Postcard from Christchurch

Posted on November 1, 2019 by rkcaton
Anyone can sit and play.

New Zealand isn’t far from Australia, but when you get here it feels like it is a world away. It’s a little like we’ve been magically transported to home to the Northwest. It’s cooler, there’s rain, it’s green, and there are trees here in Christchurch. And it’s spring!

Spring blossoms in Christchurch.

Christchurch may be the most resilient town in the world. Two earthquakes, a magnitude 7.1 in September 2010 and a 6.3 five months later killed 168 people and leveled whole blocks in the downtown core. Nearly 11,000 people chose to leave Christchurch for good. Yet, there are signs of revival all over the downtown area where whole blocks have been restored or rebuilt.

Shops and a trolley line along New Regent Street.
The Christchurch Transitional Cathedral. Interim cathedral, constructed from cardboard to replace the old cathedral (built between 1864 and 1904) which was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake.

There are artworks throughout the downtown core that include sculptures honoring the indigenous Maori people.

Maori Pouwhenua (totem pole) in a park along the Avon River in downtown Christchurch.
Random artwork in Christchurch.
Green hills around Christchurch.
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