The Star: May 18, 2017

16 Thursday May 18 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
The Star
Viewpoint
ONE OF the first things I did
as Minister supporting Greater
Christchurch Regeneration
was commit to keeping the
community as up-to-date as
possible on the regeneration
process.
As Minister, I’m provided a
great deal of data about how the
regeneration is progressing.
The information comes from
a variety of sources and covers
every aspect of life in greater
Christchurch, including housing,
employment, education, wellbeing
and infrastructure.
I want to ensure this data is
readily available so we all know
where we’re making progress,
and in some case, where we’re
falling short. The 2010 and 2011
quakes altered our path forever,
so we’re not always going to align
with what’s happening in other
regions, or even nationally.
The first data snapshot Greater
Christchurch Dashboard — Housing
was released over the weekend
and features average house
price and weekly rental cost data
Nicky Wagner
Keeping people informed
from the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment.
It shows the average weekly
rental cost dropped from $400 in
April 2016 to $386 in April 2017.
At its peak, the average weekly
rental cost rose to $437 postearthquake.
The data indicates we’re reaching
an equilibrium in terms of
supply and demand.
Data is an incredibly important
resource that can help us make
better decisions for the future of
Christchurch. The overall picture
is big and complex but this series
of snapshots will help make
things clearer in the coming
weeks and months.
I also intend to release a quarterly
report containing comprehensive
economic and social data
about greater Christchurch. This
will be a significant report that
further ensures we’re accurately
and transparently tracking the
regeneration process.
•Nicky Wagner is Minister
supporting Greater
Christchurch Regeneration
June Rhodes writes
about Morgan Jones who
featured in The Star on
April 20
In reference to the article on
Morgan Jones I see that he has
grown up into a fine young man.
It was sad that he never
regained his sight but good to
see what he has achieved and
what he is doing with his life.
He is a real inspiration to others
with a disability – his dancing
and other activities – and says
he is not afraid of heights just
scared of the dark, so obviously
he has a sense of humour.
It’s a wonderful idea to create a
sanctuary for native birds where
he can hear their lovely calls.
This was a terrible tragedy
when he fell from the train, and
should never have happened. I
wept to see that lovely little boy
with Jason Gunn in the newspaper
of November 28, 1994. It
was heart-breaking. I remember
too, he still loved playing with his
train set, and said ‘could they put
the light on,’ which was so sad.
I do hope that he manages to
get some work.
The reason for writing is that
in the throwes of moving house,
I have found a lot of old newspapers,
and cuttings of Morgan.
I see he has a lovely dog as a
companion. I always contribute
to the blind and puppy dog appeal,
and will think of Morgan.
I don’t think this will be able
to be passed on to him, but I
wish him well and the best of
luck for the future.
The city council says it
will not make any more
contentious road layout
changes in the central
city until there is general
consensus on the plans
Judy Keen – St Asaph St
is so narrow now that when a
parked car’s door is opened you
have to swerve around it into
the other lane or stop. Also,
yesterday on the way to work, I
saw the driver of a sport utility
vehicle attempting to park and
the driver needed two parking
spaces to get in, while the driver
of a small car who attempted to
get in between two parked cars
only partially succeeded. It’s a
nightmare driving beside a bus
or truck as they take up more
than their lane and you are so
close. The bus driver has to utilise
two lanes to turn a corner.
BOTCHED:
The city
council
says it will
not start
another An
Accessible
City project
until
everyone is
happy, after
uproar about
changes to
St Asaph St.