Christchurch CBD reopened to the public at the end of June 2013. This was after being cordoned off to the public since the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February 2011. A walk through Cathedral Square on the 24th July 2013 revealed massive gaps where buildings have fallen. Christchurch Cathedral still stands in ruins and ongoing demolitions continue in the area ..read more

The Christchurch Gondola reopened on Monday 25th March 2013. This was more than two years after the 6.3 magnitude 22nd February earthquake that devastated Christchurch. Remedial work had to be done on the hillside to prevent the possibility of rockfalls and the top station was revamped after a water tank burst during the quake.     Each car can hold four people and offers spectacular views across Christchurch and the coast as it rises almost one kilometre to the top of Mount Cavendish. The route passes over Summit Rd and visitors can observe the masses of rocks that fell during ..read more

A walk through Christchurch CBD in late February 2013 revealed that while many buildings have been demolished, there are still dozens more to come down. Wide open spaces bear testimony to the loss the city has sustained but there are also signs of progress and the rebuild that is underway. Follow this photographic tour to see Christchurch central two years after the devastating 6.3 earthquake on February 22nd 2011. Views of Christchurch central from Cashel Mall. These pictures were taken through the fence that secures the Red Zone which is still inaccessible to the public. Cashel ..read more

  The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has released a video showing time-lapse photography of the Christchurch Central Business District taken between 1 February 2012 and 31 January 2013. Shot from the roof of HSBC Tower on Worcester Boulevard, the video depicts changes to the CBD landscape looking out towards Cathedral Square ..read more

At 9:15pm on the 19th January 2013, Christchurch and Canterbury were shaken by a 4.6 aftershock that was centred near Rolleston. It was the largest shake the area has had in over six months. Canterbury Quake Live recorded the magnitude as 4.62 at 12 kilometres deep and it released 128 tonnes of energy. It measured V on the Mercalli Scale meaning that it was ‘Felt by almost everyone, some people awakened. Small objects moved. Trees and poles may shake.’ The Canterbury Quake Live website was swamped with hits within minutes with the usual 100 or 200 online swelling to over 16,000. Facebook and ..read more

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) has partially reopened Cathedral Square to allow the public to see the changes that have taken place in the heart of Christchurch. The walkway into the Square will provide much closer viewing of the Christchurch Cathedral and surrounds compared to the existing walkway. The New Zealand Defence Force personnel based at the intersection’s red zone checkpoint will continue to manage public access. CERA chief executive Roger Sutton said, “I hope people will go along in their holidays and see the Square as it is today, and then look forward to th ..read more

Pictorial Overview of Earthquake Damage on Gloucester St, Christchurch November 2012 Nearly two years after the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch in February 2011, demolition is still underway in the CBD. A stroll down Gloucester St on Sunday 11th November 2012 resulted in the following images:  Large parts of the city are now empty land awaiting the rebuild  Restoration work on New Regent St  Christchurch Cathedral  Earthquake tourists The Military still guard the Red Zone of Christchurch with public access restricted ..read more

Demolition is well underway at Christchurch's QEII Park Recreation and Sport Centre. The centre was built specifically to host the Commonwealth Games in 1974 and is a sad loss, not only to the people in the eastern suburbs, but to Christchurch as a whole. The pictures tell the story ..read more

Christchurch has been shaken by a series of noticeable aftershocks that kicked off with a 3.2 magnitude at 8:40pm on the 23rd October. This was felt by many in the region with people commenting on Facebook and Twitter that it was an unwelcome reminder of the past. It was five kilometres deep and centred in the Cashmere Hills. At 3:17am on the 24th October, many people in the city awoke to feel the ground shaking again as a 4.0 magnitude quake struck. The sensation was described as a rolling and rattling and Geonet classed it as moderate. It was 8 kilometres deep and centred in the ocean east ..read more

They'll rebuild the old ruins,    raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities,    take the rubble left behind and make it new. Isaiah 61:4 The Message These pictures were taken on a walk through Christchurch central on Sunday 5 August 2012. Natural disasters make international news for a week or two - but are soon forgotten or people assume the area has recovered. These pictures of Christchurch CBD, 17 months after the February 2011 earthquake show the reality. The devastation is widespread - but there are new buil ..read more