
Days after Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, Simon Morton traverses the city, using the Avon River as his route, and finds everyone has a story to tell.
Days after the city of Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, This Way Up's presenter Simon Morton traverses the city using the Avon River as his route. Travelling on a bicycle from the source of the Avon in the West to Heathcote Estuary in the East, where the Avon meets the Pacific, everyone has a story to tell.
A view over the Avon River looking towards the opposite bank, which has slumped towards the river.
Avon River
A warning sign about contaminated water is nailed to a tree next to the Avon River on River Road.
Autumn leaves on trees along the Avon river, a carpark converted from a demolition site can be seen across the river.
Autumn leaves on trees along the Avon river, a carpark converted from a demolition site can be seen across the river.
By the River Avon
A video of a car which is partially submerged in the Heathcote River. The river has burst its banks along Riverlaw Terrace.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Sludge pushed by the September 4 earthquake and river bank encroachment threaten to strangle the Avon River at the Wainoni loop".
Stopbanks around the lower Avon River.
Interview with Coastal and River Geomorphologist, Murray Hicks. This interview was conducted by Emma Kelland as part of Deirdre Hart's Coastal and River Earthquake Research project.
Damage to the roadway on Fitzgerald Avenue as it passes by the Avon River. One lane of the road has slumped towards the river and has been closed.
An information leaflet distributed to ratepayers in the Halswell River Rating District, covering information and options regarding the damage to the Hallswell River following the September 2010 earthquake.
Damage to the roadway on Fitzgerald Avenue as it passes by the Avon River. One lane of the road has slumped towards the river and has been closed.
Shows a aerial representation of Christchurch's eastern suburbs with the course of the Avon River. The new river course spells the word 'munted'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Across the river were a row of several houses - all gone now. That side of the river is "Red Zone" and will be devoid of houses soon. #4077
Rydges Hotel seen from across the Avon River.
Autumn tree in Christchurch around the Avon River.
Autumn tree in Christchurch around the Avon River.
Autumn leaves on trees along the Avon river.
Cracks on the footpath around the Avon river.
A residential property across from the Avon River.
A bridge over the Avon River in Avonside.
These have been thrown in the Avon River
None
None
The center of the river has slumped and the two banks have moved about a meter closer together which caused this footbridge to be so twisted. There is a suggestion that this be left as a memorial to the earthquake.
After the earthquake.
A fence along the side of the Avon River near the Retour Restaurant has broken and is leaning towards the river. The photographer comments, "After the Christchurch earthquakes the land moved towards the river Avon and in a lot of places buildings and walls sagged down in the direction of the waterway".