New Zealand Fire Service and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)

Media update from Assistant National Commander Paul Baxter

Monday 7 March 2011

USAR

• Forsyth Barr - Work is continuing on clearing the stairwell in the Forsyth Barr building. Progress is being made but is slow work. The United States USAR team is working on this site with support from the New Zealand Fire Service, other emergency services and private contractors.

• Grand Chancellor – this building has now been cleared by USAR and operations there have concluded.

• The focus for other USAR operations includes controlled deconstruction and debris clearance. It also includes assessing and clearing smaller red and yellow stickered buildings, both within the central city and in the suburbs.

• Multi-agency teams including New Zealand and international USAR team members, firefighters and police were yesterday able to clear about 300 buildings and will be continuing to operate today. They have a priority list of buildings that has been decided in association with Civil Defence, the City Council and Police but will also try to assist other building owners they come across, where possible.

• Civil Defence is the main point of contact for inquiries about buildings.

Fire

• With the cold and damp weather conditions, the Fire Service continue to be able to help residents facing weather related problems, for example putting tarpaulins on damaged roofs. Contact the Fire Service.

• Power is continuing to be reconnected in some areas of the central city, and we remind people to be very careful. Any queries about the resumption of power to your property please contact Orion on 0800 363 9898.

• The fire ban remains in place. This means no open fires. Barbecues and gas cookers can be used outside. This fire ban is in place to ensure vital resources remain where they are needed.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage