The McKinsey Influence

The Information below is based on the article “In tough hands at Allstate”. (See http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-04-30/in-tough-hands-at-allstate). David Berardinelli wrote “From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves”. It is the story of the key role played by management consultants McKinsey & Co. and …

Insurance Blues – Guest Poem by Melissa Parsons

Fraud 'inevitable' in Chch rebuild

New Zealand's lack of a whistleblower culture could hamper the detection of potentially billions of dollars' worth of fraud in the post-quake rebuild of Christchurch.

Modern or historic: Why not both?

Police forget to pay $5000 in rent

Police have admitted "dropping the ball" by failing to pay more than $5000 in rent to a tiny Christchurch community group run by volunteers and war veterans.

Fraud 'inevitable' in Chch rebuild

New Zealand's lack of a whistleblower culture could hamper the detection of potentially billions of dollars' worth of fraud in the post-quake rebuild of Christchurch.

Leaked document explains EQC delays

If the latest EQC damage estimate is less than previous assessments, the commission will mostly use that figure rather than explore why the discrepancy has arisen, a leaked memo reveals.

Charity set to restore old Trinity Church

One of Christchurch's oldest stone churches could be fully restored after a new buyer came forward.

'Priority' but widow's house still broken

Earthquake widow Julie Caldwell is about to face her third winter in a cold and cracked TC3 home, despite being deemed a "priority case" by recovery authorities more than two years ago.

Leaked document explains EQC delays

If the latest EQC damage estimate is less than previous assessments, the commission will mostly use that figure rather than explore why the discrepancy has arisen, a leaked memo reveals.

Skewered worker 'very lucky to be alive'

Submissions On Christchurch City Council's Three Year Plan

Day 783 - Rebuild Expo display

A number of NGO groups are getting together to have a combined display booth at the Rebuild & Recovery Expo in Addington on 27-28 April at CBS Arena.

Reminder: Saturday's LURP Forum

Property Owners Criticise CERA/CCDU

Finally after nearly 26 months. There is an Increasing number of articles reflecting the situation in the central city.  Chris Hutching in the NBR has published an article reflecting some of the remarks made by CORE (“The City Owners Rebuild …

Day 782 - PIM invoice fee paid

Today's excitement was getting an invoice from the City Council to pay for the PIM application to get formal planning permission for the emergency depot at 124 Garlands Rd. The PIM application was submitted last Monday. The invoice was paid and the council now has 20 working days to process the application.

NZers may be missing Chch opportunities - Hays

Feedback on the proposed Coastal Pathway closes tomorrow

Christchurch residents have until tomorrow (Wednesday 17 April) to get their feedback on the draft Concept Plan for the proposed Christchurch Coastal Pathway into the Christchurch City Council.

Sumner causeway closed for months

Commuters from Christchurch's seaside suburbs will be spending more time in their vehicles when a 500-metre detour begins this month.

Fraud warning as rebuild gears up

Canterbury organisations need to be on guard against potentially billions of dollars' worth of fraud as the post-quake rebuild of Christchurch gears up, a forensics expert says.

Ian Simpson on Campbell Live

Rebuild fraud could hit $3 billion

Canterbury organisations need to be on guard against potentially billions of dollars' worth of fraud as the post-quake rebuild of Christchurch gears up, a forensics expert says.

Wood finds a niche in rebuild designs

Canterbury architecture, traditionally built from stone, has been imbued with a more lightweight philosophy since the quakes, a Christchurch architect told a city timber construction expo.

Investors in tussle over City Mall plans

Two contenders battling to develop a prime City Mall block now stand in each other's way after buying up land.

Wood finds a niche in rebuild designs

Canterbury architecture, traditionally built from stone, has been imbued with a more lightweight philosophy since the quakes, a Christchurch architect told a city timber construction expo.

Chch rebuild driving national growth in jobs

The Christchurch rebuild will continue to help the national job market grow, particularly when the more chunky central city projects start.

Cabinet Paper and Minute of Decisions on the report and recommendations of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission

Ian Simpson on the EQC leak

Tonight Ian Simpson, the Earthquake Commission's chief executive talks to Campbell Live about the EQC leak.

EQC Blames EQC Truths for its Inability to Meet Deadlines

Quake stress a valid reason for late legal filing - Employment Court

The psychological impact of the Canterbury earthquake has been accepted by the Employment Court as a valid reason for a lawyer filing legal documents several weeks late.

Day 781 - sewer pipe found

This morning the drainage contractor found the old sewer pipe that connects to the city council sewer network. Mike made some quick adjustments to the services trench under the direction of the contractor who also gave Mike a shopping list of sewer pipe fixtures.

The main pipes were laid in the trench and glued together with solvent. The system will be connected up on Thursday at this point. The end near the future building will be capped till the contractor returns to do the final connec ...

Why would you ever use BitCoins?

Bay View Road, Diamond Harbour

Wellbeing research paints complex picture

Introducing KiwiSure

Christchurch rebuild grows job market

The Christchurch rebuild is helping the national employment market grow year-on year, according to a first quarter of 2013 survey on online job advertisements.

Govt works on quake-prone buildings policy

The Government is developing a new policy for quake-prone buildings and will announce it this year.

Hello to Ello Cafe at Ballantyne’s Contemporary Lounge

Canterbury Maps goes live

One-way Opawa Road from Monday 15 April until the end of June

Church leaders favour new cathedral design

Anglican church leaders and Christchurch residents appear to favour a modern design for a new cathedral.

AA Insurance - progress reports

Sammy's Jazz Bar building under threat

A Christchurch property developer wants to retain a historic inner-city building and is urging rebuild officials to "drop the bureaucracy and be flexible".

Who is really rebuilding Christchurch?

There is just one problem in deciding to call your organisation the Ministry of Awesome, apart from people scoffing at the name. The challenge for the founders of the Christchurch-based trust was defining exactly what awesome is.

Day 780 - Tidying up after yesterday

Earlier today, the boxing and spilt concrete around the base of the radio mast was removed. A lot of dirt was then used to back fill gaps and construct a path that runs next to the mast.

Manchester St fully reopens

Manchester St has fully reopened for the first time in more than two years.

Thesis Topics 2013

The aim of this first workshop in Christchurch (March 9-12) was to explore the range of possible thesis topics and then select one.

Manchester St fully reopens in Christchurch

A change to the cordon in Christchurch's central city means Manchester Street is fully open for the first time in more than two years.

War Memorial may be moved

EQC staff failed to declare $25m contract conflict

Confessions of a trainee academic

Warning: Unsafe Electrical Wiring

Day 779 - Saturday working bee 3

Earlier today the Saturday 9am working bee at 124 Garlands Rd got 3 jobs completed.

Christchurch’s Countess – Léontine de la Pasture

To the inhabitants of colonial Nelson, Léontine, Countess de la Pasture, was the epitome of Victorian refinement and manners. To her husband, Gerard Gustavus Ducarel, the fourth Marquis de la Pasture, she was his beloved Lily, a virtuous and noble woman, who not only possessed great strength but generously opened her hand and her heart to the needy. Léontine’s presence was warmly embraced by the small, fledgling colonial society of Nelson. Her presence lent a sense of importance and class ...

Cordon reduction sees Manchester Street reopened

A temporary change to the cordon tonight sees Manchester Street open all the way through for the first time in over two years.

Blogger's site gets hammering

Christchurch residents have hammered an offshore website holding a leaked Earthquake Commission (EQC) email as lawyers debate the legal issues the saga raises.

Indoor sports centre reopens after quake

Another step in the recovery of sport in Canterbury occurred yesterday with the reopening of Wilding Park's indoor tennis centre.

Christchurch Airport keeps costs grounded

The soon to be completed Christchurch International Airport's domestic terminal has been a "very complex" project but came in on budget despite unexpected delays and construction challenges.

Singapore firm major player in real estate

The Singaporean company which has partnered with local firm Artmatic Holdings to build a worker village at Church Corner in Riccarton is a major player in engineering and integrated real estate in Southeast Asia.

Global investors eye rebuild options