Heritage Buildings

Christchurch's Heritage Buildings that were Damaged in the Earthquakes

Jennie Meuldijk & Stephanie Ingham

Following the 22 February 2011 earthquake, the list of buildings declared unsafe was extensive. By Friday afternoon (25 February), 56,000 properties had been inspected. Of the 1000 heritage buildings inspected, exactly half of the Category 1 and 2 listed buildings had been given red stickers, meaning they were not safe, and access was restricted.

The Christchurch earthquakes severely damaged many heritage buildings, including iconic structures like the Christ Church Cathedral and the Provincial Council Chambers. Many of these buildings have been demolished, while others were fortunate enough to be repaired or restored. Reconstruction efforts are still ongoing more than a decade after the Canterbury earthquakes.

Arts Centre, Rolleston Ave, post-quake, street view

The Rolleston Avenue face of the Arts Centre. Credit: Becker Fraser, 28 March 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

Key Terms

Deconstruction

This refers to the careful breaking down of a building into its parts, aiming to preserve as much material as possible. After deconstruction, a "new" building is created from the original materials.

Reinstatement / Restoration

This refers to the method of repairing the building without deconstruction or demolition, but rather by preserving all possible elements of the existing structure to keep it as close as possible to its original state. This process is more expensive and time-consuming than deconstruction but better preserves the historical features of the building.

Demolition

This refers to the complete destruction of the building, removing all original elements until it is reduced to nothing. While some elements may be preserved in this process, it is generally much more destructive than other methods. However, it is also considered to be the fastest and most cost effective.

Rebuild

This term refers to the process of creating a replicated building once the original is demolished. In the case of many heritage buildings, the rebuilt structure would consist of largely new materials, but would be styled after the original.

Red Zone

This refers to areas in Canterbury that were deemed unsafe for rebuilding. All buildings in the area had to be either removed or demolished. Learn more about stories from the Red Zone here.

  • The Central City Red Zone, also known as the CBD Red Zone, was an area in Christchurch Central that was deemed unsafe and cordoned off to the public following the 22 February earthquake. This zone grew smaller over time, and the last Red Zone fences were taken down on 30th June 2013.
  • The Residential Red Zone relates to areas within the wider Christchurch City / Canterbury where there was extensive damage and liquefaction. Today, this area is known as a recreational and transitional area full of community initiatives.
District Courts Demolition, Durham Street

Armagh Street looking over the demolition to the District Court in Durham Street. Credit: Becker Fraser, 5 September 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

Key Organisations

CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority)

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) was established as a government department on 29 March 2011 and was disestablished on 18 April 2016. CERA’s role was to lead and coordinate recovery efforts following the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes.

EQC (Earthquake Commission)

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is a New Zealand government agency responsible for providing natural disaster insurance, alongside funding for research and education on disaster resilience. The EQC is now the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, New Zealand’s hazards insurance scheme.

The Provincial Council Chambers, Durham Street, post-quake

The Provincial Council Chambers, Durham Street. Credit: Becker Fraser, 16 April 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

Resources:

  • Places of Christchurch - A good resource from canterburystories.nz, showcasing the history of Canterbury's significant buildings and places.
  • Christchurch City Council Newsline - A reliable resource for news updates on buildings and development, city life, and community news within Christchurch.
  • Heritage Buildings - For information on Christchurch’s culture and heritage.
  • Te Ara - An encyclopedia of Aotearoa New Zealand that provides a guide to our stories, people, natural environment, institutions, economy and history.
  • Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Demolition - a site dedicated to the heritage buildings that have been lost during the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
Christchurch Town Hall, fenced-off, view from Peterborough Street

A view of the fenced-off Town Hall from Peterborough Street.. Credit: Becker Fraser, 27 February 2013. Source: QuakeStudies

Navigation

Explore our curated pages on some of Christchurch's Heritage Buildings:

The Christ Church Cathedral, also called the ChristChurch Cathedral, is a deconsecrated Anglican cathedral in Cathedral Square built during 1864-1904.

The Christchurch Basilica, otherwise known as the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament or the Catholic Cathedral, was built on Barbadoes St during 1901-1905.

The Fisher Building, also known as the Hanafins Building, was built as an extension to the City Chambers at the corner of High Street and Hereford Street.

Demolition of the Warners Hotel, with the Hotel Grand Chancellor in the foreground

Demolition site of Warners Hotel, taken from Gloucester Street with a view through to the Heritage Hotel and Millennium Hotel. The Hotel Grand Chancellor is behind. Credit: Becker Fraser, 15 October 2011. Source: QuakeStudies

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