A video of the reopening ceremony for the Heritage Hotel in Cathedral Square, which has been closed since the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video shows Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae opening the building while a string trio plays. It also includes footage of a speech by the Governor General, and a tour of the hotel.
A video of an interview with Shaun Gladwell, a London-based artist, about the sculptures he designed for the Christchurch central city. Gladwell talks about how the sculptures are based on skateboard forms and have been designed to be used by skateboarders. He also talks about being inspired by YouTube videos of Christchurch skateboarders who used the damaged landscape in Christchurch as a skate park after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes clips from some of these YouTube videos.
A video of an interview with James Jameson about the lack of access to his apartment in the Victoria Apartments. Many of Jameson's possessions have been trapped in the building since the 22 February 2011 earthquake, including irreplaceable art and book collections. After the earthquake, Jameson was given a couple of hours to retrieve his computer and other essentials, but he has not been allowed in since. Jameson talks about the lack of communication from the authorities , the likelihood that his possessions have been ruined, and his inability to make an insurance claim until he knows he definitely cannot retrieve his possessions.
A video of a memorial service in Latimer Square held on the second anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes speeches from Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and Prime Minister John Key.
A video of Principal Richard Patton announcing to staff and students that Chisnallwood Intermediate is to remain open. Chisnallwood is one of thirteen schools which the Ministry of Education planned to close after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A video of an interview with Mark Forster, Operations Manager of the Christchurch Gondola, about the revamp of the gondola. The attraction has been closed since 22 February 2011 while the café and restaurant is being renovated and the rock fall from the hill above mitigated.
A video of Principal Toni Simpson telling the students and teachers of Phillipstown School about the plan to merge their school with Woolston School. Phillipstown is one of twelve schools which is set to merge in the Education Renewal Recovery Programme. The programme was created by the Minister of Education in the wake of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.
A video of an interview with Sonya Smith about the lack of access to her store on New Regent Street. Smith has not been able to access her store since the 22 February 2011 earthquake, and still has about $60,000 worth of personal possessions inside the store. In contrast, many of the other stores on the street have been restored and reopened.
A video of students from Merrin School laying 185 flowers at the foot of the school flag pole on the second anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Each flower represents one of the lives lost in the earthquake. The video also includes audio from the school's memorial service, including a poem by Alexis Blackie read by her sister Vanessa Blackie, and a speech by Principal Lisa Dillon-Robertson.
A video of a tour of two completed shops in New Regent Street. Mark Galletly from Galletly Builders talks about the damage caused by the 22 February 2011 earthquake, the work that was done to restore the shops, and the items that archaeologists found on the sites. The items found included the foundations of a nineteenth century ice skating rink, and bowling shoes. The video also includes an interview with shop owners Brian and Betty Hazeldine.
A video of an interview with Tracey McKeefrey about her leaky house. McKeefrey and her family have been living in the house since the 22 February 2011 earthquake, despite the fact that over 300 litres of water comes through the house every wet day. The property has been classified as TC3 but the family still does not know if it will be repaired or rebuilt.
A video of interviews with four enterprising young Christchurch residents recorded two years after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes interviews with Gap Filler Director Coralie Winn, Arts Centre Director Andrew Lovatt, artist Mike Hewson, and Student Volunteer Army leader Jason Pembleton. The interviewees are asked four questions: 'What do you think Christchurch city centre will look like in 10 years?', 'What do you most want to see in the new city?', 'What do you miss most about the old city?', and 'What keeps you in Christchurch?'.
A video about the reopening of the trams in Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes an interview with tram driver Brian Erikson. Erikson talks about taking a job at a supermarket while the trams were closed, and the feeling he gets when he drives the trams. The video also includes an interview with Syleyman Sekman, whose son, Jubiter Ubukata Sekman, could not sleep because he was so excited to ride the trams again.
A video about the removal of 'Rocky', a 15-tonne boulder which tore through a house in Heathcote during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes an interview with Jan Kupec, Chief Geotechnical Engineer at CERA, about the dimensions and path of the boulder. It also includes interviews with James McKenzie, the manager at the Mt Hutt Ski Area who purchased the rock, and Phil Johnson, the owner of the Heathcote property who put the rock on sale.
A video about businesses in the Christchurch central city Red Zone. The Red Zone has now been renamed the Rebuild Zone. The video shows businesses which have remained untouched since the 22 February 2011 earthquake, including the Camelot Hotel and the i-SITE visitor centre in Cathedral Square, Subway on High Street, Jeans West on High Street, Time Zone on Colombo Street, Comics Compulsion on Manchester Street, Mortgage Solutions mortgage brokers on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, Pocha Bar and Restaurant off Lichfield Street, and a fabric store on Lichfield Street.
A video of an interview with Tony Simpson, Principal of Phillipstown School, about the High Court's ruling on the merger of Woolston School and Phillipstown School. The Ministry of Education planned to merge the schools after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. However, Justice John Fogarty declared that the Ministry's consultation process failed to meet the requirements of the Education Act in two respects and that the merger was unlawful. Simpson talks about the joy he felt on hearing the news, his disappointment that it came down to a High Court decision, and his plans for the school's future.