
A review of the week's headline news including: 123 jobs at KiwiRail's engineering workshops in Dunedin hang in the balance; SkyCity's Chief Executive is defending gaming options at its Auckland casino; orthopaedic surgeons say they're working hard to determine exactly how many New Zealanders have a hip replacement system that's been recalled; tobacco companies are vowing to fight a government plan to remove branding from cigarette packets; the rebuild of central Christchurch has been taken out of the control of the City Council and will now be managed by a newly formed unit within the Government's Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA); Trade Me's decision to open up the site to overseas retailers is ruffling a few feathers and; Hamilton singer Kimbra's hit number one in the US.
Context of the project: On 4 September 2010, 22 February 2011, 13 June 2011 and 23 December 2011 Christchurch suffered major earthquakes and aftershocks (well over 10,000) that have left the central city in ruins and many of the eastern suburbs barely habitable even now. The earthquakes on 22 February caused catastrophic loss of life with 185 people killed. The toll this has taken on the residents of Christchurch has been considerable, not least of all for the significant psychological impact and disruption it has had on the children. As the process of rebuilding the city commenced, it became clear that the arts would play a key role in maintaining our quality of life during difficult times. For me, this started with the children and the most expressive of all the art forms – music.
A photograph of buildings along Armagh Street near Victoria Square, including the Victoria Apartments and the Forsyth Barr Building. A noticable forward lean can be seen in the Victoria Apartments.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Corner of Manchester and Gloucester Streets with the site of Iconic in the foreground and the SBS building being demolished to the right. North-east view".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "View from the corner of Manchester and Worcester Streets showing the final piece of demolition of 143-151 Worcester Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Pieces of iron fretwork from the entrance of the Warners Hotel which have been carefully laid on the ground outside. This shows the careful salvaging which has taken place in order for pieces to be re-used later".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Hotel Grand Chancellor viewed from Hereford Street. It is now hard to recognise with many of its exterior panels removed during the deconstruction process".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Pieces of iron fretwork from the entrance of the Warners Hotel which have been carefully laid on the ground outside. This shows the careful salvaging which has taken place in order for pieces to be re-used later".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A view looking south down Colombo Street from the bridge over the River Avon. The road damage in the foreground is where the bridge begins".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "View from the corner of Manchester and Worcester Streets of Radio Network House with the final piece of demolition of 143-151 Worcester Street in front of it. The fate of Radio Network House is being discussed with its owner".
A photograph showing All Right? posters at the Central Library Peterborough. The posters feature images from phase 2 of the All Right? campaign, which sought to promote the 'Five Ways To Wellbeing' by asking simple, open-ended questions related to wellbeing.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Octagon Live Restaurant (formerly Trinity Congregational Church) on the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A demolition site on Lichfield Street, where further damage occurred as a result of the 23 December 2011 earthquakes".
A blog post from US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, David Huebner, titled, "Independence Day in Christchurch".
A map showing the location of properties being purchased by the Crown for the frame and bus interchange.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cashel Mall looking towards the Whitcoulls site and the BNZ in the distance behind the centre tree".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Demolition site of the Allan McLean building, on the corner of Colombo Street and Oxford Terrace".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "This stack of containers protect the facade of New Excelsior Backpackers. Corner of Manchester and Lichfield Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking across the demolition site of the Press Building towards Warners and Novatel Hotels. New Press Building on the right rear".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "On the footpath in Worcester Street near Radio Network House. Pacific Tower (Marque Hotel) is at centre rear".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The remains of SBS House, on the south-east corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Demolition site between the former Government Life building (on the right) and Grant Thornton House with Chancery Lane in the background".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Rear of the Department of Conservation building in Hereford Street seen from the intersection of Manchester and Worcester Streets".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking from 205 Manchester Street to Radio Newtwork House across concrete rubble from the demolition of SBS House, 180 Manchester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The flags flying are in contrast to the demolition site of the Allan McLean building beyond".
A photograph of a sign describing St Luke's Labyrinth.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The demolition site of the Copthorne Durham Street with the Casino behind".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The demolition site of the Louis Vuitton Building on the corner of Cathedral Square and Colombo Street".
A black and white historic photograph of the exterior Clarendon Hotel, designed by J.C. Maddison. The photograph was taken from the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street, [1903].
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Gloucester - Madras Street intersection (south-west view). The large AMI building in the centre is to be demolished".