Facade

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All that remains of the Theatre Royal plus the interior dome under plastic wrap at the back

The old Odeon Theatre

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20131228_6797_1D3-58 The old Odeon Theatre The back of the old Odeon movie theatre, that was for about 15-20 years a New Life Christian Centre. This is earthquake damage, although the roof was lifted off in 2011. I don't know whether this is a building that they want to save or still awaiting demolition. The smaller building to the immediate...

20130901_2869_1D3-150 Wilson City!

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As buildings are demolished as a result of the earthquake in 2011, Wilson Carparking are waiting to pounce on each bit of vacant land. Someone suggested about a year ago that the city be renamed "Wilson" as that name appears more in the central city than Christchurch does! In the background the CERES NZ nibbler attacks the support structure fo...

20130130_1811_1D3-17 ANZ Port-A-Com

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When this building was first brought on site I spent a few hours removing the tape/paper that had been covering every window.

20130112_2581_G12-14 How the levels have changed

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Post the earthquakes land has sunk and in this case the track is below high tide level. It would have been at least 500mm above the highest tide level prior to the recent earthquakes that started on 04/09/10.

Cardboard Cathedral

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20130403_2908_G12-25 Cardboard Cathedral The temporary (10 years?) and cheap ($4-6 million) Anglican Cathedral being built a few hundred meters away from the old stone structure that was the centre of Christchurch. Both buildings (the original and this) have caused a lot of controversy, many wanting the old stone one to be repaired (the church ...

20130112_2568_G12-06 Why the land is zoned red! (012/365)

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Water from the river at high tide crosses Evans Avenue and enters a now abandoned "red zone" house via the garage. Next door (to the left) is the garage containing a car that was destroyed by fire last week (see earlier photos).

Warning (Day 220/365)

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20130808_2300_1D3-40 Warning (Day 220/365) Across the river were a row of several houses - all gone now. That side of the river is "Red Zone" and will be devoid of houses soon. #4077

20130112_2576_G12-18 Avon River. Herring Bay, Kibblewhite Street, South Ne…

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

When I was a kid this bit of land in the foreground was level and extended at least three times further out, but after the earthquakes you can see the angle that land near the river slumped. We used to catch a lot of herrings (yellow -eyed mullet) here when I was a kid, hence the local name of Herring Bay. Across the river is the Bexley Wetlands.

20130130_1862_1D3-24 St Lukes in the City - labyrinth

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

According to the sign it can take about 30 minutes to walk from the entry point (here) to the centre and out again. That is without stepping across the gaps between bricks. What you can do with a few thousand old bricks and gravel!

20131231_8504_EOS M-22 Looking up Cashel Street

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20131231_8504_EOS M-22 Looking up Cashel Street Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while. For 36 years I worked in a now gone building where that red car is parked (on the left). and would have wa...

20130312_0938_EOS M-39 T-Rex

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Went for a drive down to South New Brighton/Southshore after work today to see what interesting birds I could find on the Estuary (godwits, skuas, terns etc), but passing Jellico Street, I saw this. T-Rex the seismic survey truck from the University of Texas that is visiting the city (first time out of USA). Weighs 30 tonne and from the marks o...

20130511_1538_EOS M-22 The Last National Bank?

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I think all the National Banks in the country have been either closed or rebranded ANZ, but this one on the corner of Colombo and Armagh Streets is still inside the CBD red zone and has yet to be touched. I have heard that this building is staying so whether it becomes an ANZ or not time will tell. This was one of the top five busiest pedest...

20130312_0937_EOS M-55 T-Rex

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Went for a drive down to South New Brighton/Southshore after work today to see what interesting birds I could find on the Estuary (godwits, skuas, terns etc), but passing Jellico Street, I saw this. T-Rex the seismic survey truck from the University of Texas that is visiting the city (first time out of USA). Weighs 30 tonne and from the marks o...

20130312_0936_EOS M-27 T-Rex

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Went for a drive down to South New Brighton/Southshore after work today to see what interesting birds I could find on the Estuary (godwits, skuas, terns etc), but passing Jellico Street, I saw this. T-Rex the seismic survey truck from the University of Texas that is visiting the city (first time out of USA). Weighs 30 tonne and from the marks o...

20130207_2231_1D3-165 Sumner and "container alley"

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Nearly 80 40 foot containers (most two high) protect Wakefield Avenue in Sumner from further rock falls. Behind these (to the left) are houses, church, bowling club, RSA (Returned Servicemens Association) and other community buildings that have been isolated now for nearly two years now. On the right upper third boundary (just behind two stand a...

South New Brighton bridge damage (under repair)

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20130211_2645_1D3-840 South New Brighton bridge damage (under repair) Earthquake damage (that right hand abutment should be vertical with the bridge and the hand rail level). Bridge is closed to eastbound traffic (to left) and has a 3500kg weight limit as well. The eastern approach is the same. Damage caused mainly in the 04/09/10 and 22/02/11...

20131014_4128_1D3-40 Polluted Water (Day 287/365)

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There are occasional sewerage spills into the Avon River while all the sewer and road repairs are carried out. This rock wall was level and well above high tide level prior to the eathquakes. All the houses that can been seen here (except for those on the distant Port Hills) are in the suburban "red zone" and are still to be demolished.

20130622_7842_1D3-24 Disabled in more ways than one (Day 173/365)

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One of many disabled carparks outside what used to be one of the great sporting complexes in New Zealand. The Queen Elizabeth II Park complex in north-east Christchurch was built initially for the 1974 Commonwealth Games and was used for track and field and the adjoining pool complex had swimming and diving. It was built on an area that was used...

20130630_9138_1D3-58 IRD Building (Day 181/365)

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The old (or is that the new) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) building on the corner of Madras and Cashel Streets in central Christchurch. Built in 2006/07 on the site of the former Farmers department store (itself badly damaged by fire), it was just a few years old when the earthquake of February 2011 struck, and subsequent quakes (all through 2...

20130312_0935_EOS M-18 T-Rex (Day 71/365)

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Went for a drive down to South New Brighton/Southshore after work today to see what interesting birds I could find on the Estuary (godwits, skuas, terns etc), but passing Jellico Street, I saw this. T-Rex the seismic survey truck from the University of Texas that is visiting the city (first time out of USA). Weighs 30 tonne and from the marks o...

20130524_7214_1D3-40 Hidden park bench

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Prior to the earthquakes (mainly the February 22 2011 event) this park bench was at track level. Shortly after the February quake someone in the council did the sums and realised that the area near the Avon River had dropped between a metre and 1.4m (about 4 foot), so a rush job by contractors shifted in many tonnes of rock and gravel to raise a...