And just like that another year has passed us by. 2018 has been a year of changes here at Underground Overground. It’s with a very heavy heart we’ve said a few goodbyes to some tremendously talented archaeologists; Chelsea, Shana, Matt, … Continue reading →
A digitally manipulated photograph of a letterbox lying on the ground in front of a red-stickered house. The photographer comments, "An abandoned red stickered house just outside the four avenues that surround Christchurch CBD. The letterbox came down when the wall it was attached to collapsed. The occupants would have had strict instructions to stay out as the property is too dangerous to enter in case there is another earthquake or big aftershock".
Sometimes we come across such a spectacular artefact, that we are inspired to look a little deeper into the historical industry from which it was used. The discovery of a charcoal clothes iron got me thinking about the domestic lives … Continue reading →
A video of students at Banks Avenue School participating in the nationwide ShakeOut earthquake drill. The ShakeOut earthquake drill was held on 29 September 2012 to help people prepare for an earthquake. More than 1.3 million New Zealanders participated in 2012.
A view after the 6.3 magnatude quake hit Christchurch 22 February 2011. As time drifts by, more quickly now it seems! Somewhere inside of me youth still lingers, I’m still chasing dreams and butterflies And gazing at rainbows in wonder! For I believe youth never fades In the eyes of those who can see From the inside out! From a poem by Annab...
New Zealanders have been extraordinarily generous in responding to the misery caused by the earthquakes in Christchurch. Contributions have poured in from everywhere as the rest of us express our solidarity the only way we really can, but allocating all this goodwill can be somewhat complicated. John Ware is director general of NZ Red Cross, and explained the complexities for us.
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Santarium is cutting 36 jobs in Christchurch as it pulls out of manufacturing Weetbix in the city. The final engineering report on the site says the factory's tower block is an earthquake risk, and demolition starts tomorrow.
Recently, Peter Mitchell, one of our building archaeology specialists, recorded a 19th century residential dwelling just on the edge of Christchurch’s Central City. This dwelling was similar in form and function to others we have seen in Canterbury – it … Continue reading →
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 25 March 2013 entitled, "Meting out the Marmite".
An earthquake memories story from Rob Handley, titled, "English medic helps out".
Gaps in the government's insurance cover will leave many schools damaged by the earthquakes in Canterbury out of pocket.
Scientists in Europe have developed a technology which could be used to find survivors buried in rubble from collapsed buildings in events like the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes.
Over half of the $21 million donated to the Red Cross in the wake of September's Canterbury earthquake has been paid out. More than ten thousand grant applications have been received to date, including about six thousand since the beginning of November.
A photograph of stencilled street art on a fence beside the St Martins Road roundabout. The stencil, created by Kerry Parnell, depicts daleks and space invaders, and reads, "Now panic and freak out".
With the dawn of a new year (yes, we know it’s already April May June July, no we are not accepting constructive criticism at this time) the Under Over team has hit the ground running. The dream of a leisurely … Continue reading →
War and natural disasters share many features including great loss of life, traumatised populations and haunting memories. The Christchurch earthquakes were the third most costly event of 2011 with total costs of up to $NZ30 billion. Many homes, communities, families and an established way of life have gone for ever. The paper comes from the Women’s Voices project that documents women’s narratives of earthquake trauma and loss and examines their profiles of emotional expression associated with coping. For these women in Christchurch, solace is not about talking experiences of suffering but by doing practical things that inform and are shaped by existing personal narratives. As they relayed this common arc, they also entered into national (and gendered) narrative themes of being practical, stoic, independent and resourceful in the face of tragedy and loss and so embody communal aspects of coping with loss and grief particular to the New Zealand even ‘the South Island settler’ identity narrative. These narratives suggest it useful to rethink key concepts that inform our understanding of coping with disaster and loss.
The Canterbury earthquakes will wipe out all the funds held in reserve to cover claims to the Earthquake Commission.
In Canterbury, those carrying out sentences of community service are being put to good use - with teams of workers out helping with the post-earthquake clean-up.
Page 2 of an advertising lift-out in the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 14 September 2013.
Page 1 of an advertising lift-out in the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 14 September 2013.
Page 1 of an advertising lift-out in the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 17 August 2013.
Page 2 of an advertising lift-out in the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 17 August 2013.
The Christchurch City Council and the Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, have hammered out a compromise deal over setting the council's long term spending priorities.
The Government's ruled out extra money for families of Chinese victims of the Christchurch earthquake while Chinese authorities continue to push for special consideration.
On the evening of February 7th, 1908 the headlines in the Star ‘screamed out’ A DISASTROUS FIRE, HUGE OUTBREAK IN THE CITY, CENTRAL BLOCK DEVASTATED, DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUS…
A PDF copy of pages 338-339 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Inside Out Project With Central New Brighton School'. Photos: Denise Mill
Some Christchurch residents are frustrated at the time it's taking to work out what sort of foundations their homes will require when earthquake repairs are carried out.
For a change of pace, a group from Underground Overground Archaeology spent last week out of the office, and out of Christchurch at the New Zealand Archaeological Association Conference on Stewart Island. The New Zealand Archaeological Association (known affectionately as … Continue reading →
Thousands of new jobs will be created this year as the rebuilding of Canterbury begins.