• News & Events
• News
• News Archive
• Media Contact

Christchurch Earthquake Staff Updates

Important numbers for staff:

Info line 0800 10 60 20, Janice 021 227 2066, Kirsty 021 905 566 

Helplines

• Government help line - 0800 779 997 - for information about all government services and support.
• Red Cross Person Enquiry Line - 0800 REDCROSS - for people in NZ concerned about the wellbeing of friends and relatives
• Latest updates and information - Canterbury Earthquake website
• Google people finder pageto search for or post information on missing persons.
• Possible Psychological Reactions to an Earthquake
• Parents Information Sheet on Dealing With Stress Symptoms in Children
• Coping with Stress
• Christchurch earthquake- an overview Factsheet

Christchurch Earthquake Staff Update

Tuesday 14 June 2011 

This is an update for the Christchurch staff of Duncan Cotterill – and that is a phrase I hoped I would never have to use again.   Yesterday was another harrowing day.    The first major jolt at 1pm was bad enough; the second major jolt at 2:20pm was worse; and the realisation of the extent of the damage was beyond words.

Let’s start with the good news.  We’re all alive and well – in various stages of shock and coping with varying degrees of damage to homes, family and friends.   The location and construction of the office was a blessing yesterday.  Whilst it rattled and rolled, there was no significant damage and it was business as ‘unusual’.   There were a few hardy souls who stayed on until the end of the day – but it was a bit like a ghost town as most people left to collect children, check on family and home, or simply went home to try and calm their frayed nerves.   Thank you all for your calmness, your humour, and for the support you showed each other. 

The office will be open and operating as usual today, although I know that some of you won’t be able to come in.  You might have to look after children as schools are closed, you might have family who are injured or traumatised, you might have to sort out a damaged home, or you might just be over it all.  And that’s OK.  If your partner or manager doesn’t already know, please contact them or Kirsty to let them know that you’re OK.  As always, we want to keep track of everyone – to know that you’re OK – to help where we can.

And some of you are keen to get back to work as soon as possible – and that’s good too!  We’ll see you bright eyed and bushy tailed in the office.

To those of you who are coping with homes that are damaged again, are without power, water or sewerage services, who are traumatised or are coping with those who are – my thoughts are with you.   Once again, I’m sending a virtual hug your way.   I know that's of no practical use, but it helps me feel better and I hope the positive support and energy helps you in some small way.

This earthquake experience is wearing thin, isn’t it?  The novelty has worn off.  Just how many times can we get knocked down and get back up again?  I don’t know, but I believe we can do it a few more times yet!  We don’t have to do it today or tomorrow – we just have to survive these days.  But we will slowly and surely gather our strength and our resources and we will get back up again. 

And a plea from me – please let me, Kirsty, or your partner or manager know if there is ANYTHING we can do to assist.  We’re happy to organise teams to help with liquefaction, to clear debris, to help clean and tidy homes.  Please don’t hesitate to ask for help.   Those who haven’t suffered damage are keen to help those who have.

On a personal note - I walked in the door last night after a long harrowing trip home and didn’t know where on earth to start.  My husband was safe, the power had come back on, we didn’t have liquefaction to deal with, the house is probably structurally sound – there was a lot to be grateful for.  But the mess, the cracks, everything being everywhere, the ongoing shaking – that made my heart sink.   Brian had already dealt with getting the seriously injured elderly neighbour to hospital, the leaking water cylinder, filled the bath with water (albeit of a muddy hue), and had made a start on clearing up.   But it still took me time (and a cuppa) to find the energy to get on with the clean up.   We haven’t finished, but I’m taking my own advice – it doesn’t all have to be sorted out immediately.  It will still be there tomorrow, or next week.  

So – look after yourselves.  Do what has to be done, but give yourselves permission to take things a little slowly.   Be gentle with yourselves and with each other.  And I look forward to seeing you all over the next few days.

Kia kaha

Janice

PS - On a lighter note - I ducked under desks for both major jolts yesterday – and I learnt that there are varying under-desk styles.  For the first jolt I shared an under-desk in my office with Claire.  We’re both ‘crouchers’.  We get under the desk, but we’re poised for a quick get-away.   I was upstairs for the second jolt and got Phil to budge up to make room for me so that I could share her under-desk.  Phil has a ‘splat’ under-desk style – going flat and wide to make herself as stable as possible.    What sort of under-desk style do you have?   Do you even get under a desk?  I can thoroughly recommend it!

Update 15 - Last update - Thursday 17 March

This is a message for the Christchurch staff of Duncan Cotterill.

I hope never to use the above phrase again.  Just thinking about it makes my heart sink.  This is the last update that will be posted.  We will be fully operational from the new office on Monday 21^st March with all staff in the office.  The cabling of the office has taken longer than we had hoped.  The commercial floor and the client and management floor are now complete.  Litigation will be completed by the end of the week.  We still have two teams working remotely at the moment, with everyone else coming into the office and finding somewhere to sit and work. 

The new phone system should be operational on Monday.  We’ve taken the opportunity to do away with old fashioned things like handsets and will be using ‘soft-phones’ – headsets operated via our computers.  Training will be provided to a team of carefully selected in-house experts, who will then train each team on use of the system.  That makes it sound scary, and it isn’t at all – just different!  With so much change going on, why not add some more?  OK, then – so we will. 

The new dictation system will also be rolled out next week.  It will offer greater flexibility than the previous system.  You’ll be able to dictate via the headset on your computer (the same one used for your phone) and via your i-phone.  It’ll be cool.  And for those of you worried about the new technology and how you’re ever going to remember how to use it – don’t fear.  Training videos will be on the intranet and you’ll be able to refer back to those at any time if you can’t remember how to do something.  It’s all getting quite exciting isn’t it?!

Thank you to all of you for the part you have played in keeping the business running, in meeting the needs of clients and in working in circumstances that are challenging.  So many of you have worked long hours and have willingly done tasks that aren’t part of your job descriptions.  You’ve pitched in and done whatever needed doing.  You could have simply sat at home and waited for the office to open – but most of you haven’t.  You’ve found ways to help out, to get us back up and running – and that makes me so proud of what we’ve all achieved.  It hasn’t been easy – we’ve all had good days and bad days – good minutes and bad minutes – it’s a bit of a roller coaster isn’t it?  But on the whole, we’re bearing up well.  It’s going to get harder as we settle into our new work areas and establish new routines.  We’ll realise that we’re tired, that the adrenaline has ebbed away, and that things have changed, and that we find change difficult to cope with.   Then we’ll really have to be gentle with each other and ourselves.  

It’s a holiday tomorrow to allow everyone to attend the memorial service.  I personally think the holiday is mistimed – it’s too early.  We’re only just getting things up and running, and we’re having to stop again – but let’s make the most of the opportunity.  Go to the memorial service, take a long weekend out of town, or simply just sit and do nothing.  Thank you to those in the IT and accounts teams who are manning the office to keep the rest of the firm operating. 

So – it’s business as usual (or as usual as it can be) on Monday.  If you cannot be in the office on Monday – if you have childcare issues, earthquake related matters to attend to, or you aren’t ready to come back to work – please contact Kirsty to discuss your situation and to arrange any leave that is required. 

It will be fantastic to have everyone back in one office – to have the whole team together again.  Whilst it won’t be ‘back to normal’ it will be back to business and I’m looking forward to that.   

Whilst these updates have been for the Christchurch staff of Duncan Cotterill we know that people around the country, and around the world, have been reading the updates.  Each time we’ve heard from someone who has been following the updates, we’re reminded that the Duncan Cotterill family is bigger than those of us currently working for the firm – and we love that!  Thank you for your interest and your support.   We might not have been able to see you, but we have felt that positive support.  You have no idea how it has helped us through the past few weeks. 

So that’s it from me – the work goes on, but we’re all together in one space and have no further need of website updates.   

Over and out – and with much love and thanks

Janice

Update 14 - Friday 11 March 9pm

It feels like it’s been a long hard road that we’ve travelled over the past 17 days – and it has been.  The intense, hectic activity of locating and setting up a new office is over.  But the real work starts now.  From here on, it will be a longer slower grind as we try to come to terms with what has happened and with our new reality and we work to establish a different way of doing business.

From Monday, all but two teams will be working from the office.  The cablers will still be toiling away, but cabling of the upstairs area is complete.  Legal teams will be working from there – two to a desk if necessary for a few days.  By Wednesday next week, we’ll all be working from the office.   We expect all staff to be available for work from Monday – either in the office or at one of the work hubs.  If you have earthquake related matters to attend to, or you feel unable to return to work at the moment, please contact Kirsty.  Please don’t just let your partner or manager know – Kirsty wants to talk to any of you who are having difficulties at the moment.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you next week.  Be gentle with yourselves - have a relaxing weekend.  We all deserve it.

Janice

Update 13 - Wednesday 9 March 7pm

Yahoo!  The first of the legal teams started working in the office today.   It is great to see the office coming to life.  People aren’t in their permanent work areas yet as cabling is still progressing, but each day we’re going to bring in more of the teams.  Mind you, I think some of you are quite liking working in the smaller hubs and are going to be a bit reluctant to move back to an office environment.

The office is looking great.  The red carpet has long disappeared and been replaced with respectable grey carpet tiles.  The desks have all been built and placed in offices.  Chairs and mobiles have been distributed.  Each workstation has been supplied with a full kit of stationery.  The new PCs were delivered today.  They will be set up tomorrow and distributed to the work stations as they’re built.  It’s quite exciting really – everything brand new and shiny.

It’s lovely to see all of you as you come through the office.  And I’m so pleased that you all like the building and it’s location.  I know some of you are going to find transport a challenge, but the fact that we’re all in one building, that it’s low rise, that it’s out of the CBD, that there’s a lot of parking and that we can pop outside and sit on the lawn for lunch or tea breaks makes up for it.  Thank you all for being so enthusiastic about it.

Some of you have asked if the new office has been inspected by a structural engineer.  Yes it has been!  It was a condition we included in our offer to lease.  We weren’t going to go into premises that weren’t safe!   In fact we had several buildings inspected, and at least one of them had sufficient issues that we withdrew our offer.   So rest easy, the building has been inspected and cleared as structurally sound.

The partners met by teleconference this afternoon – the first time the full partnership has done so since the quake just over two weeks ago.  The first thing we talked about was how everyone in the Christchurch office was getting on, who has a house, who doesn’t, who has water, who has power – the usual earthquake conversations we have all become so used to.  We then talked about work flows, the likely impact of the earthquake on the Christchurch office and on cashflows and budgets for the coming year.  The firm is in a fortunate position.  We have good cash reserves, we have a strong network outside of Christchurch, we have a strong established client base in the Canterbury region and we have a positive outlook for the future.  Although there will be challenges in the weeks, months and years ahead as the local infrastructure and economy is rebuilt, we’re excited by the opportunity to contribute positively to that future – to meeting the challenges and to creating the opportunities that will undoubtedly arise. 

And judging by the way you’ve all pitched in to help over the past few weeks, you’re up for that challenge as well.   What a team!  Way to go!

Janice

Update 12 - Tuesday 8 March 7pm

Just a short update today.  Good progress continues to be made with cabling the new office.  Legal teams will start to move in over the next few days.

The last of the teams based at the Commodore Hotel move into the new office tomorrow.  The Commodore have been fantastic over the past two weeks but it’s time to move into our own base again.   The other legal teams will continue working from their team hubs for another day or so until their areas have been cabled.

A reminder about EAP – our Employee Assistance Programme. They will be on site at 1 Sir William Pickering Drive at 11am tomorrow. There will be a group session at 11am in the board room. Following that, they will be available for individual sessions as time permits. There will be regular sessions run over coming weeks.  If you would like to contact EAP directly – and in confidence – please ring 0800 327 669.

I look forward to us all being together in the office at the beginning of next week. We’ll have a big shindig to celebrate and to thank everyone who has helped us get here.

A big thank you to each of you for everything you are doing.  The team work has been tremendous.  From those working away on client files, those doing research for fact sheets, those building desks, preparing the new offices, keeping the rest of the firm running, getting management and IT systems sorted, those who have manicured the gardens, to those who have brought us baking each day – thank you all so much.  It is great to see everyone doing their bit to rebuild our future.

Kia kaha

Janice

Update 11 - Monday 7 March 8pm

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend – or as relaxing as it could be in the circumstances.  I saw many of you on Sunday as we built the flat-packed desks that had been delivered.  What a hive of industry.  I don’t know about you, but the first desk took quite some time to build!  By the time my team had built our eighth desk we were on a roll.  It was fantastic to see all of you who were there, together with your partners, parents, children and friends.  Thank you everyone.  It was a real team effort – and that continued today as the last of the 100 desks were built.  We’ll need a few more over time, but together with the meeting room tables that were delivered last week we have sufficient desks for everyone at the moment.

The legal teams continued to work either at the Commodore or in their work hubs.  Those who weren’t needed there helped build desks or to clear up the huge volume of packaging from the desks, mobiles and chairs.  There were a huge number of deliveries today – the office is packed with pallets of ‘stuff’ as stationery and office supplies have been delivered.  We’ve also had a number of clients and visitors call into the office today.  It’s great to see the office coming to life.

We expect to move the first of the legal teams into the office over the next few days as the data cabling in each area is completed.  You’ll know when it’s your turn to take up residence.  We have had fantastic support from suppliers and contractors.  Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve everything that we have over the past two weeks.

There is a shower at the office.  If you are still without power or water, please feel free to pop along to the office to use it.  And don’t forget – if you need a chemical toilet, we have a supply of them at the office.  Just let Kirsty know if you would like one. 

I apologise for the late posting of this update.   I attended a meeting of Christchurch CEOs this afternoon to discuss our response, as business leaders, to the earthquake.  We are all aware that there is a lot to do immediately, in the medium term and in the long term.  It was heartening that every CEO’s primary concern was the well-being of their staff – not just now, but in the coming weeks.  Many people will be coping now, or will appear to be coping.  However, it is in the next month or so that we all need to be vigilant about how we ourselves are coping and how those around us are.   Don’t forget to make use of our confidential EAP service – either contact them directly, or they will be in the office later this week.  I will let you know the date and time – I’m sorry I don’t have the details with me right now. 

The overwhelming feeling that I came away from the CEO’s meeting with was one of HOPE.   There are major challenges ahead of us all – both individually, as businesses and as a community.  Not just in Christchurch, but also Canterbury and New Zealand – each is inextricably linked with the other.  But we’re all in this together, we’re tough, we’re committed to recovery, to rebuilding the best of the past and to creating the best future that we can.   I’m up for the challenge, and judging by the response from each of you, you are as well.  I look forward to us all working together to build a bright future.

Janice

Update 10 - Friday 4 March 3pm

Hi everyone. I’m certainly feeling brighter at the end of this week than I did last week. I wasn’t even aware of when last week began and started – it was just a blur. Hopefully you’re feeling brighter as well. Despite that, we’re all tired. Stress does that to us. I hope you manage to get some sleep and rest over the weekend.

We’re entering a new phase of operations now. From coping with the immediate shock and ensuring everyone is safe, we moved into disaster recovery mode – we’re now into more detailed operational planning – which is a relief!

From Monday the management team and reception will be operating from the office at 1 Sir William Pickering Drive.  Legal teams will move in over the following days as the cabling of each area is completed. We will let you know when your team area is ready for occupation.   In the meantime, the team hubs are working well. Litigation and employment teams will work from the Commodore next week until they move into the new office.

Here is some information from Kirsty:

Red Cross Emergency and Hardship Grant Application

We have today placed information on the website linking through to details regarding the Emergency and Hardship Grant. Anyone who has had to leave their home due to damage or lack of services or are living in their home without services (being water, power or sewerage), can apply for this grant. Details of the process and the application form are linked through our website or www.redcross.org.nz.

Reminders

Chemical toilets are available to those who still lack facilities at home.  Contact Kirsty if you would like one of these.

If you have not already done so, please let Kirsty know if you have cars in the cordoned area.  We may be able to assist with collection when it is available.

Transport

People are starting to think about transport to the new office. Buses are back up and running this week and are free at the moment. Routes may change in the future but current information can be found on www.metroinfo.co.nz

There are currently two buses that pass near the office. We have also heard people starting to discuss car pooling options. If you are interested in car pooling and don’t know if others live in your area, please let Kirsty know and she can assist.

You will notice that the homepage has changed, with a link to the Christchurch Earthquake Information page. All of the updates are still here, however we want to give a very clear indication to the world that the firm is fully operational.    The Weekly Update has been published today.  If you don’t have access to your Duncan Cotterill email, there is a link on the website on the Christchurch Earthquake page.  Jan Love tells me it is going to be a bumper edition.   

It’s been a big week guys.Thank you for your input over the week. What we have achieved is remarkable! You are all fantastic!. The highlight of my week - seeing all of you at the picnic on Tuesday - the Duncan Cotterill family in the sunshine, alive and well, after a week from hell.

Love to you all

Janice

Update 9 - Thursday 3 March 5pm

Refitting of the new office is continuing at full speed.  The carpet tiles are being laid, the garden is being titivated, the office is crawling with people - it's amazing!  Photocopiers have arrived and the furniture will be delivered over the weekend.  On the downside, it needs to be totally re-cabled and this is going to take longer than we'd like.  We'll update you regarding transport, parking, bus routes etc over the next few days. 

The plan at the moment - and remember that this is fluid - is that teams will be moved in as their areas are completed.  The management team will move in first - this isn't because we're the most important (but maybe ...) - it's because we need to be on hand to facilitate operations.  I will let you know more over the next few days as to when each team can expect to  move in.  In the meantime - be prepared to work in your hubs for the coming week.  It may be that one member of each team could be based in the office to facilitate things like printing, couriers etc. And we'll still have a base at the Commodore until at least Wednesday.

I had a teleconference today with the non-Christchurch partners - just to update them on what we doing and how we are getting on.  They are so supportive of what we are achieving down here.  And we're so appreciative of the assistance the other offices are providing.  The Duncan Cotterill network is working well - you should all be proud of it. 

That's it for today.  Great progress continues to be made.  Thank you all for your help.  You are all fantastic!!

Janice 

Update 8 - Wednesday 2 March 5pm

It’s been another lovely sunny day.  I really feel as though yesterday was a turning point.   We’ve all reconnected with each other again after the trauma of the past week.  

There has been a hive of activity around the Christchurch team today.  Legal teams have been meeting and working remotely.  There have been challenges from time to time with printing etc but those issues have been sorted out by our IT hit squad – we’ll just call it the Swat Team – comprising Richard and Lucy Swatton and Phillipa (who may have to change her name to become a permanent part of the team).  Additional laptops and printers have been distributed to team hubs.  Additional i-phones continue to be provided to those needing them.  Other teams have been meeting and working at the Commodore.  It has been a busy place today – and the energy generated has been fantastic.  Everyone is on a mission – we’re back in gear!

Another hive of activity has been the new office at 1 Sir William Pickering Drive.  I popped around there early this afternoon.  What a transformation!  The cleaners had been through – and what a difference that has made.  The air-conditioning was being tested and recommissioned – and it was working.  The red carpet tiles are now, unfortunately, history.  I quite liked the 80’s vibe – they sort of went with the grey suede walls and the mirrored ceilings.  But, they’re being pulled up and replaced with more discreet grey carpet tiles.  The electricians were there checking all systems and replacing all light bulbs.  The IT team were there with the wiring and cabling guys – so that’s all underway.   There was a furniture consultant on site arranging reception furniture.   Security systems have been reviewed and are in place.  And the Duncan Cotterill gardening team were about to turn up.  We are going to look so flash when it’s all done!

Just a reminder about EAP – our Employee Assistance Programme.    As always, just ring 0800 327 669 to talk to someone, in confidence, about anything you would like to discuss with them – your housing situation, children, parents, stress, etc.  We will arrange for them to come into the office next week, as we did following the September quake.

Last week we secured a supply of chemical toilets.  These are arriving at the office this evening.  Please let Kirsty know if you would like one and we will allocate these over the following days.  I’m certainly putting my name on the list. 

For those without water at home, don’t forget that Tothill’s Mazes have a bore on site and you can get fresh water from there that doesn’t need to be boiled before drinking.

For those of you with vehicles trapped within the cordon, plans are progressing to allow people to retrieve these within the next few days.  If your vehicle is within the cordon, please let Kirsty know where it is, and we will let you know when we hear about access arrangements.   We will try and co-ordinate retrieval.  Things to think about - Do you have your keys with you?  If not, do you have a second set at home or with someone else?  Are your keys still in the office?  We may need to have a locksmith available to assist.  Also, do you have a bike in the basement car park?  Once again, let Kirsty know and we’ll let you know if access is available. 

So, when will we all be in the new premises?  It will be a staged entry.  We don’t want to distract and slow down the contractors toiling away there at the moment.  IT are going to base themselves there as soon as possible.  As the furniture arrives, the management team are going to move in so that they are set up and can assist the legal teams as they move in over next week. 

So that’s it for today.  Thanks for your help everyone.   I’m so proud that we’re continuing to provide great service to our clients whilst re-establishing the office – and all on top of severe trauma.  Sleep well.  It’s another day tomorrow.

Janice

Update 7 - Tuesday 1 March 6pm

Wasn’t that a lovely picnic!  It was absolutely fantastic to see all of you – and your families.  It was really moving to look out over the lawn bathed in brilliant sunshine and to see everyone, their families, the kids running around.  Suddenly the world was back in technicolour for me.  It was life affirming – which sounds a bit over the top – but it was.  I’d been feeling tired and harried, and suddenly it was all worthwhile.  We are alive, and we are creating a future for ourselves, our families and our community.  So – thank you all for that moment.  It will stay with me forever.

Thank you also to Ben Tothill and his family.  It was a wonderful venue.  Please make sure to recommend it to your family and friends.  Ben, I fear that you won’t have seen the last of Duncan Cotterill at your place.   Thank you also to Roger for the lovely prayer of hanks.  It was the perfect way to end the two minutes of silence.  And thank you all for sharing – I had only brought a bottle of water and a banana with me – yet I ate very well.  Every time I turned around, someone was passing a container of something yummy around.  It was wonderful to see – and wonderful to eat!

Today wasn’t just about the picnic.  Teams have been back working on client matters.  IT are continuing to focus on several things at once.  Please direct all IT related queries to Richard Swatton – via email, or on 021 905 539 or 03 329 3364.  The management team continue to be based at The Commodore Hotel.  As always, feel free to drop by to work, to print something, to have a chat and just hangout.

Great progress has been made with the new premises today.  Services have been connected, cleaners have  started cleaning, the air-conditioning is being sorted out, carpet will be laid over the next few days, furniture is on it’s way, computer equipment for the entire office has been ordered, the office seating plan is being arranged – such a lot has been done in such a short time.  Well done to all concerned.  The future is certainly looking brighter!  And as for the gardens – there have been so many offers of help, that I expect the gardens will be manicured to within an inch of their lives.  John Joseph is in charge of that particular operation and all offers of help are gratefully received.  There is enough work to go around.

That’s it – it’s been a lovely day.  We’re really gaining traction now.  And for those of you who couldn’t make the picnic because you were out of town working, or had to attend to other things – I hope this brief update has given you a sense of the positive atmosphere that was evident today.  Everyone is absolutely determined to build a positive future.  We may be traumatised, but we’re moving forward.  Kia Kaha!

Janice

Update 6 - Monday 28 February 5pm

It’s been a lovely sunny day out there, which makes the world seem slightly brighter.

We received fantastic news today – we hav