Earthquake in Christchurch

From Wikipaedia:

The 2010 Canterbury earthquake (also known as the Darfield earthquake and the Christchurch earthquake) was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on 4 September 2010 local time. It caused widespread damage and several power outages, particularly in the city of Christchurch. Two residents were seriously injured, one by a falling chimney and a second by flying glass.One person died of a heart attack suffered during the quake.

The earthquake's epicentre was 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Christchurch, near the town of Darfield. The hypocentre was at a shallow depth of 10 km. A foreshock of roughly magnitude 5.8 hit five seconds before the main quake, and strong aftershocks have been reported, up to magnitude 5.4.The initial quake lasted about 40 seconds, and was felt widely across the South Island, and in the North Island as far north as New Plymouth.

The Civil Defence declared a state of emergency for Christchurch and Selwyn District, while Selwyn District, Waimakariri and Timaru activated their emergency operation centres. A curfew was established in Christchurch Central City from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am in response to the earthquake.

Effects outside Christchurch

The quake's epicentre was around Darfield, around 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Christchurch. Four metres (13 ft) of sideways movement has been measured between the two sides of the previously unknown fault.

A 5 km (3.1 mi) section of rail track was damaged near Kaiapoi and there was lesser track damage at Rolleston and near Belfast. As a precaution, state rail operator KiwiRail shut down the entire South Island rail network after the earthquake, halting some 15 trains. After inspection, services south of Dunedin and north of Kaikoura recommenced at 10:30 am. The Main South Line, linking Christchurch with Dunedin, was given the all-clear and reopened just after 6:00 pm to allow emergency aid to be railed into Christchurch.

The quake caused damage to historic buildings in Lyttelton, Christchurch's port town, including cracks in a church and the destruction of parts of a hotel.

It's just surreal an unbelievable the extent of damage

Thank goodness that there (at this stage) seems to be only 2 people seriously hurt.

The horrible thing is they are still having after shocks which are keeping them on edge - recent Earthquakes

Here are some photos of some of the devastation:

         

There are some more unbelievable photos here: Dominion Post photos of earthquake

A lady on a parenting board I visit share her experience:

The worst part of it (one the shaking had stopped) was waiting it out in the pitch black for daybreak. We had the four of us in bed together and everytime there was another shake we all grabbed hold each other. DS2 was shaking constantly (obviously shocked) and no matter how tightly I held him he was still making the bed shake. We've got drawer handles that hang and everytime there was an aftershock they started clattering like some strange demonic musical instrument.

A friend of ours is a volunteer fireman and his wife dropped him at the station straight after and then she spent the next hour or so picking up people wandering the streets and dropping them off with family. It seems that a few of the elderly were wanting to be with family so decided to walk rather than spending then next few hours terrified and alone.

It was a huge relief when it finally lightened up, we only had minimal damage, a few broken glasses and a flood in the toilet where it overflowed, once DH worked sorted it out he went to his SILs to see how they fared. All of our friends sort of rallied together and the pregnant and BFing mums hung out at one house with the children while everyone else whet around the area checking on others and helping where needed. They spent a fair few hours at the pub and bottle store as there was broken glass everywhere. It was nice to see that people seemed to group together and were pooling together resources to ensure everyone was fed and watered. There were plenty of BBQed sausages and bacon butties eaten yesterday.

Even last night we all had dinner together before returning to our own homes although some people stayed over, especially those who live alone. It was the worst experience of my life but I could not imagine the terror of having to go through that without another soul in the house.

I am so very thankful of what we've got, a house that is standing, a fire for warmth, power and water and best of all my family are safe. I feel strangly contented, in no hurry for anything just happy to enjoy what today brings (minus the aftershocks of course). I also find myself on the verge of tears quite often, there is no apparent trigger for this, just a really somber feeling comes over me but still so happy to be here!

What causes the Earthquakes in New Zealand is fully explained here: GNS Science 

New Zealand is located on the boundary between two of the Earth's great tectonic plates - the Australian and the Pacific. Broadly speaking, the Australian plate is heading north while the Pacific plate is heading west. The combination of these motions means that the Pacific plate, which includes much of the South Island, is moving relative to the Australian plate at a rate of about 40 millimetres each year in a southwesterly direction. So Christchurch is moving away from Auckland about 4 metres every century.

It is the motion between these two plates, and the deformation that occurs in the boundary zone between the plates, that has given rise to much of New Zealand's geology as we see it today. It is also the fundamental cause of the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that are such important natural features of New Zealand. The deformation and squashing caused by the collision of the two great plates has caused mountain ranges to rise throughout the country. Some of these are still rising, and the interplay between the tectonic forces pushing the mountains up and gravity trying to pull them down means that landslides are a common occurrence over much of New Zealand.

The plate boundary zone in New Zealand

Click on thumbnail for bigger image

Tectonic plates behave like rigid shells that slide over the surface of a sphere. The biggest plate, the Pacific, is more than 10,000 km across. The plate boundary zones - the zones of interaction between adjacent plates where they collide, pull apart or slide past each other - may be anything from a few kilometres to a few hundred kilometres wide. Almost all of New Zealand is in the deforming plate boundary zone.

Only Northland is fully on the Australian plate, and only offshore islands like Chatham Island and Campbell Island are fully on the Pacific plate.

Large earthquakes are the most obvious sign of the deformation between the two plates.

Anzac Day

Lest we forget

New Zealand and Australian soldiers landing at Anzac Cove, 25 April 1915, Alexander Turnbull Library

What does Anzac stand for?

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

Why Anzac Day?

The date, April 25, marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915, during World War I.

Anzac Day is celebrated in both New Zealand and Australia and while it officially marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings it has expanded to include all Kiwi soldiers killed in war while also honoring returned servicemen and women.

What’s the significance of Gallipoli?

The battle at Gallipoli - a steep, rocky peninsula in Turkey - was one of New Zealand’s bloodiest campaigns which ended unsuccessfully for the Anzac soldiers with Gallipoli still held by its Turkish defenders nine long months later. The death toll included 2721 Kiwi soldiers - almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli - 8500 Australians, 87,000 Turkish soldiers and 44,000 men from France and the British Empire.

How many wars has New Zealand fought in?

Aside from World War I and II, Kiwi soldiers have fought in a number of other conflicts including Asia 1948-72, The Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Malayan Emergency and Confrontation in Borneo. Kiwi soldiers have battled in a number of conflict zones overseas including Afghanistan, Timor- Leste, Solomon Islands, Egypt, Middle East, Sudan, Iraq and South Korea.

The NZ Army says there are currently 625 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 peacekeeping operations, UN missions and defence exercises across 10 countries.

Why is the poppy the symbol for Anzac Day?

Red poppies are worn as a mark of respect to those who died during service to their country. The poppy has its origins in the early 20th century, when red or Flanders poppies bloomed over the graves of soldiers in France and Belgium.

The poppies became the symbol of remembrance following a poem written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer, called In Flanders Fields.

Sources: NZ History Online and NZ Army

Gorgeous views :-)

 

Have You Seen Aisling Symes ?

So very sad !!!!


Update:

An emotional Inspector Gary Davey delivers the news that a child's body has been found. Photo / Supplied

It was with "tremendous sorrow" that Inspector Gary Davey confirmed to a crowd outside a west Auckland home that a child's body had been found earlier this evening.

The body is that of a young child found in a drain.

The property was very close to the Longburn address where two-year-old toddler Aisling Symes went missing last Monday.

Mr Davey said it was too early to say how the child got in the drain or how long it had been there.

Police have spoken to the family.

"The immediate scene has been condoned off and treated as a crime scene," he said.

"I know you've got a lot of questions and so do I."

Mr Davey said the body had not yet been identified as Aisling Symes.

A group of neighbours are holding candles across the road from where the body was found.

Earlier, the Mayor of Waitakere Bob Harvey confirmed to the NZ Herald a body had been found near the Henderson property where Aisling went missing.

As activity heightened on Pomaria Rd this evening, a street connecting with Longburn Rd, neighbours reported a drainage crew inspecting a storm water line near the property with a camera.

A police camera crew also entered the crime scene.

A senior crime officer was seen entering the area with a small box while another policeman entered the area with an industrial flashlight.

Firefighters began working on the storm water drain on Pomaria Rd around 6pm.

The developments saw a crowd of neighbours, children and other community members gather outside the property.

Aisling was last seen at 5pm last Monday, near her grandparents Longburn Rd home.

Police earlier today cancelled a press conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Aisling's mother, Angela, has maintained her daughter went missing while she had her back turned at the house.

She was missing for just over a week before tonight's discovery.

--------------------------------

Case Type: Endangered Missing

Missing Date: Monday 05th October 2009

Missing From: Henderson  Auckland

Missing Country: New_Zealand

Sex: Female

DOB: Currently unknown



Specific Details:

Hair: Light Brown
Eye Color: Unknown

Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown

Race: White
language: n/a


Special Facts:  Aisling is pronounced 'Ashling'. She is considered tall for a 2 year old.

Known Circumstances:

Auckland police believe it is now more likely that missing two year old Aisling Symes in West Auckland may have been abducted.  Aisling (age 2) is believed to have wandered away from a Longburn Road address at around 5.30pm on Monday 05/10/09. When last seen, she was wearing a green parker jacket or ski jacket, blue jeans embroidered with flowers, and had white tennis shoes on her feet.

Police also want to hear from anyone who may have noticed a young girl walking alone in the surrounding streets of Rathgar, Kingdale and Pomaria Roads, or of any suspicious people or vehicles in the neighbourhood.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION on Aisling's whereabouts is asked to contact the Henderson Police Station on (09) 839 0600 or 0800 4AISLING - 0800 424 75464

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Please print this poster for Aisling (all NZ)

http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/news/a4-aisling-poster.pdf

This poster is from the NZ Police and they would like it printed and distributed around ALL OF NEW ZEALAND, not just Auckland!

Please pop one on your car, in shops, on windows out and about, libraries, doctors clinics, dentists, Asian stores, markets, supermarkets, absolutely anywhere you can think of.

You CAN do something to help if you are outside Auckland. Don't feel embarrassed asking everyone to display a copy of this, if it were your child you'd want EVERYONE to get it out there, swallow their pride and keep up the publicity for this little girl.

---------------------------------

Moment is all it took for Aisling to vanish

Angela Symes turned her back for the slightest of moments – and her beloved little daughter was gone.

All she was doing was fiddling with a tap when two-year-old Aisling vanished. She said, "She was there, I turned it off, looked behind me again, and she was gone. It was that fast. I just can't believe it, but it was that fast."

Mrs Symes and her husband Alan appeared on television networks to make an impassioned plea for the return of their daughter, who went missing in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson on Monday night.

The pair said they kept asking themselves if they could have acted any differently on the night Aisling went missing.

Their other daughter, Caitlin, had been strong, but was getting more and more upset, asking: "Are we ever going to get Aisling back? "She'll be playing, then all of a sudden she'll go quiet and burst into tears. She's asking us questions like, `If she doesn't eat, she's going to die, isn't she?"' Mrs Symes said.

Mr Symes, a part-time security guard, is a native of Munster in Ireland, has lived in New Zealand for 20 years. Mrs Symes, a fulltime mum, has spent her life in West Auckland.

Source: Stuff.co.nz

Michael Jackson ...

As a child I loved Michael Jackson (along with Prince) .. had posters all over my wall (esp at the "Thriller" album stage ) .. as a teenager I wasn't in love with him anymore .. but still played and really liked his music ..

.. now even as an adult I still listen to his albums and throughout all the "stuff" that went on in his life .. was still interested (and in some cases felt sad) to see how he lived his life

.. now sadly he has gone.

I remember the first time I saw him singing in Jackson 5 in a documentary talking about his life .. then later on in a video "Don't stop to you get enough"  .. the "Thriller" video spooked the sh*t out of me .. and "Billie Jean" and "Bad" were my fav videos after that .. then along cam "Man in the mirror" ..

I remember some of my workmates going to his concert when he came to NZ and raving about it .. and wishing I hadn't been so "cool" and had gone to see it !!!

..  but anyhoo to have so much of your life in the limelight must have been tough

.. and finally after all the publicity has gone .. he'll finally be able to have the privacy he craved ..

RIP Michael Jackson .. your songs still rock!

from the stuff site

CHILD STAR TO MEGASTAR

Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys - Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael - first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6. They walked off with first prize and went on to become a best-selling band, The Jackson Five, and then The Jackson 5.

Jackson made his first solo album in 1972, and released  ''Thriller'' in 1982, which became a smash hit that yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million worldwide.

The next year, he unveiled his signature ''moonwalk'' dance move while performing ''Billie Jean'' during an NBC special.

In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.

Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.

TIMELINE:

A look at the career of Michael Jackson:
   - Aug. 29, 1958: Michael Joseph Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children.
   - 1963: After several years of training, The Jackson 5 begin to perform in public.
   - Dec. 14, 1969: The Jackson 5 appear on the ''The Ed Sullivan Show.''
   - 1970: Their first album, ''Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5,'' includes the hit singles ''I Want You Back'' and ''I'll Be There,'' which go to No. 1.
   - 1972: While still singing with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson puts out his first solo album, ''Got to Be There.''
   - 1979: Jackson's first solo album as an adult, ''Off the Wall,'' is released. He becomes the first solo artist to place four singles from the same record in the top 10.
   - 1982: His album ''Thriller'' wins a record eight Grammys and becomes the world's biggest selling record of all time. Along with the title track, it includes the songs ''Billie Jean'' and ''Beat It.''
   - 1983: Jackson electrifies the 50 million viewers of the ''Motown 25'' television special by singing and dancing to ''Billie Jean'' while wearing a black fedora, one white glove, and pants that end above his ankles.
   - 1984: During production of a Pepsi-Cola commercial, Jackson's scalp sustains burns when an explosion sets his hair on fire.
   - 1985: Jackson and Lionel Richie write what becomes one of the fastest-selling singles ever with ''We Are the World.'' The song was produced to raise money for victims of the Ethiopian famine.
   - 1987: His album ''Bad'' produces five No. 1 singles and sells at least 22 million copies worldwide.
   - 1995: Releases the album ''HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I.'' In August, the song ''You Are Not Alone'' becomes the first single in pop music history to enter the Billboard chart at No. 1.
   - 1997: The album, ''Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix,'' sells in the hundreds of thousands worldwide, disappointing numbers for Jackson.

- Reuters, AP, and Stuff.co.nz

Billie Jean video -

Notices ..

In the newspaper today ..

By RYAN EVANS ryan.evans@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News | Thursday, 20 November 2008

Partner 'absolutely devastated' by crane operator's death

For Allan Peacock's loved ones it still feels like he isn't really gone.

It feels like he is away on one of his long-haul truck runs and he'll be coming home soon.

The 38-year-old crane operator was killed in a freak crane accident at McCurdy Engineering's New Plymouth yard on Monday, hit in the head by a flying D-link bolt after a strop broke while he was moving a load of heavy gas cylinders.

Yesterday, Mr Peacock's sister-in-law Jan Applegarth said his partner (her sister) Robyn Roper was still too distressed to talk about the accident.

"She's devastated, absolutely devastated," Mrs Applegarth said.

"She's trying to put a brave face on it but I know deep down she's hurting big time because she's lost her soul mate."

Mr Peacock had worked for Roebuck Cranes for about three months.

A truck lover, he had previously worked for seven years as a truck driver for Symons Transport, driving long-haul runs to the South Island.

He had left the job so he could spend more time at home, Mrs Applegarth said.

"He was away lots, missed Christmas and things and this Christmas was going to be his first at home for a while."

Mr Peacock was born in Wellington and grew up in South Taranaki.

He was known for wearing a beanie and sunglasses and a very safety-conscious attitude.

He was wearing a safety helmet when he was killed, Mrs Applegarth said.

He loved fishing, squash and camping with Miss Roper and his nephews, nieces and other family members at the back of his brother-in-law's farm, Mrs Applegarth said.

"They did it every year with the kids, just chilling out with them on my brother's farm," she said.

"He loved teasing the young ones, you know, have them on like you do, give them a bit of a tickle.

"He was well-knowledged in a lot of things and could do a lot of things, a very handy-man type person, he would have a go at anything.

"He was quite a quiet person, but he also knew how to have a joke with you as well."

Mrs Applegarth said her sister had been swamped with phone calls, flowers and messages of support from people and wanted to thank them all for their support.

She said her sister didn't want anybody to be blamed for the accident.

"It's just one of those things, it's life and you have to accept it, she knows and we all know.

"It's tragic. It's going to take a long time to get over for all of us really because he was like a brother not a brother-in-law."

For Sarah Bean - heh heh

'Meh' - The Simpsons make word history

Stuff.co.nz | Tuesday, 18 November 2008

The phrase “meh” might denote utter boredom but it has the world of wordsmiths very excited.

The expression of indifference or boredom has earned a place in the 30th edition of the Collins English Dictionary, according to media reports.

It was chosen from a number of words suggested by the public for inclusion in the iconic dictionary.

The term is believed to have originated from an episode of The Simpsons where Homer suggests a fieldtrip and Bart and Lisa both reply “meh” and continue to watch TV.

It has since spread through the internet and has worked its way into common usage.

The dictionary’s publisher HarperCollins called for the public to submit words that were in common conversational usage but not in the English dictionary.

“Meh" beat "frenemy", an enemy who pretends to be a friend, "huggles", a combination of a hug and a snuggle and "jargonaut", meaning someone who excessively creates new words, to be included.

In the news this morning ...

           

 

By JAYNE HULBERT jayne.hulbert@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News | Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Flying bolt kills worker

A flying industrial bolt hit and killed a man during a crane accident in New Plymouth yesterday morning.

Crane operator Allan Robert Peacock, 38, was working in the yard of McCurdy Engineering on Devon Rd when a strop carrying the load he was moving broke.

The broken strop flung back and a D-link bolt hit Mr Peacock in the head, killing him.

The New Plymouth man, who was an employee of Roebuck Cranes, was operating a Hiab crane moving a load of heavy gas cylinders at the time of the accident.

Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough, of New Plymouth police, said they were called to the industrial accident at the Waiwhakaiho engineering firm at about 10am.

Mr Wansbrough said the industrial crane did not have a cab, but was operated by the person standing on the ground beside the crane.

He said it was believed Mr Peacock was killed instantly.

Taranaki District Health Board paramedics' resuscitation attempts at the scene were unsuccessful.

The police and the Department of Labour are investigating the accident, which happened during heavy rain.

After the accident the Reverend Albie Martin held a blessing at the site, which was attended by Mr Peacock's workmates and bosses.

Rev Martin said it had been an extremely traumatic morning for everyone there and hoped he was able to offer some comfort.

"This sort of thing is not what anyone envisages happening. I'm just offering comfort to all the employees and management there," he said.