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At 4.35 a.m. on the 4th of September 2010 Christchurch residents were shaken awake by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, the largest earthquake to hit urban New Zealand for nearly 80 years. It was a large earthquake. On average the world only has 17 earthquakes a year larger than magnitude seven. Haiti’s earthquake in January 2010 was magnitude 7.1 and Chile’s earthquake in February was magnitude 8.8. Although it was a big quake, Christchurch was lucky. In Haiti’s earthquake over 230,000 people were killed and in Chile 40,000 homes were destroyed. Happily this was not the situation in Christchurch, however the earthquake has caused considerable damage. The challenge for the Landscape Architecture community is to contribute to the city’s reconstruction in ways that will not only fix the problems of housing, and the city’s urban, suburban and neighbourhood fabric but that will do so in ways that will help solve the landscape problems that dogged the city before the earthquake struck.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Major earthquake hits Christchurch. Army helping the police out at central city cordons".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake hits Christchurch. City centre as captured at early hours of the morning".
The South Brighton bridge abutment (city side). Bridge looks fine, just both approaches have moved A LOT!
Pages 2 and 3 of a Smiths City advertising insert in the Christchurch Press, published on Saturday 25 December 2010.
A video of Mayor Bob Parker speaking to Christchurch prior to the Christchurch City Council elections in 2010.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "City centre returning to normal as people get out for beers on a Friday".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "City centre returning to normal as people get out for beers on a Friday".
Debbie says brightly that Christchurch has 'demonstrated the classic Kiwi quality of stoicism and behaving decently towards each other!' Jaimee replies that it's the same stoicism that means we complain a lot about our problems but never really do anything and Debbie tells her that applies just to her. Refers to the Christchurch earthquake of 4th September. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker looks at damage during a tour of the inner city yesterday".
The Christchurch City Council says it needs Government money to help repair its earthquake damaged heritage and character buildings.
The Christchurch City Council is investigating ways to prevent buses from going through Avonside and other earthquake damaged suburbs.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "City Care workers repair broken water pipes on Matipo Street, probably caused by the morning's earthquake".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "80 year-old Evan Ross from Richmond, Christchurch, is pictured looking around the destruction in the city".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "80 year-old Evan Ross from Richmond, Christchurch, is pictured looking around the destruction in the city".
The Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett, says there are thousands of unemployed people in Christchurch who could help rebuild the city.
Saturday Morning's commentator on children's books talks about being in her old home city of Christchurch last Saturday during the earthquake.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is Eddie Berla who managed to get Richie McCaw's Bid paddle signed by the All Black for the woman (Helen) at Sky City who made the bid paddles for the evening".
The Christchurch City Council has shipped in an extra 200 hundred portable toilets to help those suburbs worst hit by the earthquake.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch City Council pumping station on Hills Road has the wells checked by Grant Freeman from Clemence Drilling".
The city side of the South Brighton bridge. Approaches on both sides will need extensive work before this bridge can re-open.
Evacuating a central city flat which has been condemned following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday 4-9-2010.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is interviewed by national and international media during a tour of the inner city yesterday".