Month: September 2010

Weather update

Heavy rain and gale-force winds are expected to continue battering the country today in the latest of a series of spring storms.
Since the wild weather began a week ago, roofs in Southland have collapsed under heavy snow, and farmers have reported damage estimated to cost more than that caused by the Canterbury earthquake.
More than 87,000 households across the central North Island have been hit by power cuts, with power companies still working to restore electricity to the remaining few today.
A MetService weather warning issued today said another spell of severe gales was expected in some eastern areas, including Wellington, and a period of heavy rain was forecast on the West Coast. TVNZ
I know  that the weather is a bit of a dull theme, but one cannot escape it  here.

Spring has arrived. That is the equinox and not  the change of the calendar to the first of the month.
So the wind has arrived, and today boy has it arrived.
It has been hard enough recently with the cycling recently, but today it is blowing you over strength. At the same time, it has been quite sunny and seductive. Elsewhere the weather has been appalling. Terribly cold and wet with snow in Southland, and very wet in the rest of the north island.
It seems that for a change Wellington is having the better of it!

The desert road.

Full Membership

 
On Monday evening we became New Zealand citizens. The ceremony took place at Wellington Town Hall, with the Mayor doing the honours.
There were about 75 people there to have their status updated. They were from a wide range of countries, which emphasised the current and future diversity of NZ.
Everyone had to swear ans oath or  give an affirmation and then the certificates were presented. There was an opportunity for a posed photograph which we declined.
The event lasted about two hours as the Mayor had a chat to everyone who came up, and did not just hand over the certificate.
So now we are all pround citizens, and EQ is soon to become a black passport holder.

Brentford boy talks economics

Just been to a lecture at Victoria University beamed in from Auckland.

Lord Stern of Brentford is giving a series of lectures, of which this was number two of three.

This is the same Stern much disliked by the climate change -“it’s all to do with the angle of hte earth” sayers.

Anyway, the theme tonight was moving to a low carbon economy, via improving efficiency of energy use, looking at the development of new technology, incentives beyond the pricing of carbon and the policy context from central government to individuals via communities.

A pleasant change and good brain food.

Sad times

Sara’s close friend died last week. They had shared the running of the youth group over two years, committing to two Fridays per month. Youth group necessitated planning meetings. Planning meetings needed a beer and a glass of merlot.
A recurrence of her illness earlier this year meant treatment was palliative. Sara offered support, explanation and care and protection to her and her husband.
Forty-three seems too young to go.
Too young to leave a widower and dependent children.
To early to leave friends behind.
Her funeral was at the local church. The place was heaving. With seats for 270, there were about 450 people there. That is what happens when you have a big family, friends, respect from the wider community, work colleagues who care, and when the class mates of your children attend to offer support. The rector of the boys’ school assisted in the service. “The Priests” were there with Ave Maria, and Robbie Williams with a song I had not heard before.
As Stacy was taken to the car for her trip to Rotorua people spilled onto the road outside and she was “farewelled” with Hakas by boys from St. Pats and St. Bens where she had taught Kapahaka and Poi performance.
The “Khandallah Massive” retired to the pub for the afternoon as Stacy went back with her family.
On Friday we travelled to Rotorua for wider family farewell in the Maori way and for her final burial. The experience of being involved in the tangi was very positive and an insight. The events are very formal, and were conducted predominantly in Maori.
 We arrived at the house on Friday and were formally welcomed by the kaumatua, acting as the director  of procedures.
In the early evening there was a religious service with singing, prayers and speeches. Stacy’s coffin was open, and rather than people talking about her as if she was already gone, speeches were addressed to her.
On Saturday she was buried in her family plot. After that it was time for the official sit-down meal for 150-200 people. The organisation was impeccable.
Through all of the proceedings it was enlightening to be involved and witness the way things are done. Similarities with the way other cultures deal with the same events were apparent. We all need our time to grieve, demonstrate and talk and discuss. Maori have their own formal way of doing it. It was refreshing for the casket to be open, and so the normality of death to be acknowledged.

Shaking elsewhere

New Zealand hits the news with its big quake. Thankfully for us it was in Christchurch rather than in Wellington. So this time we are ok.

When it does hit Wellington, there is more scope for a greater impact. There are two roads in-one over the hills, and one along the coast. Not much needed to isolate the region.

Thanks for the concern.