A view down the Avon River in the city centre. A street sign marks out an uneven surface further down the street.
A map of the tectonic plate boundary of the alpine fault in New Zealand.
For six weeks after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake millions of litres of raw sewage - along with lots of liquefaction - poured into the Avon and Heathcote Rivers. A team of biologists quickly got to work to measure the impact of this catastrophe on life in the Heathcote River and as they tell Alison Ballance, they were surprised by what they recorded over the next few months.
A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting spectators to a student race along the Avon River. This was an annual event as part of capping week during the 1950s and 60s. The photograph was taken in the 1950s and was sourced from archives held in Macmillan Brown Library.
A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting a student race along the Avon River. This was an annual event as part of capping week during the 1950s and 60s. The photograph was taken in the 1950s and was sourced from archives held in Macmillan Brown Library.
The land and houses close to the Avon River have been badly damaged. Many road and footpaths are covered in silt from liquefaction.
The land and houses close to the Avon River have been badly damaged. Many road and footpaths are covered in silt from liquefaction.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Members of the Red Cross civil defence response team and South Canterbury Police have been in Christchurch helping with the earthquake clean up. Welfare checks required the team to walk along River Road checking on householders. Pictured looking at a damaged bridge on River Road near Tai Tapu are (from left) Andy Todd, Anna Munro and Ken Weavers".
The badly twisted Medway Street footbridge. The photographer comments, "The September 4th 2010 earthquake in Christchurch was so violent that the banks of the Avon River moved towards each other. This footbridge being metal had to twist sideways to release the pressure of being pushed from both river banks. It looked like it had been wrung out like a wet towel".
Looking across the Avon river, towards the Holiday Inn on Avon which has been taped off, and can be partially seen through the trees.
Interview with Engineering Geologist, Shamus Wallace. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deidre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
A pdf copy of panel 10 of Guy Frederick's 'The Space Between Words' exhibition. The panel includes text from an interview with Dianne Smith about her experiences of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Above this is an image of Smith sitting in front of the rocks by the Waimakariri river in Kairaki.
Lincoln University was commissioned by the Avon-Otakaro Network (AvON) to estimate the value of the benefits of a ‘recreation reserve’ or ‘river park’ in the Avon River Residential Red Zone (ARRRZ). This research has demonstrated significant public desire and support for the development of a recreation reserve in the Avon River Residential Red Zone. Support is strongest for a unique natural environment with native fauna and flora, healthy wetlands and rivers, and recreational opportunities that align with this vision, such as walking, cycling and water-based sporting and leisure activities. The research also showed support for a reserve that promotes and enables community interaction and wellbeing, and is evident in respondents’ desires for community gardens, regular festivals and markets, and the physical linking of the CBD with eastern suburbs through a green corridor. There is less support for children’s playgrounds, sports fields or open grassed areas, all of which could be considered as more typical of an urban park development. Benefits (willing to pay) to Christchurch residents (excluding tourists) of a recreation reserve could be as high as $35 million each year. Savings to public health costs could be as high as $50.3 million each year. The incorporation or restoration of various ecosystems services, including water quality improvements, flood mitigation and storm water management could yield a further $8.8 million ($19, 600) per hectare/year at 450 ha). Combined annual benefits of a recreational reserve in the ARRRZ are approximately $94.1 million per annum but this figure does not include potentially significant benefits from, for example, tourism, property equity gains in areas adjacent to the reserve, or the effects of economic rejuvenation in the East. Although we were not able to provide costing estimates for park attributes, this study does make available the value of benefits, which can be used as a guide to the scope of expenditure on development of each park attribute.
Interview with Surface Water Planner, Graham Harrington. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
Looking over the Avon River to the Liquidity Bar and Restaurant. On the walls are spray painted markings left by USAR after it was checked.
Looking over the Avon River to the Liquidity Bar and Restaurant. On the walls are spray painted markings left by USAR after it was checked.
Work is continuing on the earthquake damaged South New Brighton bridge. Avon River to the left, Avon-Heathcote Estuary the other side of the bridge.
The result of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake at 4.35am on September 4th 2010. Taken from Dallington Terrace looking towards Avonside Drive. Notice how the riverbank has slumped - at high tide the tree is now surrounded by water.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 22 January 2014 entitled, "Poor Poplar".
A large crack between a row of trees and the riverbank. A fence lining the riverbank has collapsed. The photographer comments, "On the 22 February 2011 we had an earthquake in Christchurch, which ripped us apart literally. This is what happened to the riverbank at New Brighton. Some trees stayed in place and others dropped 2 feet. The amazing thing was that they all stayed upright".
The result of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake at 4.35am on September 4th 2010. Taken from Dallington Terrace looking towards Avonside Drive. This pumping station used to be level. When the tide is in that flax bush on the bend appears to be growing from the middle of the river, suggesting the land has slumped about a meter.
A presentation by Dr Deirdre Hart at the New Zealand Coastal Science 20th Annual Conference. The presentation is titled, "Coastal Quakes: New Zealand's underrated hazard complex".
Slides from a presentation by Dr Deirdre Hart at UC CEISMIC's contestable fund mini-conference. The presentation was titled, "Can Coastal Cities Be More Disaster Resilient?
A presentation by Dr Deirdre Hart (Department of Geography) on "Making Coastal Cities Resilient: Lessons from Christchurch" as part of the 2012 Earthquake Forums held at the University of Canterbury.
A presentation by Dr Deirdre Hart at UC CEISMIC's contestable fund mini-conference. The presentation was titled, "Can Coastal Cities Be More Disaster Resilient?
A presentation by Dr Deirdre Hart (Department of Geography) on "Making Coastal Cities Resilient: Lessons from Christchurch" as part of the 2012 Earthquake Forums held at the University of Canterbury.
Interview with Coastal Procces Geomophologist, R.M. Kirk. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
How long does it take to form a first impression of someone, speeding cops, Bob Parker's profile and the Canterbury earthquake, and the latest on Pike River.
Looking over the Avon River to buildings inside the cordon on Oxford Terrace. Black awnings have collapsed over the windows of The Tap Room restaurant and bar.
Interview with Canterbury Earthquakes Geospatial Reserach Fellow, Matthew Hughes. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.