A PDF copy of pages 292-293 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Car Park Frontage'. Photos with permission from Greening the Rubble
A PDF copy of page 132 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The page documents the transitional project 'Hunters & Collectors Building'. Note that images have been removed from the page for copyright reasons.
A PDF copy of pages 104-105 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'SCAPE'. Image: Ash Keating, Gardensity, 2010/11, commissioned by SCAPE with generous support from Leighs Construction and Portabuild, installed outside Christchurch Art Gallery. Photo used with permission: SCAPE.
A PDF copy of pages 334-335 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Pages Rd Fulton Hogan Site Mural'. Photos: Shaun Murphy
An aerial photograph of Manchester Street near Cambridge Terrace. The photograph has been captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The new Christchurch emerges - more colourful than before. The tree wrapped in high visibility is another project from artist Peter Majendie. The newly planted grass on the right hand side of the photo is on the PGC site and an adjoining site and is a CERA initiative. In the foreground of the photos the former site of St Luke's is now attractively laid out, while the splendour of the trees on the site can be fully appreciated".
As far as suburbs with bad reputations go, Aranui in Christchurch often seems to dominate local public perceptions. High crime, high unemployment, low incomes, run-down state houses and uncared-for neighbourhoods have been the key words and phrases used over many decades. This reputation achieved national standing over the same period and in 2001 Aranui gained the dubious distinction of becoming the pilot project for the Labour Government’s state housing Community Renewal Programme initiated in 2001. It is common to read “Don’t buy or rent here” comments on websites and blogs advising prospective immigrants on where to live. One of the dispiriting moments in Aranui’s history came in September 2009 with the discovery of two bodies under the floorboards of a Hampshire Street property and the subsequent charge of double-homicide and conviction of local resident Jason Somerville for the murder of his wife Rebecca Chamberlain and neighbour Tisha Lowry.