Tag Archives: disaster

Not aspiring to a spire?

Posted on 2nd Mar, 2012 by Puddleglum

The earthquake has turned everything upside down. The Wizard is at war with the Anglican Church – and I’m in agreement with Councillor Jamie Gough. Whatever happened to life’s eternal certainties? Looks like we’d better not ask Bishop Matthews – she … Continue reading →

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No ordinary day

Posted on 22nd Feb, 2012 by Puddleglum

Today has not been an ordinary day. But then neither was this day a year ago, nor many days in between. I went to the earthquake Memorial Service in North Hagley Park with my wife and daughter. We left early … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Human Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

(Communication) Breakdown?

Posted on 23rd Jan, 2012 by Puddleglum

It was all too predictable. After voting for a controversial 14.4%, $68,000, backdated salary increase for its ‘CEO’, Tony Marryatt, a few weeks before Christmas, the Christchurch City Council – or, more precisely, Mayor Bob Parker and Tony Marryatt himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Shearer on ‘How big is my politics?’

Posted on 19th Jan, 2012 by Puddleglum

Q. What’s the difference between Donald O’Connor, Jimmy Durante and David Shearer? A. All three of them express the naive belief that “It’s bigger than both of us!” but only two of them have the excuse that they were singing … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Green with envy

Posted on 11th Sep, 2011 by Puddleglum

As many know, Christchurch has been divided into four zones: Red; orange, white and green. Less well known – but increasingly apparent -there are interesting emotional and social psychological divisions emerging in a way that neatly maps onto that zoning. … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics, politics of envy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Offers we can’t refuse; commitments we can’t trust – and other conditions for growing mushrooms

Posted on 29th Jun, 2011 by Puddleglum

Now that the government has unveiled a multi-coloured map of Christchurch, that represents its current thinking on ‘retiring land’, compensation packages and mass internal migration it’s a good time to reflect on the state of play and highlight a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Earthquake Reflections and Connections

Posted on 7th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

We care most about things that happen to us and affect our interests directly. Try as we might, it’s harder to care about things that happen to others, at a distance, and which have little impact on our interests (which, … Continue reading →

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Reflections on the Pike River Mine Disaster November, 2010

Posted on 25th Nov, 2010 by Puddleglum

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport” Gloucester in King Lear, Act 4, Scene 1: William Shakespeare The end of a person’s life is the end of the most diaphanous of … Continue reading →

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