Today is the anniversary of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Canterbury on 4 September 2010, and two lights - The White Lights of Hope - were turned on this evening from the square to help fill the city's "dark heart" and remind residents to look forward to a bright future. Note: While I was capturing this image we had a ...
Christchurch's CBD as seen from the Cashmere hills, south of the city. Much of the CBD is still cordoned off and without power (as you should be able to spot) as a result of the damage caused by February's deadly earthquake.
Christchurch MPs - Labour's Lianne Dalziel and National's Amy Adams - say it's not fair for seat-of-the-pants post-quake red/yellow and green sticker assessments to be formally recorded forever. They say the assessments were hastily done and inconsistent. But the Christchurch City Council says its required to do so under the provisions of the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act.
Detail of the Christchurch Anglicain Cathedral viewed from a path between the new Cashel Mall shopping area and Cathedral Square which was opened two weekends ago. This is the first time this section of the city has been open to the public since the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It will be closed off again after 11 December 2011 for the demolitio...
One black hardcover book with a multi-coloured dust jacket depicting men in uniform amongst rubble entitled 'Christchurch 22.2: Beyond the Cordon' containing colour photographs by the New Zealand Police following the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The severe damage to Christchurch’s central city caused by the 22 February 2011 earthquake is unique...
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch 22 Feburary 2011. This small cluster of historic buildings in central Christchurch are treasured by the city, both for their historical importance and their beauty. Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings (1858 to 1865) were designed by Benjamin Mountfort, C...
The aftermath of three earthquakes has forced Christchurch to re-plan and rebuild. New perspectives of a sustainable city have arisen granting Christchurch the chance of becoming an example to the world. This work is centred on bioclimatic landscape design as a base for greening strategies. It deals with strategic landscape design adapted to a specific climate, from a user’s perspective. The investigation will be applied to Christchurch’s urban centres, assessing cultural adaptability to the local climate and implications for landscape design. Climatic data shows that humidity is not a local problem. However, the wind is the determinant. In Christchurch the solar radiation and the prevailing winds are the most important microclimatic variables, the latter intensifying the loss of surface heat, decreasing the radiant temperature and affecting thermal sensation. The research objective is to explore design parameters at the street-scale and identify ways to maximise thermal comfort in outdoor spaces through design-based strategies. The investigation will apply methods of participant observation, depth interviews, climatic data collection and design experimentation based on thermal comfort models and computer simulation tools. Case study sites chosen for investigation are places with current levels of activity that may be anticipated in the rebuild of the central city. The research will have two main outcomes: improved understanding of local urban culture adaptation to microclimate, and a demonstration of how design can enhance adaption. These outcomes will inform designers and city managers about good design practices and strategies that can be used to ensure a long term liveable city.
A crane with a wrecking ball demolishing St Elmo Courts on Hereford Street. Behind it is the Christchurch City Council Building.
People in Sumner with earthquake-damaged homes are demanding answers from the Christchurch City Council about the future of their properties.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch central city with Victoria Square in the centre and the Crowne Plaza in the distance.
A demolition site. In the background is the former Christchurch City Council building, cranes and the Westpac Building on the left.
This winter-eve is warm, Humid the air! leafless, yet soft as spring, The tender purple spray on copse and briers! And that sweet city with her dreaming spires, She needs not June for beauty's heightening, Lovely all times she lies, lovely to-night!— From "Thyrsis: A Monody" by Matthew Arnold 1822–1888
In the first frame is an 'Emergency kit for national disaster' which is a bin full of disaster supplies like canned food, torch etc. In the second frame there is an 'Emergency kit for economic disaster...' - a bin containing a 'One way ticket to OZ'. Context - The national distaster kit is very relevant after the two earthquakes and numerous aftershocks in Christchurch and increasingly people are moving to Australia in search of jobs and opportunities that seem scarce in New Zealand. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A video of the Christchurch central city recorded shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the video, Press reporter Olivia Carville describes the experiences of people within the central city. There is also footage of a woman being rescued from the ChristChurch Cathedral, people trapped in the Press building, damaged buildings on Colombo Street and Manchester Street, people evacuating the Forsyth Barr building using a rope, and people gathering in Latimer Square.
The Alps and ranges around New Zealand are now laden with snow yet while most of us are hunkering down and keeping warm, some in Canterbury are still having to get on within a broken city following this year's earlier devastating earthquakes. Bryan began by speaking to Major Mike Allwright of the Salvation Army and followed up with Lyttleton musician Lindon Puffin. Bryan also spoke to Christine Parker from the Eastern suburb of Aranui and Regina Nyadani who lives in central Christchurch with her family.
Members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) searching through the rubble of a collapsed building in the Christchurch central city.
Radio New Zealand reporter Jessica Maddock reports from the Christchurch City Art Gallery which has been converted into a Civil Defence centre.
The Christchurch earthquake is prompting Wellington residents to prepare for the possibility that their city could be struck by a major tremor.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch central city with the Farmers car park in the centre and Victoria Square in the background.
A photograph of a Christchurch City Council information poster titled, "Recovering after the earthquake". The poster has been stapled to a tree.
A photograph of a collapsed house in the Christchurch central city. USAR codes have been spray painted on the fence in front.
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team breaking into a clinic in the Christchurch city centre.
Staying with the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, the police in Christchurch are to start cold-calling on homes in the city where there is either a history of domestic violence, or the potential for it.
Text reads 'Dan Vettori donates his entire cricket memorabilia to raise money for Christchurch - News'. The cartoon shows Black Caps' captain Dan Vettori carrying large boxes of cricketing equipment and saying 'I'd have donated the entire Black Caps team, but I didn't think they'd raise anything...' Context - Opinion expressed a bit premature and is because of the 3-2 defeat to Pakistan just before the World Cup which meant the Black Caps entered the match as underdogs. However, now New Zealand are brimming with new-found confidence after three wins on the trot took them into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, says opener Brendon McCullum. McCullum said new coach John Wright had been a huge influence behind the scenes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A photograph of a marble plaque on the outside wall of the City Council Civic Offices on Manchester Street. The plaque lists the former Mayors and Chairmen of Christchurch.
A photograph of a marble plaque on the outside wall of the City Council Civic Offices on Manchester Street. The plaque lists the former Mayors and Chairmen of Christchurch.
A photograph of a marble plaque on the outside wall of the City Council Civic Offices on Manchester Street. The plaque lists the former Mayors and Chairmen of Christchurch.
PTE Steven Khudson on cordon duty in Christchurch central city. In the background, members of the South Australian Urban Search and Rescue team can be seen as well as a digger.
PTE Steven Khudson on cordon duty in Christchurch central city. In the background, members of the South Australian Urban Search and Rescue team can be seen as well as a digger.
PTE Steven Khudson on cordon duty in Christchurch central city. In the background, members of the South Australian Urban Search and Rescue team can be seen as well as a digger.