“Christchurch has a unique opportunity. The earthquake was devastating and horrific. But it has also left a great opportunity to rebuild," says Darrell D Smith, director of facilities and energy, real estate and facilities at Microsoft.
Mobile networks were damaged more by the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, than by the 2010 quake that devastated Haiti, according to the chairman of a company that owns carriers in both countries.
The Ministry of Justice says essential court services are being maintained in Christchurch and alternative arrangements put in place to support remaining services, following last week’s earthquake.
The main complex is within the Christchurch CBD cordon, so ICT services were seriously affected, says Andrew Hampton, deputy secretary courts in a statement to Computerworld.
“Obviously we had significant disruption to phone, mobile and email systems but have now got to a point where back-up systems and interim measures have given us an acceptable operating function,” he says.
“We have relocated two of the main ministry servers from the main courthouse and are installing them remotely, which will enable access to case information, email accounts etc.
“We have re-routed any affected phone lines to our central call centre so the public can still talk to someone – that number is 0800 324 627.”
Vodafone update, 1pm Monday
Multiple media reports confirm that Magnum Mac founder and Renaissance board member Murray Wood was trapped inside the CTV building when the Christchurch earthquake hit. But there have yet to be any official confirmation that Wood perished in the quake.