Weird Things Sort of Happen When Nothing Happens

The biggest natural disaster in this Country's history may have delivered a dysfunctional local Government, but it hasn't entirely crushed their urge to self-expression. The bizarre Councillor Keown appears to believe that he's received encouragement with his long-pending comic book - or possibly a savage dystopian satire - from Crown observer and Central Government nanny Kerry Marshall. Should the Councillor experience ongoing creative block he could always have a word with in-house wordsmurf Felicity Price, who doesn't appear to be breaking a creative sweat for her $80,000 of ratepayer dosh.

So, you never know eh?

Whatever Happened to the People's Choice?

Once upon a more innocent time, Councillor Johanson raised expectations by embarking upon a musical career. A real pity that he never followed it up.

Damping Down the Demand

"People are really keen to hear what's going on. It's almost an insatiable demand for information."

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery frontman Roger Sutton revealed his true colours asserted his priorities at Thursday's $700+ per head Seismics and the City event when he stressed the need to keep the lid on people's expectations in post-quake Canterbury. So no rarking up of the insurance industry or intervention in the out of control housing crisis, but every chance of yet more pop-up picnic events.

The Return of the Fat Controller

Same as the Old Boss

They sacked the saintly Nick, and while the elusive post-quake recovery hasn't exactly receded, it's no closer. Ah well.

Gnome Scam Alert

It's Fraud Awareness Week, and while it may be all but over the residually garden festival-themed folks at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority have issued a timely warning. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with closing those pesky quake-related loopholes that your insurance company discovered.

Taking It to the Bish

Despite the plight of those still without sewage, or waiting in limbo for their post-quake zoning to be clarified, Mayor Bob hasn't found Christchurch's ongoing suburban muntedness to be a rich field for media ops. But give the man a busted-beyond-repair iconic cathedral and he's oiling up to plunge back into his natural element. Him and the yappy guy.

According to Newstalk ZB's Mike Yardley, Council CEO Marryatt is known as The Phantom around the halls of local government power, on account of his low visibility. And Mike Yardley wouldn't put us wrong, right?

Old Time Lords Never Die . . .

. . . they wind up as bishops in obscure parts of the world. Consider the close resemblance of Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Christchurch in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and alleged Canadian, to the original Doctor Who, William Hartnell, who supposedly departed this dimension in 1975:

Now it's not for us mortals to know what the Time Lords have in mind for us, but Bishop Vicky is on record as claiming that it's Christian principles that brought out the best in us through the earthquakes, even those of us who aren't Christians. 

Going All Mediaeval

Rebuild barely out of first gear, silly season in overdrive:

The Bishop wanted a beach, but despite the earthquake-ruined Cathedral being declared beyond repair the terminally excitable Councillor Aaron Keown has vowed that it'll be demolished

over his dead body.