This promotional travelogue, made for the Christchurch City Council, shows off the city and its environs. Filmed at a time when New Zealand’s post-war economy was booming as it continued its role as a farmyard for the “Old Country”, it depicts Christchurch as a prosperous city, confident in its green and pleasant self-image as a “better Britain” (as James Belich coined NZ’s relationship to England), and architecturally dominated by its cathedrals, churches and schools. Many of these buildings were severely damaged or destroyed in the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
This TVNZ doco chronicles New Zealand’s participation in 18 Empire and Commonwealth Games — beginning at Hamilton, Canada in 1930 when a Kiwi team of 18 participated in four sports. A cavalcade of gold medallists (including Yvette Williams, Dick Tayler, Anna Simcic and Neroli Fairhall) recall their glory days at the event which was set up to be “merrier and less stern” than The Olympics. Special emphasis is placed on the three New Zealand-hosted Games: at Auckland in 1950 and 1990, and Christchurch in 1974 (which hastened the local arrival of colour television).
A video about the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Army working in Christchurch to keep the city safe following the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The video includes an interview with Senior Sergeant Phillip Dean, Captain Mark Rutledge, Lance Corporal Aaron Tuhi, Lieutenant Dennis Petre, and Second Lieutenant David Pedrosa-Durie. It also includes footage of the New Zealand Military preparing meals at Burnham Camp.
A video of members of the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Army guarding cordons in the Christchurch central city after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The video also includes footage of a helicopter flying over the central city.
A video of a tour of the new central Christchurch police station. The video includes interviews with Riwai Grace, Fire Communications Shift Manager at the New Zealand Fire Service, and Superintendent Gary Knowles, Canterbury Area Commander for the New Zealand Police. Knowles gives The Press a tour of the new training area, cafeteria, courtyard, firearm simulator room, prosecution area, interview rooms, and cell blocks.
As New Zealand remembers the disaster a decade on, here is a look back at the devastation.
A video of a presentation by Roger Fairclough of the National Infrastructure Unit on "New Zealand resilient infrastructures: interdependency issues when planning for the future". The presentation was delivered at the learning forum on Interdependencies of Lifeline Systems as part of the University of Canterbury's Lifeline Week.
A video about the restoration of New Regent Street. New Regent Street was damaged during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes an interview with Edward Leeson, manager of the restoration project.
A video about the Red Zone in the Christchurch Central City after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes footage of damaged buildings and cars, the New Zealand Police and Army patrolling the streets, and an interview with Michael Harvey, a squad leader in the New Zealand Urban Search and Rescue.
CCTV footage of the New Brighton Pier during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A video of a tour of the new Press Building on Gloucester Street.
A time-lapse video of the restoration of New Regent Street in early 2013.
Early Days Yet, directed by Shirley Horrocks, is a full-length documentary about New Zealand poet Allen Curnow, made in the last months of his life. The poet talks about his life and work, and visits the places of some of his most important poems. It includes interviews with other New Zealand poets about Curnow's significance as an advocate for New Zealand poetry. As Curnow famously mused in front of a moa skeleton displayed in Canterbury Museum: "Not I, some child, born in a marvellous year / Will learn the trick of standing upright here."
A video of an interview with Toni Burnside, the Principal of Central New Brighton School, about the proposed merger of her school with South New Brighton School. Burnside talks about her belief that the government's rationale for the merger exaggerated the earthquake damage to the site.
CCTV footage showing two aisles in the Redcliff New World supermarket during the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A video of people participating in the 'Bare Your Bum for Brighton' protest in New Brighton. The protest was organised by Pier Side Café owner Tony Brooks, as a humorous way of getting Christchurch city leaders to take notice of New Brighton after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A video of Charlie Gates investigating the Christchurch City Council's plan to rejuvenate New Brighton mall. Gates interviews Sherry Dhamija, owner of Penguin House Dairy, Kate Thomas, manager of New Brighton Florist, and Colleen Biggs of Pegasus Tattoo about how business is going and what they think the area needs to be revitalised.
A video of a fire which broke out in the Pills for Thrills building on Worcester Street following the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The fire is thought to have been caused by a gas leak in the building.
A video of a press conference with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Mayor Lianne Dalziel. The conference was held to announce the implementation of the Accessible Transport Plan. Brownlee announces the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit in the inner city zone, facilitating the use of bicycles and encouraging pedestrian movement within the centre city. Lianne also talks about how the plan allows for a clean, green, safe, and accessible city, reflecting the public's visions in the Share an Idea campaign.
A video of people protesting outside the Christchurch City Council offices on Worcester Street. The are protesting the demolition of the Manchester Courts building.
A video of members of the public burning the 'Temple for Christchurch' art piece at the Motukara Raceway. The art piece was designed by artist Hippathy Valentine to provide a mechanism for emotional healing alongside the physical rebuilding of Christchurch. People were encouraged to visit the temple and to write stories and leave memorabilia. The piece is being burned to signify the release of these stories.
A video of quotes from members of the public about the Christchurch Cathedral. The quotes are superimposed over images of the public viewing the earthquake-damaged cathedral.
A time-lapse video of several locations in the Christchurch central city. The locations include the intersection of Gloucester and Manchester Streets, the intersection of Colombo and Armagh Streets, the ChristChurch Cathedral, Cashel Street, and the intersection of Lichfield and Manchester Streets.
A video of an interview with Allison Naylor about her property in the Flockton Basin. Naylor had to leave her house after flooding made it unliveable. This video was part of a series of videos about residents in the flood-prone Flockton Basin.
A video of an interview with Alexandra Harteveld-Turnball, a Year 13 student from Marian College, about her school project making jewellery from earthquake rubble. Harteveld-Turnball and six friends were given access to the PricewaterhouseCooper site to gather rubble for their project. The jewellery will be sold at markets, with all proceeds going to St John.
A video of an interview with 90-year-old Lucy Booth about her experiences during the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
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 about the Christchurch central city in the days after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The video includes footage of empty streets, and New Zealand Police and Army members guarding the cordons. It also includes footage of engineers checking the safety of buildings.
A video of Mayor Bob Parker and The Bats performing at the Band Together concert in Hagley Park. The concert was held on the 23 October 2010 for the people of Canterbury after the 2010 earthquakes.
A video of a tour of the Christchurch central city Red Zone. The video includes footage of Colombo Street and Gloucester Street.
