Christchurch still has Owies

It was 12:51 pm, on February 22, 2011 when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, struck approximately 10 kilometres south-east of Christchurch causing wide spread damage.  The central city business district was badly affected and is still recovering from the and its aftershocks. Over 180 people perished. The quake only lasting 10 seconds but destroying or severely damaging many of the buildings in the downtown core.

7 years later we arrived after a 2-hour flight from Auckland. We were booked into an apartment which was ideally located just on the edge of Christchurch’s central business district (CBD).  After the earthquake, almost 45% of the buildings in the CBD were condemned or had their access limited till repairs could be undertaken. 7 years later and there are still highly visible signs of the damage that was caused. Empty  lots from some of the 1240 demolitions that had to be done as well as  vacant buildings still waiting for repairs.

Sadly, many of the buildings damaged were heritage buildings.  The most visible is ChristChurch Cathedral located in the centre of town.  Damage was severe here and there is now an ongoing battle between those that want to save and restore it and those that feel it should be torn down and rebuilt. The restoration crowd seems to be winning.  It would be a wonderful feat for Christchurch if restoration could happen.  

Christchurch is very walk-able, easily explored on foot. It had been a two flight, 21-hour sojourn from Vancouver so we just spent what was left of the day of our arrival, getting our bearings and exploring the CBD while trying to stay awake.  During our walk, we discovered that there is hop on, hop off trolley that has a circular loop around the city so to save a few bucks, our plan for the next day was to follow the tracks on foot and visit all the listed tourist stops along the way.

Our first stop on day 2 was Hagley Park and a stroll along the river Avon where for a few bucks you could be punted along by young oarsmen in period costumes. 

Within the park is a lovely little botanical garden and our first introduction to the flora of New Zealand.  What we found were somethings familiar and somethings never before seen.

Giant cedars that could be found in any forest near our home.

and others that shed their bark and would not survive a winter in Canada.  

In keeping with our theme of jet lag avoidance we booked an afternoon/evening visit to the Ko Tane Maori Experience, billed as an "interactive cultural experience that provides a look into our country from the past to the present day in a fun and informative way." The experience also included a "Kiwi Tour" as the Experience is located in the middle of the Willowbank Wildlife Preserve and what is a wildlife preserve without a kangaroo or perhaps it was a wallaby. It should be noted that there are no wild kangaroos and a few wild non-native wallabies inhabiting New Zealand. But they are sooooo cute! 

The preserve provides a 100% guarantee kiwi viewing.  Kiwi's are nocturnal so the preserve has created a building that turns day into night and fools the kiwis into coming out of their nests to forage for food the staff have hidden around there habitat.  To dark to take a picture but we did see their shadowy forms moving silently around in their habitat.The kiwis are changed every few weeks so I can sympathize with them on the jet-lag they must go through.  

The Experience was definitely interactive. Other attendees, sensing my innate leadership qualities chose me as their  honorary chief to meet the welcoming Maoris and their chief. 

Looking forward to rubbing elbows with the chief, I was surprised to find that it wouldn't be elbows we would be rubbing but another part of my body.  

Nonie as usual, made friends immediately

while I struggled to get a long with the men. 

Some parting words with the chief and we headed back to our apartment. He promised to keep in touch. 











Day 3 saw us heading for the little coastal town of Akaroa and my first test under fire for driving on the wrong side of the road. Driving on the wrong side takes team work. When turning left, Nonie would repeat the mantra “stay inside, stay inside, stay inside”. Turning right, she would repeat the mantra “go outside, go outside, go outside”. Mantras that would be repeated hundreds of times over the next 6 weeks. 

I settled into making correct turns fairly quickly, but struggled with the other equipment which were also located on the wrong side. Took me weeks to quit turning on the windshield washers when I wanted to use the turn signals. We had no mantras for that. 

The roads to Akoroa, a little village popular with cruise ships were to be our first introduction to the type of roads we would find in our travels in New Zealand. The lanes were quite a bit smaller in width then we are used to and shoulders were non-existent. Straight stretches were few and far between. Curves, curves and more curves, but the views were spectacular. 

Akoroa was first settled by French colonials in the mid 19^th century and the town boasts several heritage buildings. We were there for the delightful hike that took us above the town with grazing sheep and brilliant views of French Bay. No cruise ships today. 

Tomorrow we are moving on from Christchurch so it will be an early start with a 300-kilometre drive along the beautiful coast highway to Nelson.