
A story submitted by Tracy to the QuakeStories website.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the former St Albans Library on Colombo Street. Parts of the walls have crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the pavement. Wire fencing has been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of computers and desks from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury. These were set up in the Sunday School room of the Avonhead Baptist Church after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Damage to the Crichton Cobbers Youth and Community Club. Large sections of the brick walls have collapsed, and two large beams lie across the rubble. Cordon fencing surrounds this and nearby buildings. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Old brewery, later a gym - Fitzgerald Ave".
Damage to the Crichton Cobbers Youth and Community Club. Large sections of the brick walls have collapsed, and two large beams lie across the rubble. Cordon fencing surrounds this and nearby buildings. The photographer comments, "A bike ride around the CBD. Old brewery, later a gym - Fitzgerald Ave".
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood, as part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee is watching on.
University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr conferring with former Chancellor Rex Williams, inside the UCSA's "Big Top" tent. The tent was erected in the UCSA car park to provide support for students in the aftermath of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Around them students have gathered to watch a local musician play. The student have spent the day clearing liquefaction from Christchurch properties as part of the Student Volunteer Army.
A car which was crushed by falling masonry from Wave House (Winnie Bagoes Pizza Bar) on Gloucester Street during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Emergency personnel have spray painted the car with the word "Clear" to indicate it has been checked for trapped or injured people.
A photograph of street art on a fence near the roundabout of St Martins Road and Gamblins Road. The message "Keep calm and carry on" has been crossed out and replaced with "Now panic and freak out".
A powhiri performed by Ngai Tahu elders to welcome workers of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Phil Goff is standing in the centre of the group that is being welcomed. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Earthquake Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee and a contractor are looking on.
Emergency personnel gathered on Madras Street outside the collapsed Canterbury Television building. A digger and the Urban Search and Rescue team can be seen searching the rubble while fire fighters work to extinguish the fire in the building.
Reverend Peter Beck leading a prayer at the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) opening. Mayor Bob Parker is standing to the right of Reverend Peter Beck. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.
UCSA President Kohan McNab addressing students at the University of Canterbury inside the UCSA's "Big Top" tent. The tent was erected in the UCSA car park to provide support for students in the aftermath of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The students have spent the day clearing liquefaction from Christchurch properties as part of the Student Volunteer Army. To the right of McNab, a local musician who has been entertaining the students can be seen.
Fire Service vehicles along Madras Street combating the fire at the Canterbury Television building. Behind them excavators can be seen digging through the rubble. On the left a St Johns Ambulance team member has put on a face mask to protect themselves from the smoke.
A powhiri performed by Ngai Tahu elders to welcome workers of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Reverend Peter Beck and Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee can be seen standing amongst the group. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.
A powhiri performed by Ngai Tahu elders to welcome workers of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Phil Goff is standing in the centre of the group that is being welcomed. Two cameras are filming the welcome. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.
A camera man filming Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee handling a jackhammer on Kingsford Street in Burwood. This was part of the opening of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). A contractor is standing to the left.
Elderly residents in Lyttelton have been enjoying free meals while their supermarket is closed and their town is being rebuilt. After February's earthquake, locals found that many of the community's older members felt isolated and had no means of buying groceries for themselves. Christchurch correspondent Katy Gosset finds that Lyttelton is a town that looks after its own.
A powhiri performed by Ngai Tahu elders to welcome workers of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Reverend Peter Beck and Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee can be seen standing amongst the group. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.
A photograph of buildings on Armagh Street, taken from behind a cordon. From the front, there is the Provincial Chambers building, the Craig's Investment Partners House, the Victoria Apartments, and the Forsyth Barr building. The PricewaterhouseCoopers building can also be seen to the left.
Water tanks on the Sumner Esplanade. Both have prominent notices advising that water must be boiled before use. On one tank is a notice advertising a community hub where residents can get assistance, and on the other is written "Free use of for Christchurch earthquake. Please return to Wymers Domestic Water Carriers, Hamilton".
Community noticeboards and the library is there along with the guinea pigs for sale and the keen kids looking for work. Photos taken in Diamond Harbour Library on May 24, 2011 following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-05-24-Diamond Harbour-After-The-Earthquake-IMG_14 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
At 4.35am on Saturday 4 September 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near the township of Darfield in Canterbury leading to widespread damage in Christchurch and the wider central Canterbury region. Though it was reported no lives were lost, that was not entirely correct. Over 3,000 animals perished as a result of the earthquake and 99% of these deaths would have been avoidable if appropriate mitigation measures had been in place. Deaths were predominantly due to zoological vulnerability of birds in captive production farms. Other problems included lack of provision of animal welfare at evacuation centres, issues associated with multiple lost and found pet services, evacuation failure due to pet separation and stress impact on dairy herds and associated milk production. The Canterbury Earthquake has highlighted concerns over a lack of animal emergency welfare planning and capacity in New Zealand, an issue that is being progressed by the National Animal Welfare Emergency Management Group. As animal emergency management becomes better understood by emergency management and veterinary professionals, it is more likely that both sectors will have greater demands placed upon them by national guidelines and community expectations to ensure provisions are made to afford protection of animals in times of disaster. A subsequent and more devastating earthquake struck the region on Monday 22 February 2011; this article however is primarily focused on the events pertaining to the September 4 event.
A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.