A tale of two levels
From today - New Zealand is a nation divided … into two very different Covid alert levels.
Overnight the entire country apart from Auckland moved into the new look level 2 - as the City of Sails continues the hard lockdown to eliminate the Delta strain for at least another week.
For NZILA Advocacy Panel member and Lincoln University professor, Jacky Bowring, the split will present challenges.
Photographer Charlie Watson-Jones spent time during lockdown capturing images of Ōtautahi Christchurch at alert levels 3 and 4.
She says the University has coped will with the lockdown after last year’s steep learning curve.
“Since that time we, like many organisations, have used online meetings much more frequently than we ever had before the first lockdown, so it felt a lot easier but still very tedious! It has been interesting to see various comments from colleagues around the University that this lockdown has even had a bit of a silver lining, with a welcome change of pace from our usually very busy lives.”
But she says the split with Auckland will be challenging because so many Lincoln students will be stuck at home in Auckland, unable to travel back to Christchurch to resume their face-to-face learning.
“The Auckland students will need to remain in lockdown, and we will keep teaching online to ensure that we can support all of our students. We look forward to evenutally welcoming the Auckland students back to campus.”
The mural by street artist Paul Walters at the SALT District in Christchurch which is named after the streets that hem it, Saint Asaph, Lichfield and Tuam. Image credit - Charlie Watson-Jones.
Fellow panel member Tony Milne says it is Interesting to see Jacky’s comments regarding a welcome change of pace for some during level 3 and 4.
“For several our team the word ‘reset’ has been used. Also several clients and consultants have indicated the same. While a dramatic way to reset it does seem as though it has provided an opportune to time for some of us to catch our breath. “
But the Rough and Milne director says that reset came at an extremely busy time for both his practice and the profession in general.
“It has been a torrid last year for most of us in the profession and as a practice, we have never been busier. We’ve had the interesting task of assimilating another practice and taking on three new team members under lockdown. They will be our most well inducted new employees ever!”
Punters queue up for takeaway coffee at Riverside Market in the Christchurch CBD on the first morning of level 3 last week.
He agrees that for him the level split will offer up some issues.
“Obviously, we are feeling for our colleagues still in lockdown in Auckland. We just need to make sure we don’t forget they can’t do the same as us at the minute. There is the continuation of the increased zoom/teams communication and this can absorb a lot of your day.”
“For several projects we are in multidisciplinary teams with Auckland based consultants and this has meant hearings and mediation etc have been pushed back.
And he says some construction projects his team is working on are experiencing supply chain delays which will be exacerbated by the continuing hard lockdown in Auckland.
But Tony believes landscape architects are relatively lucky in terms of coping with lockdown and level changes.
Hagley Park was well used during levels 3 and 4. Image credit - Charlie Watson-Jones.
“With what we do, and compared to some, we are very fortunate that we can seamlessly transfer from studio to home and work continues relatively uninterrupted. For some, possibly more efficient from home however you miss out on those chance and informal discussions within a studio environment. The collective problem solving and sharing of ideas, that can still happen over zoom, but isn’t quite the same. Perhaps the staff aren’t missing my studio music selection.”
“ We are giving our team clear policy around all alert levels, and we find communicating and being transparent with our team helps alleviate any anxiety and doubt around site visits and coming back into the studio under Delta Level 2. We are also providing the opportunity for staff to keep working from home if they wish.”
Tony reckons Christchurch is pleased to be moving into level 2 but reiterates that for many - lockdown has not been all bad.
“ I did have a client email me saying great to hear we are heading down to level 2 this week but I'm a bit sad to say good bye to the slower pace of life we have been enjoying.”
You can see more images of Chrischurch in lockdown in the gallery below.
