Gerard Smyth's acclaimed documentary about the Christchurch earthquakes is the story of people coping — for better or worse — with the huge physical and emotional toll that the quakes, and continuing aftershocks, inflicted on them, their homes and their city. It began as a home movie while the devastation of September was surveyed (with thanks given that no-one had been killed); but, as shooting of the recovery continued, the February quake compounded the destruction and claimed 182 lives (including their researcher and 16 colleagues at CTV).
Chimney Book takes rubble from the Christchurch earthquake, and turns it into the building blocks of a film exploring life in the quake zone. Christchurch musician Blair Parkes took bricks from his chimney — destroyed in the 22 February 2011 aftershocks — painted a letter or symbol on each, then scanned them into his computer. Sound and word form the spine of the result, which is part diary, part experimental film. Parkes explores his experiences of living in Christchurch since the quake through words like 'dust', 'memory', 'place', and a question: 'is it over?'
New Zealand television's longest running children's show turns 30 with a two hour live extravaganza — far removed from its modest, half hour beginnings back in 1981. Current hosts Charlie, Johnson and Gem are joined by a parade of past presenters who reminisce, and compete to find the show's best decade. Masterchef finalist Jax Hamilton provides snacks, and celebrities send greetings. In amongst the cupcakes, gunge, fart jokes and mayhem, the programme enters its fourth decade as an institution, watched by the children of its original audience.
This 2011 episode of the Russell Brown-fronted media commentary show examines how Christchurch is dealing with the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes. First up: the CEISMIC Digital Archive is working to preserve the memories and experiences of Cantabrians, and The Press editor Andrew Holden explains why his newspaper is donating everything it has published to the project. Then CERA CEO Roger Sutton talks about the key role of media relations, and filmmaker Gerard Smyth describes shooting his acclaimed chronicle of the quakes: When a City Falls.
A video showing damage to buildings on Hereford Street.
A video of buskers and crowds in the Re:Start mall.
A video of water damage from broken pipes inside an office building.
A video of water damage from broken pipes inside an office building.
A video taken from a vehicle showing liquefaction and flooding on Breezes Road.
A video taken inside the roof space of a damaged house in Avonside.
A video of a helicopter taking off from a playing field in Wainoni.
A video showing a military aeroplane flying over Christchurch, following the 22 February earthquake.
A video taken from a vehicle showing liquefaction and flooding on St Asaph Street.
Video of Emma Parnell's earthquake story,captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Video of Eric's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Video of Roman's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
A video recording of a lecture presented by Associate Professor Misko Cubrinovski as part of the 2011 University of Canterbury Earthquake Lecture Series.
Video of Alia Hope-Wilson's earthquake story,captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Video of Liz Grant's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
A video about engineers recovering the internal copper dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament by lifting it out in one piece. The dome was undamaged after the 22 February 2011 earthquakes, but lost most of its supporting columns. Engineers have decided to remove the dome to ensure it will not be damaged during further aftershocks.
A video of interviews with orange-zoned residents in Kaiapoi about the possibility of their properties becoming red zoned. This was recorded after The Press published news that up to one-third of Kaiapoi homes may be red zoned and therefore not rebuilt.
A video of a media a preview of the CERA Red Zone bus tour. The Red Zone bus tours have been created by CERA to allow the public to view the Christchurch central city which has been closed for eight months since the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A video recording of a lecture presented by Professor Jarg Pettinga and Dr Mark Quigley as part of the 2011 University of Canterbury Earthquake Lecture Series.
A video of business owners outside the Christchurch Art Gallery protesting the lack of access to their buildings in the Red Zone.
A video of an interview with Richard Ballantyne inside the Ballantynes Department Store on Cashel Street. In the background, staff are preparing the store to reopen for the first time since the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A video of Mayor Bob Parker and Prime Minister John Key speaking at the opening of Re:Start Mall which has been set up on Cashel Street after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Re:Start mall is made up of shipping-container shops, with the Ballantynes Department Store reopening as a retail anchor.
A video of a press conference with Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews and Dean Peter Beck, about the interim plans for the earthquake-damaged ChristChurch Cathedral. In the press conference Matthews announces that the Cathedral will be deconsecrated, that parts of it will be demolished, and that the rest will be made safe. These measures will allow the recovery of artefacts and heritage items from the building.
A video about a memorial wall in the Linwood Crematorium Memorial Garden which collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The wall housed nearly 100 people's ashes. Staff from the Cremation Society of Canterbury collected the ashes and stored them in bags until the wall could be rebuilt.
A video of an interview with Bev Edwards about her experiences during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Edwards was one of three women paralysed by injuries suffered during the earthquake.
A video about the work which is being conducted in the Christchurch Red Zone in the weeks after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Members of the New Zealand Army and Civil Defence are working to secure business premises by boarding up broken windows and doors. The video also includes footage of the damage to the Fisher's Building, the Press Building, Ballies Bar, and ChristChurch Cathedral, and many buildings on High Street.
