Bob Parker's last day in office
Audio, Radio New Zealand
After six years leading Christchurch, three of them since the first Canterbury earthquake, Bob Parker is packing up his office and hanging up the Mayoral chains today.
After six years leading Christchurch, three of them since the first Canterbury earthquake, Bob Parker is packing up his office and hanging up the Mayoral chains today.
The Canterbury earthquakes succeeded in all but destroying modern-day Christchurch, but from the rubble has emerged a surprising bonus - an insight into the city's history.
Today is census day; the first nationwide stocktake in seven years after the census was called off in 2011 because of the February earthquake in Christchurch.
Christchurch prepares for a challenging anniversary - two years on from the devastating earthquake that killed 185 people. Our correspondent there, Katy Gosset, hears the stories of local baristas who were in the CBD that day.
The Temple for Christchurch is an enormous work, representing the seismic wave of the February 22 earthquake. Made mostly from salvaged wood it's taken a team of volunteers two years to build. But it will meet a fiery end on Saturday night when it is deliberately set alight. Justin Gregory meets the designer and his volunteers with two weeks left until burn day. But when he gets there, none are to be found.