Sunset over the rubble on Gloucester Street during the LuxCity event. The stage area of the Isaac Theatre Royal is visible in the background.
Within four weeks of the September 4 2010 Canterbury Earthquake a new, loosely-knit community group appeared in Christchurch under the banner of “Greening the Rubble.” The general aim of those who attended the first few meetings was to do something to help plug the holes that had already appeared or were likely to appear over the coming weeks in the city fabric with some temporary landscaping and planting projects. This article charts the first eighteen months of Greening the Rubble and places the initiative in a broader context to argue that although seismic events in Christchurch acted as a “call to palms,” so to speak, the city was already in need of some remedial greening. It concludes with a reflection on lessons learned to date by GTR and commentary on the likely issues ahead for this new mini-social-environmental movement in the context of a quake-affected and still quake-prone major New Zealand city. One of the key lessons for GTR and all of those involved in Christchurch recovery activities to date is that the city is still very much in the middle of the event and is to some extent a laboratory for seismic and agency management studies alike.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
An artist's impression of the installation 'Etch-a-Sketch', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: Anna Tong, Chris Holmes
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
An artist's impression of the installation 'Etch-a-Sketch', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: Anna Tong, Chris Holmes
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
A photograph of a speed dancing session at the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat. The event was part of FESTA 2012.
The Telecom Christmas tree behind people watching from the edge of the crowd at the YMCA Carols by Candlelight event in Latimer Square.