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Kiwi Diary – A City Reborn

August 20, 2018 By Deborah Munro Leave a Comment

Aug 12, 2018

On September 4, 2010 at 4:35am, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand. It was followed by 98 aftershocks that day and thousands in the weeks and months to follow. In spite of its magnitude, no one was killed, and many historic buildings and churches remained intact.

Just five months later on February 22, 2011 at 12:51pm in the middle of lunch hour, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch again. This time, 185 people died and hundreds of historic structures crumbled, including the Christchurch Cathedral. The city’s sewer system was disrupted, water was unavailable, and many tall buildings were dangerously leaning and continued to collapse as the aftershocks struck one after another for weeks.

Christchurch Cathedral
Christchurch Cathedral 2018

It has been 7.5 years since that devastation, and the rebuilding is still ongoing. I walked through downtown to see the regrowth.

Chalice
Chalice 150th anniversary sculpture

 

Modern glass Deloitte building in Christchurch, New Zealand
Modern glass Deloitte building

According to the informational attraction, Quake City, the soil around the Avon River, which wends its way through the city, underwent liquefaction, causing horizontal spreading of the top surface and bubbling up of sand through the vents created. This split roads, shifted the river, and consumed houses and buildings as if they were on quicksand.

In order to safely rebuild, engineers are inserting pillars into the soil to reinforce the foundation. This is time consuming, but will help prevent this kind of catastrophe in the future.

Everywhere I looked, there were signs of progress. Steel girders and frames support brick buildings, the Cathedral is surrounded by a fence and is returning to its former glory, and new structures are being built everywhere. The streetcar trolley has reopened and gives tourists a narrated tour of the rebuilding process, passing by an amazing inverted cone sculpture called the Chalice that stands at least 75 feet tall. It was built by Neil Dawson in 2001 to celebrate Christchurch’s 150th anniversary, and it was undamaged by the earthquakes. Nearby, there are brand new buildings clad in colored glass, and new arenas and facilities are underway, too.

Overall, the feel here is one of hope. The classic charm is being preserved, and the city is being revitalized with modern architecture and beauty, too. If you come to New Zealand, I hope you’ll include Christchurch on your visit and be part of the rebirth celebration happening here.

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Filed Under: Kiwi Diary Tagged With: #KiwiDiary, Christchurch, earthquake, New Zealand

Deborah Munro

Science is pure joy for me. I love understanding how things work and teaching others what I've learned. Thus, I am a bioengineering professor, scientist, and author. I've recently expatriated from the beautiful Pacific NW and have founded a new life for myself in New Zealand.

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