Telecommunications infrastructure providers, Vodafone, Spark and Chorus, are working closely together to explore all options to restore services to Kaikoura.
The earthquake damaged a major fibre optic cable that runs from the top of the South Island, along State Highway 1 through Clarence and Kaikoura, to Christchurch, which supports both fixed line and mobile networks.
Six breaks have been identified along this cable, and the conditions and nature of the damage to the cable and the adjacent State Highway means that restoration work is going to take a considerable amount of time. Repairs may take weeks or possibly months.
People in the Kaikoura region are likely to experience degraded telecommunications services for an extended period of time.
In order to support the Kaikoura community, residents, and incoming support workers, Vodafone, Spark and Chorus are exploring a range of options to provide temporary connectivity to the Kaikoura township, including microwave backhaul links to mobile cell sites.
Aqualink Cable
A key potential solution being investigated by the three companies is using a Vodafone-owned undersea cable that passes by the coast of Kaikoura and repurpose this cable for temporary connectivity for the township.
Vodafone’s Aqualink cable links the North and South Islands, running from Lyall Bay to Kaikoura and then on to Christchurch. Approximately 50 metres of fibre optic cable needs to be laid to connect Chorus and Spark to Vodafone’s Aqualink Cable.
This work commences today to establish a diversity link as quickly as possible. Conditions on the ground will determine the rate of progress but we aim to have this completed in the next 24 hours.
Once this work is complete, Spark, Chorus and Vodafone will be able to restore most broadband and mobile services for customers in Kaikoura and some surrounding areas.
This potential solution has a range of challenges and is not certain to be successful, however the three companies expect to have a clearer view on timelines and likelihood of success by the end of today.
Fixed line status· While the damage to the fibre cable means Kaikoura is currently isolated, most residents of Kaikoura can call each other on fixed copper lines locally but no calls can be made into or out of Kaikoura.· Emergency calls are currently being monitored and relayed to emergency services via satellite phone. Residents can also call local services such as police and fire directly.
Vodafone mobile status (including 2degrees via their roaming agreement with Vodafone)· Customers in and around Kaikoura, Clarence and Waiau are still experiencing degraded mobile services (2 sites are still down).· Yesterday afternoon Vodafone technicians successfully installed a temporary microwave backhaul link which has meant some people in the areas of Kaikoura, Hundalee, and Clarence are now able to use voice and text services.· To provide temporary coverage for people in Waiau, Vodafone will be establishing a femtocell over satellite link early this afternoon.
Spark mobile status· Customers in and around Kaikoura, Hundalee, Clarence, and Waiau are still experiencing degraded mobile services (a total of 5 cell sites are still down).· Yesterday evening, Spark installed a signal booster to the mobile cell site on the Kaikoura peninsula as an interim solution. Spark customers in Kaikoura should now have limited access to the mobile network – in most cases, 2-3 bars of signal. Spark encourages customers to use available signal for calling and texting rather than data. There is ongoing work today to increase the network capacity, so that more Kaikoura residents can use the mobile network.· Today, Spark is looking at installing a microwave backhaul link to improve mobile connectivity further. This work should be completed today or tomorrow, and once complete, will provide a good quality 3G and 4G mobile service to the Kaikoura township.· While improvement work is taking place, mobile coverage may be interrupted for short periods of time, of around 15-20 minutes.
South Island connectivityThe loss of this east coast cable means that all three providers face challenges as back up connectivity options are reduced.
Spark South Island landline and broadband services are currently reliant on the integrity of the Western cable, which runs from Blenheim and Nelson down to Christchurch via Greymouth.
If the Western cable was also damaged, it would seriously degrade connectivity for much of the South Island. To increase protection of this cable, Spark has cancelled permits for any earth works or maintenance along the length of the cable. We also ask for the assistance of New Zealanders who live along the length of the cable to ensure that they protect against any risk of damage.
Firms in big cities hire well and price to compete. Are they better firms?
This study estimates differences in productivity (mfp) across New Zealand urban areas, with a focus on the size of Auckland’s productivity premium. The estimates are based on analysis of firm-level data from Statistics New Zealand’s Longitudinal Business Database. The methods used in the paper overcome some of the biases that arise in standard approaches to spatial productivity estimation - biases arising from imperfect competition, spatial price variation, firm heterogeneity, and labour-sorting across cities. Ignoring these factors leads to biased estimates of the Auckland’s relative productivity performance. The study also investigates industry differences in spatial productivity patterns.
Urban Productivity Estimation with Heterogeneous Prices and Labour (1.4MB)Urban Productivity Estimation Executive Summary (1.5 MB)Author: Dave Maré
Another interesting new product out of the Saint Gobain/Solar Gard stable is the Mirror Shield product.
Now this application can replace the traditional mirrored surface thus eliminating the “breakage” possibilityand resulting inconvenience. Add to this that advertising can be printed on this surface all of a sudden the spacetaken up by thetraditional mirror turns into a “mirrored promotional space” that can be changed out as requiredand economically.
You can link here to the specs sheet and local supplier details or for a product sample call Ross Eathorne on09 441 0040 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Tuesday 15 November 2016
The main truck rail line in New Zealand's South Island has been decimated The main truck rail line in New Zealand's South Island has been decimated
Coastal shipping has again come to the rescue after New Zealand’s supply chain was “decimated” by Monday’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake in North Canterbury and on-going aftershocks nationwide.
With massive slips cutting off vital road and rail infrastructure at the top of the “Shaky Isles’” South Island, feeder shipping is leading the relief effort to get stalled freight moving.
Pacifica Shipping ceo Steve Chapman said inquiries “have gone through the roof”, reminiscent of the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake in Christchurch which left 185 dead and saw coastal shipping play a pivotal role in the recovery. Continue to full article
Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says the University will be up and running again on Tuesday.
Victoria’s campuses have been closed today while engineers checked buildings for earthquake damage. The Kelburn and Te Aro campuses will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, and Professor Guilford expects the University’s other campuses—Pipitea and Karori—to reopen soon once assessments are completed.
He says there will be limited disruption to students. All Victoria’s student hostels are open. Classes and events scheduled to be held on the campuses that have yet to re-open will be relocated to another campus.
“While the earthquakes have been frightening for both staff and students, I am very pleased to confirm that no injuries have been reported.
“Victoria has made and continues to make a significant investment in infrastructure, ensuring that both our old and new buildings are appropriately earthquake strengthened. Events like those that began in the early hours of this morning show the importance of these investments in ensuring the safety of our students and staff.
“We also have very effective incident response processes in place that were activated within minutes of the earthquake. I would like to thank the staff, students and consultant engineers who worked tirelessly throughout last night and today to ensure our teaching and research services could safely re-commence tomorrow.”
Professor Guilford says Victoria is offering accommodation to any tertiary student in the Wellington region who urgently needs a place to stay.
“We accommodated over 100 displaced students and neighbours at one of our halls of residence, Te Puni Village, in the hours after the earthquake. Many were international students who had been evacuated from their apartments.
“We are able to provide beds, food, warmth and company and are happy to do the same for any other tertiary students in Wellington who need temporary lodgings.”
Cranes and trailers sold off by bankrupt mining contractors are proving a boon for auction group GraysOnline as it sells less consumer goods and focuses on machinery and equipment, targeting international buyers in Asia and the Middle East.
"I would like Grays to be to plant and machinery what Google is to search," chief executive Mark Bayliss told The Australian Financial Review. Australia currently has "an excess of supply" in mining and agricultural equipment, partially due to the resources slump which forced many companies into administration, he said.
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242