New Zealand (stray) - Rangitata to Christchurch

Me, Dave  and Adam hop off the stray bus for a day in Christchurch.Once checked in we visit the botanical gardens, go on a tour of the redzone (cordoned off area with unsafe buildings) and then visit the new shopping complex RE:START.


'On Saturday 4 September 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Christchurch and the central Canterbury region at 4:35 am. Located near Darfield, west of the city at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), it caused widespread damage to the city and minor injuries, but no direct fatalities.^[15][16][17]

Nearly six months later on Tuesday 22 February 2011, a second earthquake measuring magnitude 6.3 struck the city at 12:51 pm. It was located closer to the city, near Lyttelton at a depth of 5 km.^[18] Although lower on the moment magnitude scale than the previous earthquake, the intensity and violence of the ground shaking was measured to be MM IX, among the strongest ever recorded globally in an urban area^[19] and in total 185 people were killed^[20][21] with nationals from more than 20 countries among the victims.^[22] ChristChurch Cathedral lost its spire^[23][24] and widespread damage was caused across Christchurch to buildings and infrastructure already weakened by 4 September 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks. Significant liquefaction affected the eastern suburbs, and the total cost to insurers of rebuilding has been estimated at NZ$20–30 billion.^{[25][26]'
source: wikipedia.} 

below: accommodation in christchurch is scarce and we have only decided two days beforehand to hop off we pay quite a lot as far as NZ hostels go. We stay in the historic jail on the outskirts of the CBD in Jailhouse hostel. Here is dave in the slammer making use of his phone call.



below: christchurch

below: botanical gardens

below: the time the first earthquake happened

below: in the 'redzone'. 185 empty chairs to mark the 185 people who died from the earthquake.

below: the old Holden car dealership

below: a 1920s style shopping street, fortunately not much damage to it but it is still cordoned off.

below: the theatre

below: the cathedral

below: starbucks

below: a restaurant

below: a hairdressers and corner shop

below: Subway and general area where people used to meet and eat

below: cathedral

below: football pitch near the redzone (when the ball goes over they have to ring the army up to throw it back!)

below: christchurch has not been defeated by the earthquakes. here is the new shopping complex made from shipping containers.

below: a ford mustang in someones garage

below:

below: Jailhouse

below: i get to watch the film of the book i read in the jailhouse cinema