Much beloved Victoria square re-opens in Christchurch
Audio, Radio New Zealand
Victoria Square, the slightly less famous cousin of nearby Cathedral Square was re-opened today following $7.5 million worth of earthquake repairs.
Victoria Square, the slightly less famous cousin of nearby Cathedral Square was re-opened today following $7.5 million worth of earthquake repairs.
More than four years after the February 2011 earthquake devastated Christchurch's city centre, the rebuild in and around the iconic Cathedral Square has stalled.
In 1987, Jack Perkins recorded an award-winning documentary capturing the life, the sounds and the personalities of Cathedral Square in Christchurch. Thirty years on, Deborah Nation parallels that experience with the sounds of September 2011 as engineer Gabrielle Parker escorts her Shrough the earthquake Red Zone into the square as it is today.
Thirty-four years ago, Spectrum producer Jack Perkins recorded his award-winning documentary capturing the life, the sounds and the personalities of Cathedral square in Christchurch. In this edition of The Vault, Deborah Nation parallels that experience with the sounds of 2011 as she is escorted through the earthquake Red Zone into the square as it is today.
Earlier this morning Christchurch's Cathedral Square saw its first dawn service since the earthquake in 2011. The city's Mayor Phil Mauger was there.
Cathederal Square has remained largely untouched by developers since the 2011 earthquake. That is about to change, with work beginning on a series of hotels.
The Anzac Day Dawn service returns to Christchurch's Cathedral Square tomorrow, the first time since the 2011 earthquake. The service will take place near the newly-restored Citizens' War Memorial at 5.30am, where traditional veterans will parade up Worcestor Boulevard towards the Square. Christchurch Memorial RSA president, Dennis Mardle, spoke to Corin Dann.
Radio New Zealand reporter Rachel Graham is in Latimer Square.
Bridget Mills is in Latimer Square at a triage centre.
An audio recording of Rev Peter Collier's interview for the Church in the Quakes Project. The interview was conducted by Melissa Parsons on 7 December 2012. Collier is the Priest Assistant at St John's Church in Latimer Square.
At one minute to seven last night, two beams of light were switched on to commemorate the anniversary of the first Canterbury earthquake.
Part five of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins on Montreal Street near Cranmer Square. It includes commentary on the Cranmer Centre and the Windsor Hotel, two demolished buildings which were on the opposite corners of Armagh and Montreal Streets. The tour then moves down Armagh Street, providing commentary on the Canterbury Provincial Chambers Buildings. When the tour reaches the bridge over the Avon River, it crosses to the other side and follows the river to Gloucester Street where there is commentary on Chancery Lane. The tour then travels up Colombo Street and back to Victoria Square, with commentary on the Queen Victoria and James Cook statues. The tour finishes at the Pallet Pavilion, where it began, on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets.
Part two of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins in Cathedral Square and includes commentary on the proposal for the Convention Centre. The tour then moves down Worcester Street, providing commentary on Hotel 115, the Old Government Building (now the Heritage Hotel), and the Trinity Church on the way. Once the tour reaches Latimer Square, it moves towards Hereford Street and there is commentary on the Green Frame, and the future of Les Mill and Calendar Girls. The tour then moves down Madras Street, passing the Transitional Cathedral and the artwork, 185 Empty Chairs. The tour ends with commentary on the Farmers' Trading Building, the first Farmers' building in Christchurch which was eventually replaced by the IRD Building on Madras Street.
Canterbury Museum says because of the earthquake it's likely to be weeks before they can open a sealed time capsule found under a statue brought down by the quake.
Radio New Zealand reporter Rachel Graham is at the triage centre that has been set up in Latimer Square.
Kelvin Scott is a blind musician who usually plays in the square. He chose not to go today because it was raining.
We hear the latest from Latimer Square where a make-shift hospital has been set-up outside the Canterbury TV building.
Christchurch people will be allowed to walk through the heart of the city this weekend for the first time since February's devastating earthquake.
Church bells toll and thousands stand in silence to commemorate the Christchurch earthquake. Petrol prices go up, but the quake damaged city is spared and what was found under a statue in Cathedral Square?
Child Youth and Family admits mistakes, 1223 workers to join Auckland unemployed, Man pleads guilty to Raymond Piper's death, Phoenix squares bill for unpaid ACC levies, Parker accused of avoiding debates for political reasons, Scholars call on Govt to rethink Canterbury earthquake law.
Part four of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins in the Re:Start Mall on Cashel Street and includes commentary on the performance Last Day of Mankind at the Bridge of Remembrance. The tour then moves up Oxford Terrace, along the banks of the Avon River, until it reaches Worcester Boulevard. Turning left, it travels down Worcester Boulevard, past the Christchurch Art Gallery, providing commentary on the new and old art in the area, and the Christchurch Arts Centre. Lastly, it moves up Montreal towards Cranmer Square.
Part one of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins at the Pallet Pavilion on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets. It includes commentary on the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Town Hall, as well as the Captain Cook and Queen Victoria statues in Victoria Square. The tour then moves down Armagh Street to New Regent Street where there is a discussion of Trambiance, a series of sound performances in the Christchurch tram. The tour also includes commentary on the rebuild of New Regent Street and the Isaac Theatre Royal.
It's being called the worst winter for moteliers since the Canterbury earthquakes and the blame's being put squarely on Airbnb and a lack of events in Christchurch. Motels are reporting up to a third less business than last year - and that means some could have to close.
Some of the families of the 115 people who dies in the CTV building during the 2011 Canterbury earthquake protested in Latimer Square yesterday over the police decision not to prosecute the designers of the CTV building. They say they do want to see a prosecution go ahead, and they are seeking legal advice about what their options are.
A big bake off is being planned in Auckland this weekend to raise funds for the people affected by the Christchurch earthquake. The sale is taking place at Queen Elizabeth Square, opposite Britomart on Monday from 10.30 to 12.30. All the funds raised will go to the Red Cross. The organiser Glenn Browne has had such a strong response he's had to close the doors of his business and concentrate on the event.
Moves towards returning the famed rose window to Christ Church Cathedral begin today. An eighteen-tonne steel frame is being installed onto the cathedral's west facade as part of restoration work. It will eventually housing the rose window. The cathedral was critically damaged in the Christchurch earthquake of 2011. Project director Keith Paterson is in Cathedral Square. He speaks to Susie Ferguson.
Despite a hasty retreat from its iconic building in Christchurch's Square following the February earthquake, 'The Press', is in celebration mode. It's 150 years since the paper began with a six page edition that sold for six pence. It's first pages warned of the crippling cost of a new tunnel and rail line connecting Lyttelton to Christchurch, and on the back, a for sale ad for 100,000 gorse plants! Deb Nation finds the paper celebrated their centenary 50 years earlier, with memories of pigeon post and paper boys.
We're broadcasting today from Christchurch on the second anniversary of the six point three magnitude earthquake which devastated this city. One hundred and eighty five died in the quake and today at midday a memorial service will be held in Latimer Square. After two years, the pace of the rebuild is growing, but for some, so is frustration. More than seven thousand property owners in the residential red zone received a buyout offer from the government. Most of those have taken it - but there are a few who haven't.
Little is known about The Wizard of New Zealand who took centre stage in Christchurch's Cathedral Square from the 70s until the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011, which saw the city in a state of disrepair. A man who challenged political, social and cultural ideology, The Wizard posed provocative questions in this public space, much to the delight, and sometimes dismay, of passersby. But the background to why The Wizard was there in the first place has been something of a mystery... until now. Sonia Yee finds out more in this episode of Eyewitness.
The Anglican church is considering whether to sell Christchurch's cardboard cathedral to plug a shortfall in the budget for restoring the original descimated in the earthquakes. The church leadership will discuss the future of the cardboard building during meetings at the weekend. It opened opposite Latimer square in 2013 as a temporary place of worship, but soom became popular with tourists too. Meanwhile a 2017 estimate put the cost of restoring the actual Cathedral at just over $100 million, but that's since ballooned to north of $155 million. Harcourts real estate agent, Mark O'Loughlin, speaks to Lisa Owen from Christchurch. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6336786667112