Remembering 22 February 2011 – four years later

On Sunday 22 February 2015, it will be four years since the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch and the loss of 185 people. To commemorate this sad day, there will be a Civic Memorial Service for the community of Christchurch on the Archery Lawn at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens at noon. This is a public event. A live stream will be shown on the Council’s website for those who cannot attend.

Also, on Sunday 22 February 2015, the River of Flowers commemoration is being held again allowing you to share your experiences and hopes for the future. River of Flower sites will be set up along the Avon and Heathcote rivers, and at the estuary. The sites are open from 8am to 8pm, and hosted by local community groups between 12.30-1.30pm. Throughout the day people will be able to throw flowers into a waterway and write messages on a Tree of Hope. At 12:51 two minutes’ silence will be held. View the full list of 2015 River of Flowers sites.

As in previous years, artist Henry Sunderland is spearheading a Facebook campaign encouraging people to place flowers in roadcones to commemorate the quakes and as a wish for a bright future.

The Run to Remember, a 10km fun run and walk to honour those who lost their lives during the earthquake, will take place starting at 9am from Victoria Park in the Port Hills and finishing at Hansen Park in Opawa. A memorial service will be held at the end of the event.

In High Street, C1 Espresso cafe will be opening their rooftop garden. They welcome anyone who wishes to take a quiet moment and check out progress from up on top of the High Street post office.

Six short-listed designs for the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial were made public on 17 February. You are invited to give your feedback.

National trauma and grief support agency Skylight have documents on how to reflect and remember and ways to prepare for the anniversary (both are 200KB PDFs).

There will be more commemorative events in the community, and we will add information as we find it. Please let us know if you have any details.

One way of coping is by recounting your experience. Here are some ways you can do that:

• View and contribute to Kete Christchurch.
• Explore the CEISMIC digital archive and share your stories.
• Read QuakeStories and contribute your own.

Explore our resources

• View our photos Earthquakes and after and more on Flickr.
• Information for kids on the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
• Read our web page on the Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes.
• Browse books on the 2011 earthquake.

22 February 2014

Flowers left under the Peace Bell at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in commemoration of the anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Flickr: CCL-2014-02-22-22February2014 DSC_1215

22 February 2013

Peter Majende 185 white chairs. Friday 22 February 2013. Flickr: CCL-2013 -02-22-
IMG_4064

22 February 2012

Avonhead Park Cemetery Interment Site. Flickr: CCL-2012-02-27-AvonheadParkCemeteryIntermentSite-February-2012 DSC_027

Waiho i te toipoto … Kaua i te toiroa.

Let us keep close together … Not wide apart.

 

That was then, but this is now: 4 September 2010 / 4 September 2014

A look at a couple of sites affected by the 4 September 2010 earthquake, and what they look like now.

Corner of Victoria Street and Bealey Avenue

Daily Bagel and Covent Fruit Centre 4 September 2010, Victoria Street, Christchurch. Kete Christchurch.

Here’s how the same site looks today: 4 September 2014.

Knox Church – corner of Bealey Avenue and Victoria Street

Knox Church – 4 September 2010. Kete Christchurch

Knox Church, corner of Bealey Avenue and Victoria Street – Thursday 4 September 2014.

See the set of images Knox Church earthquake impact – Kete Christchurch.

More photos and stories:

• Kete Christchurch earthquake images
• See more images in our Flickr set After the earthquake
• 4 September 2010 DigitalNZ set
• UC CEISMIC Earthquake Digital Archive
• QuakeStories

 

Four years ago: 4 September 2010

Then, and now. It is strange how things blur, what you forget, and what you remember.

It was shake, awake, get out, fear, and heck, is everyone ok? And wow, there is the chimney all over the backyard.

This is what I saw shortly after 4.35am, after the 7.1 earthquake on 4 September 2010. Victoria Street, Christchurch.

The same spot on Victoria Street is now home to a lineup of the new Christchurch – Smash Palace, etc.

This blog proved to be a handy place from which to share information. Our first library blog post on 4 September 2010:

Christchurch experienced a major earthquake this morning 4.35am, Saturday 4 September 2010 …

Our book chat switched into Civil Defence, community information, library info, and ideas to look after the kids. (see our September 2010 posts).

Oh, and portaloo hugging.

In the days to come, there was so much to see and discover.  We entered into a new shocking and aftershocking world.

Of all the post September quake-related sights, one I will alway remember is a moment of rare delicacy, when the worker used his machinery to lift a chandelier, which he then passed to the owner. All of us watching cheered.

Demolition of Robertsons Bakery. Chandelier is being removed from Shrimpton Radcliffe Interior Design. 8 September 2010. Kete Christchurch.

More photos and stories:

• Kete Christchurch earthquake images
• See more images in our Flickr set After the earthquake
• 4 September 2010 DigitalNZ set
• UC CEISMIC Earthquake Digital Archive
• QuakeStories

Our blog posts

• 4 September 2013: Looking back at 4 September 2010
• 4 September 2012: We woke up. 4.35am
• 4 September 2011: We are history – How earthquakes have connected us with the past and future

On the website

• Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes
• The science of earthquakes
• ‘Greendale’ Earthquake 4 September 2010 information for kids

 

Stop the clocks – 12.51pm 22 February 2011

Sometimes it seems a long, long time ago. Other times you are right there in it.
My nephew was born the day before, now he is a sturdy 3-year-old. My girl had her 2nd birthday a couple of days before, and she is starting school. Those I love mark the time for me.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with the anniversary. Flowers in cones, flowers in the river.

Time to be kind as gap widens is the message from the Canterbury District Health Board. The All Right campaign reinforces the message that whatever you feel is ok.

The Press has been doing a brilliant job publishing reflections and perspectives. Hats off to them. Standouts are:

• Beck Eleven explaining in Three years on, a new feeling how emotions can creep up on you.
• Philip Matthews reporting on Christchurch being Stuck in a malaise three years on.

So stop the clocks, and feel what you feel. Our special love goes out to the people we lost, and those who suffer and grieve.  We miss those who have left town, and welcome those who have arrived.
Thanks to workers busy rebuilding, and people busy revitalising their communities. Arohanui Ōtautahi.

 

Hurrah for volunteers!

Today is International Volunteer Day, which is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and recognising all types of volunteers around the world.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to experience new challenges, develop new skills and get involved in the community. Our web page provides all sorts of information about volunteering in and around Christchurch.

Volunteering in Canterbury came into the spotlight after the earthquakes when organisations such as the Student Volunteer Army, the Farmy Army and many others were involved in the massive clean-up effort. These contributions really showed how much can be achieved when people come together with a common purpose to benefit the community.

The volunteering spirit has endured post-quakes with initiatives like Greening the Rubble and Gap Filler, amongst others, actively using volunteers in the quest to fill empty sites before permanent redevelopment.

My own experiences of volunteering helped me to discover if the career path I wanted to go down was right for me. I wanted to get into the museum sector and was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help out at my local museum. I was able to find out about this type of job in a very hands on way and meet people who could tell me more. This experience initially led to a part time job and helped me get onto a Museum Studies course.

So, whether you have a little time or a lot of time have think about volunteering as you never know where it will lead you – and if you know a volunteer say a big thank you to them today.

 

Looking back at 4 September 2010

This is what I saw shortly after 4.35am, after the 7.1 earthquake on 4 September 2010. Victoria Street, Christchurch.

The Central Library in Gloucester Street looked like this.

And while the Central Library was closed, people made the most of the free wifi.

It was three years ago today, not long in the scheme of the things.
But doesn’t 3 September 2010 and before seem a world away.

More  photos and stories:

• See more images in our Flickr set After the earthquake
• 4 September 2010 DigitalNZ set
• UC CEISMIC Earthquake Digital Archive
• QuakeStories

Our blog posts

• 4 September 2012:  We woke up. 4.35am
• 4 September 2011:  We are history – How earthquakes have connected us with the past and future

On the website

• Our page on the Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes.
• Earthquake recovery information

 

Remember, and share

It is two years today since the devastating 22 February 2011 earthquake. One way many people cope is by recounting experiences. Here are some ways you can do that:

• Donate your earthquake story to Christchurch City Libraries.
• View and contribute to Kete Christchurch.
• Explore The CEISMIC digital archive and share your stories.
• Read QuakeStories and contribute your own.

You can explore our resources:

• View our photos Earthquakes and after
• We have pages for kids on the 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 earthquakes
• Remember the past with our heritage image collection
• Read our web page on the Canterbury earthquakes
• Browse books on the 2011 earthquake.
• If you want to read a collection of people’s stories, Fiona Farrell’s The Quake Year has an astonishing selection.