Earthquake Aftermaths

Today Corina and Patrick took us into the city centre of Christchurch. Well, we went as far as we were able to go as much of the city is still cordoned off with barriers and fences due to the earthquake damage. We were going to see the container mall, which is the first of its kind. A section of city that was damaged and demolished had shipping containers brought in and stacked. Then shops, coffee shops and food court type restaurants were set up within. It’s was quite a thing to see how vibrant it was with all the colours and people bustling about, not to mention the cute topiary in the form of animals.



We then wandered through a small, outdoor market and then onto the Hertitage Museum, which is still open with barely any damage. However, the building across the street from it that mirrors the museum in architectural style as it was once a college and then filled with various shops, suffered a great deal of damage. Spires and rooftops sections lay on the ground, waiting to be fixed or taken apart. We saw one portion of the wall that was being held up by a metal support that was anchored by almost 7000 kilos of rock. I think it was that, the Anzac building damage and damage done to the icon of Christchurch, the cathedral, which weighed the heaviest with me because I remember them fondly from my last trip.

Touring all the collections of the Heritage Museum was pretty fantastic. There’s so much to see but I think we managed to take almost all of it in between the early Maori displays and the replica of a Victorian street where you can actually go inside the shops. There’s also a replica of the house that a n older couple covered the walls within with Paua shells. The real treat was seeing the wildlife photography winners from around the world that including some pretty incredible shots taken by children of different ages, including less than 10 years old! Then, of course, there was also the section dedicated to the earthquakes that was fascinating, though a little difficult to taken in the magnitude of what the city has gone through over the past 2 years. We no longer hear about it in the States but there have been over 10,000 earthquakes and counting since September 4th, 2010. Four of them have been pretty major, including one as recent as December 23rd, 2011. A few hours before we arrived, there was a 4.6 that was felt but the city inhabitants. Though, Corina’s family told us that they don’t feel anything under a 4.0 anymore. In fact, during our visit there had been 6 or more little earthquakes all under 4.0 and we certainly didn’t feel a thing. Oh, I should mention that while rebuilding they found a time capsule that dated back to 1918 that no one had any record of being there which was also on display.

After the museum we walked back to the car and grabbed ourselves some lunch. Then we ducked into the Warehouse, where Corina and Patrick work to purchase a little something for Bill, since it was his birthday. The evening was leisurely spent at the house which included watching a documentary on the Christchurch earthquakes called “When a City Falls”.

I feel the need to conclude the entry with a few extra words - when you move around much of Christchuch you now see a city filled with crackled and crumbling facades gated off by road cones and chain link fences or pockets of open grass where buildings once stood. Its former beauty is hurting but it’s still there, especially in the hearts and spirits of the people that have decided to stay and rebuild. That is the most heartwarming and I look forward to seeing what the city will become. Stay strong, Christchurch and know that we love you.