Auckland could be next for rebuild

AUCKLANDERS are fond of listing the reasons their city is superior. The people are there, as is industry, entertainment, fine dining, technology and the general hum that accompanies a city of that size.

All that is true. It is also true of many provincial cities, each housing most of Auckland's "advantages" as well as generating the pleasant hum that accompanies a city proud of its place in the scheme of things.

But there's an aspect of Auckland the rest of the country feels blessed to have missed out on - 53 active volcanoes.

Christchurch may have created a new industry in earthquake-strengthening buildings and, as a by-product, extreme insurance-company greed, but all the steel bracing and insurance in the world will not save Auckland when that field of volcanoes gets a lava up.

Overseas bands and shows playing the "City of Sails" , and ignoring the rest of the country, wouldn't be so keen if they knew their act could be upstaged by toxic ash and killer magma flows. Industry and retail wouldn't feel so smug about shifting head office to Auckland if they knew the dangers of an imminent volcanic eruption. Putting all your eggs in such a volatile basket is not good business.

Seriously, living - just living - in Auckland is an extreme sport, only for the foolhardy or suicidal.

Wanganui, though, is the kind of place to be if you judge longevity as a virtue. This city - stop calling it a town - is here to stay, but all we need is the return of some of the industry and commercial activity that foolishly went to Auckland.

Just enough to tide us over until we all get jobs rebuilding Auckland.