through till Tuesday 28 February and will bring some hand tools.

The work planned will be fixing up damaged bathrooms at as many houses as possible with a team of local helpers.

Day 346 - drop saw

Today we bought a slide compound mitre saw from Bunnings. There are plenty of service agents in Christchurch to get it fixed if required. Makita was chosen because there is very good replacement parts backup and this tool has excellent reviews from woodworkers and builders. This replaces a borrowed Ryobi compound mitre saw which was recently damaged on a job and where there was absolutely no spare parts backup in NZ or Oz.

The saw is a Makita LS1216 with a 305mm blade that has a 382mm cross cut. The saw can do some nifty useful tricks.

Specifications
Blade diameter 305mm (25.4mm Bore)
Max. cutting capacities -
- at 90 107mm x 363mm
- at 45 107mm x 255mm
Continuous rating input 1650W
No load speed 3,200rpm
Overall dimensions (LxWxH) 806mm x 640mm x 721mm
Net weight 26.1kg
Power supply cord 2.5m
Carbon brush CB153





With about 115 damaged uninsured houses in this area to fix we need capable and reliable tools.

This tool cost $1397 and was paid from a recent $15,000 donation from the Canterbury Community Trust

Thank you!

Day 344 - meet Dug the truck

Addington Action has bought it's first work vehicle.

It is a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Series 80, 4WD, 3000cc Diesel Turbo Intercooler, Automatic with 3T towing capacity and 152,000 KM on the clock. The compression test was 400 which is what it should be for that mileage. $18,000 was it's cost.

We must have looked at every Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux, Holden Rodeo and Nissan Safari sitting in a yard in Christchurch or at Turners Auctions or on Trademe or in that green car sales newspaper. Decent Hilux's were around $25K - so out of range - very popular with builders. The Nissan Safari's were great for open country but very hard to steer with a trailer in streets and up drives. There were very few twin cab 4WD Holden Rodeos available. There were a lot of Land Cruisers available which have the same motor as a Hilux Ute.

We stayed away from newer models than Series 80 because they start to get very blingy and become something called a Lexus (Fendalton Tractor). Real Land Cruisers have continued in production, are built like the wonderful old style Land Rovers but are hellish expensive. A 10 year old Land Cruiser (not a Lexus) was $40K at Turners Auctions.

The price of secondhand commercial vehicles has risen around 25% recently because older vehicles are no longer able to be imported due to government regulations that have come in to force on exhaust pollution.

The vehicle was purchased from Ace4WD on Byron St and the maintenance mechanic is to be Tony from Diesel Doctor on Lincoln Rd. The motor should do 500,000 Km if looked after and driven properly.

The Land Cruiser has been insured for full replacement as a commercial vehicle. There will be a very small list of older designated drivers with clean records.

Tracy the bus driver will be training all designated drivers to make sure we are all up to scratch, as well as looking after the weekly fueling, tires pressures, oil, mileage, etc. And there will be a daily vehicle log book to keep.

The Land Cruiser has been christened "Dug" as in DUG240 - it's number plate.

Dug will be on the road 7 days a week from Thursday 9 February, and will only go off the road for a few days around WOF time every 6 months, if there is any downtime at all. This will enable repairs to be scheduled for people weeks or months ahead, and that should help reduce a lot of stress for people living in appalling conditions.

Some upgrades are planned for Dug over time, commercial bull-bars front and rear, a front winch and front tow bar, RT for coms to base. So we can go anywhere in Christchurch, especially over in the East to help out after future quakes and inevitable liquefaction.

This vehicle was purchased with the generous donation of $5,000 from Rebuild Christchurch thanks to funding recently received from the Nippon Volunteer Network Active in Disaster (NVNAD) and $13,000 of a $15,000 donation from The Canterbury Community Trust.

Thank you!

Day 343 - leadership Addington style

Addington Action is another name for the Addington Volunteer Army.

Volunteers have to prove themselves. They earn responsibility by what and how they do. Everyone has an equal opportunity. There is conscious affirmative action in place to encourage women to use tools, and encourage leadership participation by Maori, and migrants. 90% are working people and majority women.

There is a working committee of 50 made up of street reps, from churches, schools and workplaces. The whole committee meets monthly for an hour to discuss, learn and make decisions. There are elected officers who carry out the legal administrative functions for purpose of signing cheques, legal documents etc. These officers don't meet separately from the committee.

Everyone on the committee has to be regularly active or they loose their place.

There is an elected organiser who recruits and trains everyone to confidently carry out their tasks, and makes sure the decisions of the committee are carried out.

There are elected team leaders for the food bank, information and work crews. These people are team leaders because they have proven themselves by what they have done. The volunteers for the work crew are additional to the committee of 50.

The whole set up has won the respect of the community and is therefore able to provide community leadership for the recovery.