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This research attempts to understand how the Christchurch rebuild is promoting urban liveability in the Central City, focussing on the influence of communities and neighbourhoods in this area. To do this, gathering the perceptions of Christchurch residents through surveys, a focus group and semi-structured interviews was carried out to see what aspects they believe contribute to creating more liveable places. These methods revealed that there are pockets of neighbourhoods and communities in the inner-city, but no overall sense of community. Results from the semi-structured interviews reinforced this; the current buyers of inner-city property are in the financial position to be able to do this, and they seem to be purchasing in this area due to convenience and investment rather than to join the existing communities in the area. Analysing the survey responses from Central City residents revealed contrasting results. Those currently living in the area felt there is a sense of community in the inner-city, but these are found in pockets of neighbourhoods around the Central City rather than in the overall area. The focus group revealed that community is further prioritised later in life, and that many of the community groups in the inner-city predominantly consist of those who have lived there since before the Christchurch Earthquake Series. However, participants of all three methods believed that the Central City is slowly becoming a lively and vibrant place. To improve urban liveability in the inner-city, it seems that prioritisation of the needs of current inner-city residents is required. Improving these neighbourhoods, whether it be through the implementation of services or providing more communal spaces, is needed to create stronger communities. The feelings of place, connectedness, and belonging that arise from being part of a community or well-connected neighbourhood can improve mental health and wellbeing, ultimately enhancing the overall health of the population as well as the perceived urban liveability of the area.
A photograph of volunteers at the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of volunteers constructing the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of people watching a film projected on the side of a building. The outdoor cinema was part of Gap Filler's first project.
A photograph of an installation titled 'Halo', which is part of the LUXCITY event.
A photograph of part of the Orzeit/Local Time exhibition. The photographs in the exhibition are displayed on the wall of a building.
A photograph of the Orzeit/Local Time exhibition. The photographs in the exhibition are displayed on the wall of a building.
A photograph of emergency tape cordoning off a wall on the edge of the site of the 'Words of Hope' event.
A video about a restaurant in the Christchurch central city being shut down by CERA. The Southern Asian Restaurant, along with neighbouring Little Saignon and Jenny Craig, were deemed dangerous by CERA and ordered to stop trading with only 90 minutes notice. The video includes an interview with Lianne Dalziel, the Labour MP for Christchurch East, and April Ouyang, the owner of the Southern Asian Restaurant.
A video of a tour through the Christchurch central city Red Zone in January 2011. The video includes footage of the Edmond's Band Rotunda on Cambridge Terrace, the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Kilmore Street, the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Manchester Street, the Mexican Cafe on Lichfield Street, the McKenzie & Willis Building, the Bus Exchange, the Octagon Live restaurant, the ChristChurch Cathedral, and many other buildings.
Warwick Isaacs is director of planning and transition for Civil Defence and as such has issued demolition orders for 128 buildings, 37 in the city. Gerry Brownlee has chosen the Government's 'demolition man' Warwick Isaacs to head the rebuild of central Christchurch. The buildings were damaged in the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
We examined changes in psychological distress experienced by residents of Christchurch following two catastrophic earthquakes in late 2010 and early 2011, using data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), a national probability panel study of New Zealand adults. Analyses focused on the 267 participants (172 women, 95 men) who were living in central Christchurch in 2009 (i.e., before the Christchurch earthquakes), and who also provided complete responses to our yearly panel questionnaire conducted in late 2010 (largely between the two major earthquakes), late 2011, and late 2012. Levels of psychological distress were similar across the different regions of central Christchurch immediately following the September 2010 earthquake, and remained comparable across regions in 2011. By late 2012, however, average levels of psychological distress in the regions had diverged as a function of the amount of property damage experienced within each given region. Specifically, participants in the least damaged region (i.e., the Fendalton-Waimairi and Riccarton-Wigram wards) experienced greater drops in psychological distress than did those in the moderately damaged region (i.e., across the Spreydon-Heathcote and Hagley- Ferrymead wards). However, the level of psychological distress reported by participants in the most damaged region (i.e., across Shirley-Papanui and Burwood-Pegasus) were not significantly different to those in the least damaged region of central Christchurch. These findings suggest that different patterns of psychological recovery emerged across the different regions of Christchurch, with the moderately damaged region faring the worst, but only after the initial shock of the destruction had passed.
A video of busker John Higby performing his Yo Yo Guy routine in Cathedral Square. The performance was part of a special World Buskers Festival show for workers in the Christchurch central city Red Zone.
Three people stand looking down at a small model of the 'Christchurch CBD'. One of the people says 'Love the safer low-rise plan What's the scale?' A second man says 'Scale? Er this is the actual size!' Context: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has dedicated the draft plan for a new-look Christchurch CBD to those lost in the February earthquake. The CBD will be about a quarter of its original size under the draft plan which was unanimously adopted by the council today. (TVNZ 11 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A video clip of children placing points on a tarpaulin map of central Christchurch. The map is part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of volunteers painting a pathway in Gap Filler's temporary outdoor cinema on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets.
An artist's impression of the installation 'Altitude', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: David Turner, Lester Mismash
A photograph of volunteers setting up seating in Gap Filler's temporary outdoor cinema on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets.
An artist's impression of the installation 'Altitude', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: David Turner, Lester Mismash
A photograph of the empty site on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets where the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space will be constructed.
A photograph of people looking at displays in the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of people looking at displays in the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of volunteers setting up seating in Gap Filler's temporary outdoor cinema on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets.
A photograph of volunteers painting a pathway in Gap Filler's temporary outdoor cinema on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets.
A photograph of an installation titled 'Murmur'. The installation is part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Craig Moller
An artist's impression of the installation 'Archrobatics', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: David Turner, Lester Mismash
An artist's impression of the installation 'Archrobatics', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: David Turner, Lester Mismash
A video of an interview with Shaun Gladwell, a London-based artist, about the sculptures he designed for the Christchurch central city. Gladwell talks about how the sculptures are based on skateboard forms and have been designed to be used by skateboarders. He also talks about being inspired by YouTube videos of Christchurch skateboarders who used the damaged landscape in Christchurch as a skate park after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes clips from some of these YouTube videos.
A video of an interview with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Frank Delli Cicchi, the Grand Central Group Australian and New Zealand general manager, about the demolition of the Hotel Grand Chancellor. The Grand Chancellor is the tallest building in Christchurch, and was severely damaged during the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Fletcher Construction have been chosen to demolish the building.
A video of a tour through the Christchurch central city Red Zone. The video includes footage of Cathedral Square, Hereford Street, the Hotel Grand Chancellor, High Street mall, Gloucester Street, Worcester Street, Latimer Square, and AMI House.