"Hey Phil... It's a 'Dear John' letter..." 8 September 2010

Images, Alexander Turnbull Library

The Queen tells Prince Philip that she has received a 'Dear John' letter from PM John Key and that it 'seems the earth has moved for him back in NZ'. Text above reads 'Keynote'. In a second version the queen says that John Key 'preferred to stay at home 'cos the earth moved'. A third version refers to the decision of the PM to remain in New Zealand because of the Christchurch earthquake instead of going on a trip to Europe with his wife during which they were to have stayed at the invitation of the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).

Former, British Hotel

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Photos taken in Lyttelton showing the demolition of various buildings following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-05-20-Lyttelton-Demolition-P1120460 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.

BeckerFraserPhotos March 2011 photograph 021

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Hotel British, Norwich Quay".

BeckerFraserPhotos November 2010 photograph 49

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The British Hotel on the corner of Oxford and Norwich Quay in Lyttelton.

Photograph by Paul Corliss 1650

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph captioned by Paul Corliss, "Lyttelton Times and British Hotel".

Christchurch Press Infographic: 30 August 2012 (1)

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A page banner promoting an article about the import of British marmite.

Canterbury Earthquake - Vicki Treadell

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Vicki Treadell is the British High Commisioner and is in Christchurch now.

Canterbury Health System Earthquake Memories, Story 10: Earthquakes not en…

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

An earthquake memories story from Richard Clinghan, Resident Medical Officer, titled, "Earthquakes not enough to put off British doctors".

Paul Potts

Audio, Radio New Zealand

British crossover tenor performing Christchurch Earthquake fundraiser with NZSO and Elizabeth Marvelly this weekend.

Photograph by Neil Macbeth 600

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The British Hotel on the corner of Oxford Street and Norwich Quay. The top of the building has crumbled into the street below and wire fencing has been placed around it as a cordon.

BeckerFraserPhotos July 2011 photograph 615

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the damaged British Hotel. The photograph is captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Norwich Quay in Lyttelton".

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 697

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damage to the British Hotel on Oxford Street. The top of the building has crumbled bringing the roof down with it. Bricks lay along the footpath where they landed. Wire fencing has used to create a cordon around the building.

A Brief Foray into Romano-British Archaeology

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Archaeologists are often faced with the question of what happens to artefacts after an excavation is complete? As is the case for a lot of excavations, artefacts can find themselves housed in museums. This centuries old institution found its beginning … Continue reading →

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 696

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damage to the British Hotel on Oxford Street. The top of the building has crumbled bringing the roof down with it. Bricks lay along the footpath where they landed. Wire fencing has been used to create a cordon around the building.

Midday Business News for 9 July 2012

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury retail spending surges following earthquake disruptions. Traders face potential prison terms in Britain's rate-rigging scandal and the sharemarket falls half a percent.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 699

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The west side of the British Hotel on Oxford Street. The brick wall at the top of the building has crumbled onto the street below, bringing part of the roof down with it. Wire fencing has been used to create a cordon around the building.

Canta August 1952

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A scanned copy of the cover page of an issue of Canta published on Thursday 14 August 1952. The cover features an article on economic problems in Great Britain.

Steam and Speed, Christchurch’s Railway Station in 1878

Articles, Lost Christchurch

Tiny British-made locomotive engines first began chugging between Ferrymead’s Wharf on the estuary and the city on December 1st, 1863. This was New Zealand’s first public railway line, …

Midday Sports News for 15 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch will lose its Rugby World Cup games with a report finding the city's stadium is unfit to host matches in the wake of last month's earthquake, British media is reporting.

Doug Backhouse: resilient communities

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canadian expert on the development of healthy communities in British Columbia is in New Zealand to explore possibilities for contributing to the rebuilding of a resilient Christchurch following the earthquake and aftershocks.

Convict transportation, whaling adventures, drunken sprees: a life lived a…

Articles, Lost Christchurch

A colourful account of Maori and early European life before the arrival of the first four ships. Jimmy Robinson, who lived as a ‘Pakeha Maori’ at Akaroa and helped raise the British fla…

British search and rescue say long way to go at PGC building

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Today marks one week since the devastating earthquake struck Christchurch. Work within the cordon is continuing.

The Marlborough Express Image: Derek Flynn 2011:02:25 11:32:59

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The British UK Fire Service International Rescue Team led by Pete Crook (centreframe) arrives at Christchurch International Airport. Pictures to accompany story by reporter Blair Ensor. Christchurch Earthquake aftermath - day four."

Sir Richard Lambert

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Former editor of the Financial Times, and more recently was director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Sir Richard is New Zealand looking at earthquake recovery in Christchurch and to speak about climate change in a business context.

A Curry Paste Jar, a Keepsake, a Symbol of British Colonialism

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Hello loyal blog readers, welcome back to another year of posts on the history and archaeology of 19th century Christchurch. I thought we’d start the year off by looking back at one of our more interesting finds from the very … Continue reading →

The Trooper

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Ceramics have been decorated to commemorate a range of events, people and places since long before the 19th century. The practice is particularly tied to British royalty, with some rather intense results. While tankards, jugs, plaques, mugs and miniature wares … Continue reading →

Allons creuser! Let’s go digging!

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Working in archaeology here in New Zealand we most often encounter the material remains of Māori settlement and colonisation by the British Empire in the 19th century. Groups such as the New Zealand Company and the Canterbury Association laid out … Continue reading →

BeckerFraserPhotos December 2011 photograph 2094

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "An old advertisments which was revealed on a building on Lichfield Street when its neighbour was demolished. The advertisement reads 'New Zealand Candle Co Ltd.' and then adds 'Five Medal, British Sperm', which are brands of candle".

Top Stories for Thursday 16 September 2010

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Hide backs Garrett despite passport fraud, Christchurch firms hopeful RBNZ will keep rates on hold, Radio New Zealand's political editor discusses Act turmoil, Earthquake muddies picture on future OCR rises, State of emergency expected to be lifted in Canterbury, Kaikoura slip due to be cleared today and Statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park unveiled in London.

Digital Photograph: Earthquake Damage to Lyttelton Times Building, Gladsto…

Images, Canterbury Museum

One landscape colour digital photograph taken on 3 March 2011 showing earthquake damage to the Lyttelton Times Building on Gladstone Quay. Also visible on the left of the photograph is the side of the adjoining British Hotel. Three years after the 2010-2011 earthquakes there are still many uncertainties about which buildings can or will be ret...