Eric Crampton • Aug 12, 2015 •
If there's any low-hanging fruit in quake-strengthening, it's unreinforced masonry facades, parapets, and chimneys. They tend to fall outwards from buildings onto passers by. Tieing them back can be pretty cheap relative to other earthquake strengthening. And, there's a much stronger market failure case for addressing parts of buildings that will fall on top of passers-by than those that will … Read More
Eric Crampton • Oct 08, 2013 •
We need to fix how we handle heritage buildings in New Zealand. The current rules let Heritage Boards designate buildings and effectively make them untouchable. The burden of providing the heritage amenity falls on the owner of the building. Where the... Read More
Eric Crampton • Aug 08, 2013 •
Owners of earthquake-prone buildings now have a bit more time to bring them up to spec. The owners are mad because they say it isn't long enough; people who experienced Christchurch are mad because buildings will still fall on people and kill them in a... Read More
Eric Crampton • Mar 09, 2013 •
The Christchurch Earthquake has the government looking at earthquake standards for older buildings. This could all wind up being rather expensive. A former adviser to the Reserve Bank and World Bank says the cost of bringing in tougher tests for ear... Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Jul 31, 2012 •
Of late I have been caught up with young children and the real world of a heritage conservation and archaeology business. But now I am back and wanted to kick off with some thoughts about a small museum. One that is fairly typical of many we have visited and have littered about NZ. This weekend I was seduced by a heritage museum website. It reeled me in … Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Feb 29, 2012 •
During a night of celebration, expectation and promise at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Trust Board and key figures at the Museum, including the recently appointed director, Roy Clare, re-instigated the Auckland Museum Medal Awards. Lauded as a return to the original intent of museums, to care for and conduct research on its collections, … Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Sep 30, 2011 •
The incredibly useful and interesting eNews from NZ Archaeology’s Garry Law was in my inbox this morning when I ‘turned on’. Top of the list is the article; Biggest Insurer of Church and Heritage site ends Earthquake Cover. It is a New Zealand Herald report from this morning, see here I am thinking ‘SIGH’. I am not going … Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Sep 27, 2011 •
Christchurch heritage is once again in the news with a number of articles published vocalising concern for the current regime of heritage building treatment and demolition. Unfortunately it sounds all too familiar with the same debates, criticisms and problems as the first time round, voiced in the weeks after the February earthquake by professionals and advocates alike; The speed of … Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Jun 22, 2011 •
Christchurch heritage has once more been in the headlines over the last week or so. The collapse and slide of the Lyttleton Timeball Station, more damage in the central area, and huge areas of liquefaction in the past week are all big news for archaeology and heritage. Whilst I want the best for the residents of Christchurch and the surrounding area, I … Read More
Brigid Gallagher • Jun 14, 2011 •
Last week the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) Conference was held in Havelock North. A great venue to get a picture of some of the projects and relationships archaeologists are involved in; it demonstrated that archaeology and heritage are alive and kicking here in Aotearoa. It was really good to listen to, discuss and witness themes and initiatives keeping archaeology … Read More