Heritage hailers championed saving bldgs, few of which were reinforced pre-quakes. Heritage hailers & historians were nostalgic for Christian churches built on bogs. Never mind many citizens were agnostics, atheists, or followed other faiths.
22.08.13. Quake repairs, Fo Guang Shan South Island, Korean Buddhist Temple, Riccarton Rd / Mandeville Rd
Riccarton Rd: Heritage hailers didn't mention preserving the Korean Buddhist Temple, presently being repaired, nor Deans Ave Mosque, nor complained when the Jewish synagogue needed repairs, Durham St Nth. (15 Mar 2019. Deans Ave, Al Noor Mosque would suffer a terrorist attack together with Linwood Ave Mosque, 51 Muslims killed at Friday prayers).
22.08.13. Quake survivor Deans Ave, Al Noor Mosque. 15.03.19. Al Noor Mosque would be terrorist attacked
Since quakes, Heritage hailers wanted to spend others' money resurrecting stone or brick churches. Latest Heritage hailer, Dr Alma Rae, psychiatrist, wittered about quake survivors' fears. Rae wanted Christ Church Cathedral saved. She was too lazy to see for herself damages done to churches she extolled:
"The beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity Avonside... was unceremoniously bulldozed in case it might hurt someone, according to parish publications, although no-one had so much as stubbed a toe on it." (The Press 29.07.13).
Christchurch demolitions were done by diggers! I never saw bulldozers demolishing Christchurch bldgs. My 20.08.11 post showed many pics of 22 February trashed, Holy Trinity Avonside. Dr Rae's debunking citizens' fears insulted families of the dead & those injured by quakes. Heritage hailers like Dr Rae valued old stones, bricks, cement, wood, iron more than human lives. Dr Rae should also look at trashed Christ Church Cathedral Cathedral Sq & trashed Christchurch Basilica, Barbadoes St, to see walls of those cathedrals were either constructed with grey concrete, thinly clad by Oamaru whitestone (Christchurch Basilica) or greystone rubble walls, thinly clad by greystone (Christ Church Cathedral). Any restoration of those cathedrals on liquefactioned swampland would need foundation stabilisation & every stone removed, mortared, reinforced to post-quake bldg code. What cost?
Auckland lawyer Mai Chen opined it was illegal that the Anglican diocese could demolish Christ Church Cathedral, with CERA's approval of course, as it was a heritage bldg. (The Press 30.07.13). I doubted Chen in Auckland & Rae ever stood anywhere near Christ Church Cathedral ghost & other dangerous bldgs & felt bad vibes those ruins emitted, threatening collapse on stupid people. Chen & Rae should visit Christchurch & stand next to Forsyth Barr ghost, or any ghost of their choice to see & feel them, instead of talking nonsense. Chen stirred Heritage hailers, enabling lawyers to enrich themselves with court cases. Never mind High Court & more recently Appeal Court rulings: it was OK for the Anglican diocese to demolish Christ Church Cathedral.
Given other Anglican churches demolished & many other bldgs demolished post-quakes, why hadn't Chen & Rae tried to save them too? Where were they when protesters whined outside Council bldg, opposing demolition of Manchester Courts post 4 September quake?
I had a mental list of repaired / restored bldgs in Christchurch I'd never enter again. I'd seen many trashed, concrete tilt-slab bldgs, their cracked, concrete tilt-slabs epoxy glued, painted over.
Since quakes, churchless congregations shared facilities with survivor churches, or public halls. e.g. Christchurch North Methodist, Harewood Rd, shared facilities with St Josephs Catholic, Main Nth Rd. After Leah's weekly yoga classes at Mary Potter Centre, near the Blood Bank, Durham St Nth, Leah & other yoga ladies set out chairs for church use.
Pics I took of church ghosts were samples of many damaged / demolished / part demolished / repaired / restored churches in Christchurch. There were many more churches which survived quakes. I didn't take pics of all churchless demolition sites in Christchurch, weedy demolition sites made boring pics.
Hereford St / Madras St, Latimer Sq: The Anglican Cardboard Cathedral was a transitional cathedral awaiting resolution of court cases & funding for Christ Church Cathedral demolition / rebuild / repairs / restoration / reinstatement? Whatever. To my knowledge, nearly 3 years post 4 September quake, there were no church rebuilds in Christchurch. But there were many church demolitions & steel mesh fence cordoned ghosts, awaiting repairs, restorations, demolitions, rebuilds.
Throughout Christchurch, I saw trashed churches from Fendalton to Papanui to the CBD; Richmond to New Brighton; Sumner to Sydenham, to Halswell, to Riccarton. Nearby towns also had trashed churches: Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Hororata. *Asterisk showed Anglican Church:
Fendalton Rd: *St Barnabas ghost: Steel mesh fence cordoned, yellow stickered, steel braced nave end walls, many quake cracks road side of the church, especially by windows and tower. Throughout Christchurch, the weight of a church tower & steeple often caused damage, not only due to tower & / or steeple collapse, but the tower / steeple also damaged adjacent church walls, either because the tower / steeple collapsed onto the church, like Christ Church Cathedral & / or the tower / steeple smashed / pulled against church walls causing cracks, like St Barnabas. The parish hoped to raise $1m for repairs & maintenance.
22.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, yellow stickered, steel braced, St Barnabas Anglican Church, Fendalton Rd
Post 4 September quake, some church authorities removed steeples from church towers (future quake hazard) like the Chinese Methodist Church ghost, Merivale. Post 4 September quake, there was no consistent treatment for hazardous churches. Christ Church Cathedral steeple / tower was left intact by the Anglican diocese despite great shakings in 4 September quake & 26 December quake. That resulted in Christ Church Cathedral trashing when the steeple / tower collapsed in 22 February quake. Ditto Christchurch Basilica, twin tower collapses, Barbadoes St.
Ilam Rd / Aorangi Rd: St Stephens ghost: Five minutes trek from my Burnside home. Church demolished, due to a nearby stream in neighbouring Jellie Park. Church office OK. Church would be rebuilt as The Village, Presbyterian Church, Community Centre. 2021: new church outer wall, vertical & horizontal panels facing the road, painted yellow & white.
22.08.13. St Stephens quake demolition site, Ilam Rd / Aorangi Rd. Jellie Park behind. The church would be rebuilt as The Village, Presbyterian Church, Community Centre
22.08.13. Jellie Park stream, St Stephens quake demolition site, Ilam Rd / Aorangi Rd. The Church would be rebuilt as The Village, Presbyterian Church, Community Centre
Streams & rivers threatened nearby bldgs, due to soft ground, lateral spreading of river / stream banks, liquefaction e.g. Christchurch Town Hall ghost, built on Avon River bank, tilted Avon River bank side. Councillors still wanted to spend $127.5m ratepayers' money to repair / restore Town Hall. Months before councillors unanimously voted to spend the $127.5m, most councillors not having entered nor examined 22 February damaged Town Hall in the red zone. Only in Aug 2013 did councillors actually enter the Town Hall for a look. Some changed their minds about the $127.5m spend. Town Hall farce would continue to June 2015 when new councillors & new mayor Dalziel again voted for Town Hall restoration for $127.5m.
Bryndwyr Rd / Jeffreys Rd: St Johns Moraia ghost: Fifteen minutes trek from my Burnside home. Church, steel mesh fence cordoned, steel braced both nave ends, nave walls cracked both sides, caused by shaking & tower weight.
Steel mesh fence cordon, board sign:
PEACE
Let it begin
with me
22.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, steel braced, St Johns Moraia, Bryndwyr Rd / Jeffreys Rd
Riccarton Rd / Mandeville Rd: *St James ghost: Opp the Korean Buddhist Temple, St James, like St Barnabas, steel mesh fence cordoned, yellow stickered, steel braced nave end walls, cracked walls & windows. Parish Office OK.
22.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, yellow stickered, steel braced, St James Anglican Church, Riccarton Rd / Mandeville Rd
St James steel mesh fence cordon, fence sign:
CHURCH SHAKEN
WORSHIP SERVICES
CONTINUE
Harewood Rd / Chapel St: Christchurch North Methodist ghost: Decapitated steeple standing in garden. Porta-cabin, church office open for business. Steel mesh fence cordon, yellow stickered. Threat signs:
DANGER
Keep out!
Authorised
People only!
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Quake damaged, closed, Christchurch North Methodist Church, Harewood Rd / Chapel St. Removed steeple on ground. Christchurch North Methodist church would be demolished, rebuilt
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow stickered, Christchurch North Methodist Church, Harewood Rd / Chapel St, awaited demolition, rebuild
31.07.13. Porta-cabin Church Office, Christchurch North Methodist Church, Chapel St
Christchurch North Methodist Church would be demolished, rebuilt.
Harewood Rd: *St Pauls Papanui: Presently restored for $400 000, steel mesh fence cordoned, office & hall open for business. Blue portaloo, grey shipping container & contractor vehicles in carpark. Orange, Hi-Vis vested workman sawing wood in carpark.
31.07.13. Blue portaloo. St Pauls Papanui restoration, Harewood Rd
31.07.13. Blue portaloo. St Pauls Papanui restoration, Harewood Rd
31.07.13. Cemetery, St Pauls Papanui restoration, Harewood Rd
31.07.13. Parish Office, St Pauls Papanui, Harewood Rd
Parish Office, Papanui history board:
EARLY PAPANUI
Spearers, sawyers, swamp suburbs
The Papanui Bush of about 70 acres (30 hectares) was important to Maori for its bird life. The name Papanui may mean "bird-spearer's tree platform."
Papanui was The Canterbury Settlement's first country village growing around the bush which was early Christchurch's nearest source of timber and firewood. Wagons were frequently stuck in boggy Papanui Road. Pit-sawyers had cut out the bush by 1847 when Papanui's population was about two thirds Christchurch's.
The Sawyer's Arms Hotel (1852) was Papanui's first public building.
The first school was opened in 1858.
The rich swamp ground was drained and became market gardens, orchards and dairy farms supplying Christchurch. The 5'3" gauge northern railway (3'6" 1877) reached Papanui in 1872.
The steam tramway (1880) from Christchurch to the Papanui railway station encouraged suburban growth between city and village.
Papanui had its own Town Hall (1881-1909) but was amalgamated into Christchurch in 1923.
Papanui Rd / Rugby Rd: Chinese Methodist Church ghost, steel mesh fence cordoned, steeple removed, tethered in the front garden. Pre-quakes, Jake flatted in Rugby Rd. Presently worked at Brewers Arms next to the church.
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Chinese Methodist Church demolition, Papanui Rd / Rugby St
Wed. 31.07.13. Church being demolished while I took pics. One orange & two yellow, Hi-Vis vested workmen cleared rubble in the nave by an abandoned piano. Another yellow, Hi-Vis vested workman worked on scaffolding in the nave. Yellow digger cleared rubble outside the demolished N wall. Worker safety? Nave walls could collapse on workmen in the nave. Church hall was demolished post 22 February quake.
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Chinese Methodist Church demolition, Papanui Rd / Rugby St
June 2015. New Chinese Methodist Church would be on site.
Church Ln: *St Mary's: Porta-cabin Parish Office on church demolition site. Original Parish Office / Centre, damaged, abandoned, steel mesh fence cordoned. Salvaged wooden roof stood on office lawn. St Mary's would be rebuilt as All Souls Church, opened 2018, Church Ln / Papanui Rd.
31.07.13. Parish Office porta-cabin, St Mary's Anglican Church demolition site, Church Ln
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Salvaged roof, abandoned Parish Office / Centre, St Mary's Anglican Church, Church Ln
Bealey Ave / Victoria St: Knox Church ghost: Part demolished, windows, walls gone, gaping holes, boarded wooden arches supported roof, fence cordoned. Next door Knox Centre, abandoned.
31.07.13. Abandoned Knox Centre & Knox Church, Bealey Ave / Victoria St
By the end of 2014 Knox church would be restored with exterior copper cladding.
Edgeware Rd: St Athanasius Coptic: Weedy demolition site. Church wrecked by 4 September quake.
31.07.13. St Athanasius Coptic Church demolition site, Edgeware Rd
Stanmore Rd: Richmond Methodist Church ghost: Hall demolished. Pre-quakes, Leah took school kids to the church hall for weekly lessons. Next door, London St cnr, Richmond Working Mens Club demolition site.
31.07.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned Richmond Methodist Church, Stanmore Rd. Richmond Working Mens Club demolition site left.
Lychgate Cl: *Holy Trinity Avonside: Green lawn, carved, Oamaru whitestone, salvage piece, on church demolition site. Some salvaged Oamaru whitestones scattered by graves. Grave stones & green, wooden lychgate still stood. Parish Hall, demolished. Parish Office, open. By Parish Office, large blackboard, chalk-titled: I love Avonside because... Locals scrawled emotive comments on the blackboard, like: This was where memories were made... 2020-21. New church would be built on site.
31.07.13. Quake survivor, Parish Office, Holy Trinity Avonside, Lychgate Cl
31.07.13. Cemetery, salvaged church stones, lychgate, Holy Trinity Avonside, Lychgate Cl
31.07.13. Holy Trinity Avonside demolition site, Lychgate Cl. Cemetery beyond
Barbadoes St: Christchurch Basilica ghost: Part demolished, steel mesh fence cordoned. Stacked shipping containers supported N & S transept walls. Many cracks on Oamaru whitestone cladding. Concrete core exposed on collapsed, twin tower walls.
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. S nave wall, abandoned, part demolished, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St. Collapsed S tower left. Stacked shipping containers braced S transept right
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Collapsed twin towers, W facade, abandoned Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St. See concrete structure clad with thin Oamaru whitestone
Steel mesh fence cordon sign:
CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL PARISH
Has moved to St Mary's Pro Cathedral
373 Manchester Street
Visitors, Tourists and Parishioners
are ALL welcome
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. N nave wall, collapsed N tower, W facade, abandoned Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St. Stacked shipping containers braced the N transept
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. N nave wall, collapsed N tower, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St. Stacked shipping containers braced N transept
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Salvaged Oamaru whitestone. Stacked shipping containers braced N transept & N nave wall, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Barbadoes St
Battling bishops:
May 2015. RC bishop would announce 45 million dollars would be spent partially restoring Christchurch Basilica.
May 2018. New RC bishop Martin considered building a new Christchurch Basilica opp Victoria Sq & Town Hall, if land beside Avon River was available between Oxford Tce & Armagh St.
Dec 2019. RC bishop Martin would announce rebuild of the new Christchurch Basilica opp Victoria Sq by Avon River. New Christchurch Basilica would be built on Avon River swampland! Never mind Christchurch Fault!
2021. Christchurch Basilica, Barbadoes St, would be demolished, enabling new Christchurch Basilica to be built opp Victoria Sq.
2024. New RC bishop reset: New Christchurch Basilica would be built on old Barbadoes St site! More land than Armagh St site.
Oxford Tce / Madras St: Oxford Terrace Baptist: Demolished. Edmonds Clock Tower across the road, scaffolded, under repair. 2017. New Oxford Terrace Baptist church would be built on the demo site. I would frequent Pillars Cafe (named after Ionic capital, salvaged pillars before Pillars Cafe) en route my post-quakes, London St - CBD treks.
01.08.13. Madras St view, Oxford Terrace Baptist Church demolition site
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Post quake restoration, Edmonds Clock Tower, Madras St / Oxford Tce
Manchester St / Kilmore St: *St Lukes: Demolished. Post-quake features: Chartres Cathedral maze, built from demolition bricks, laid on the demolition site. Near the surviving, white-painted, wooden bell tower, demolition stone memorial honoured 185 people killed in 22 February quake. Demolition site, pathed, wood mulched to suppress weeds. 2020. Demo site, weedy.
01.08.13. NO ENTRY. Orange, plastic, road cone cordon. Manchester St, S view, post quake CBD skyline. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel high rise awaited repairs right. Abandoned Ernst & Young awaited demolition right
01.08.13. Manchester St, St Lukes Anglican Church demolition site, SW view, quake ravaged Christchurch CBD. Abandoned Ernst & Young awaited demolition left. Court House & abandoned Town Hall middle. Forte Health rebuild right. White, wooden Belfry right, all that was left of St Lukes, post demolition
01.08.13. St Lukes Anglican Church, post quake Labyrinth, copy of Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth, made from St Lukes brick rubble, Manchester St
01.08.13. St Lukes Anglican Church demolition site, Memorial to 185 quake dead, made from demolished church stones, Manchester St / Kilmore St
Hereford St / Madras St, Latimer Sq: *St Johns: Demolished. Transitional Cardboard Cathedral rebuild. Orange digger & yellow contractor van parked on church grounds. Workmen made paths around Cardboard Cathedral. Smiley, grey haired ladies, seated on chairs, meeting in cathedral, Thurs 01.08.13. Joyfully Un-munted sign on steel mesh fence cordon advertised music recitals in Cardboard Cathedral, Aug 2013, celebrating opening of Cardboard Cathedral & its acoustics.
01.08.13. Orange digger. Yellow contractor van. Latimer Sq view, Cardboard Cathedral, St Johns Anglican Church demolition site, Hereford St / Madras St
01.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cardboard Cathedral, Madras St / Hereford St
01.08.13. Cashel St view, Cardboard Cathedral
Saturday 24.08.13. On our first walk in the Port Hills since 22 February quake, above Victoria Park, below Sugarloaf, Leah & I viewed Christchurch on Canterbury Plains, backdropped by snowy Alps, from Kaikouras in the N, to Puketeraki & Torlesse Ranges in the W & Mt Hutt in the S. Little did we know, in 2014 we'd be living in Mackenzie Country, SW of Christchurch.
Few tall bldgs left in Christchurch CBD. Those I could pick out were Forsyth Barr ghost awaiting repairs to become Crowne Plaza Hotel; restored Novotel; Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel; IRD ghost. Cardboard Cathedral's distinctive tent shape, easily seen, only rebuild of any aesthetic worth. The rest, ugly boxes.
May 2015. CERA minister Brownlee would announce construction of the Memorial Wall beside Avon River, memorial for 185 quake dead.
Despite Council's, CERA's, CCDU's, NZ National govt's rebuild hype, only CBD rebuilds so far were a couple of private sector bldgs, like Westende House & Cardboard Cathedral. Anglican diocese demolished St Johns, & built Cardboard Cathedral on site, all within 29 months post 22 February quake.
01.08.13. Peter Majendie's 185 Empty Chairs memorial to quake dead, St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site, Cashel St / Madras St. Abandoned IR bldg behind would survive the quakes
01.08.13. 185 Empty Chairs memorial to quake dead, St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site, Madras St / Cashel St. Cardboard Cathedral, Latimer Sq behind
01.08.13. Artist Peter Majendie, 185 Empty Chairs memorial to quake dead, St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site, Cashel St / Madras St. Beyond car, CTV demolition site where 115 people died when CTV collapsed & burned
Madras St / Cashel St: St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian: Demolished. 185 Empty Chairs Memorial on demolition site. CTV demolition site, diag opp cnr, where 115 people died when CTV collapsed & burned in 22 February quake. Grey haired artist, Peter Majendie pottered amongst the white chairs. I helped him remove a repainted chair from his car. Sept 2019. Majende's 185 Empty Chair Memorial, still on site. 2021. The 185 Empty Chair Memorial would be moved back to St Lukes demo site, Kilmore St / Manchester St.
Hereford St to Cathedral Sq: Viewed Torrens House demolition, E Frame. Although more than 2 years post 22 February quake, CERA still demolished bldgs. But no CBD rebuild so far!
07.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Torrens House demolition, Hereford St, E Frame
07.08.13. Worcester St view, Torrens House demolition, E Frame
Worcester St / Manchester St: Westende House 2 storey rebuild. July 2015. For its E Frame / Manchester St widening, CCDU would demolish Westende House rebuild. Post 4 September quake, the site was Ground Zero, where breathless TV anchor girls reported, back-dropped by red lighting & ruined Westende Jeweller. Sept 2019. Westende House, repeat demolition site, would be a shingle carpark beside a Manchester St, widened pavement.
Worcester St / Manchester St: Opp cnr, Trinity Church / Octagon Restaurant ghost: Owner searched for a buyer to resurrect, as he'd run out restoration money. If Trinity Church / Octagon Restaurant was restored, I'd never enter it. No way could its restoration be as strong as new Westende House across the road was, no matter how much money spent. Same went for Christ Church Cathedral ghost down Worcester St. 2020-23 Trinity Church / Octagon Restaurant would still await restoration completion, poor funding.
07.08.13. Westende House rebuild, E Frame, Manchester St / Worcester St. Westende House was rebuilt post 04.09.10 quake. July 2015. CCDU would demolish Westende House for Manchester St widening
07.08.13. Orange, plastic, road barrier, steel mesh fence cordon. Serial quake trashed, tarped, boarded, Trinity Church / Octagon Restaurant, Manchester St / Worcester St, awaited restoration
Worcester St: Behind Christ Church Cathedral ghost, I trekked past abandoned, boarded, steel mesh fence cordoned, design & arts college. Plaster fallen off ground floor, concrete columns, showing cracks. If that multi-storey was restored, I'd never enter it. 2023. design & arts college would still be awaiting restoration.
07.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Quake trashed design & arts college, Worcester St
07.08.13. Cathedral Junction undergoing post quake repairs, Worcester St. Westende House rebuild beyond would be demolished by CERA, July 2015
Trekked past Cathedral Junction undergoing post-quake repairs. Cathedral Junction: hotchpotch of repaired old & new bldgs. Pre-quakes trams had rumbled through Cathedral Junction, not the smartest idea for quake prone bldgs. The same for nearby New Regent St, a pre-quakes tram line down the middle of the narrow street, some Spanish Mission shops recently restored. 2024. Some Spanish Mission shops would still await restoration!
Cathedral Sq: *Christ Church Cathedral ghost, fence cordoned. Three weeks pre 22 February quake, Leah & I visited Christ Church Cathedral, seeing workmen inside, on scaffolding, checking 4 September quake, 26 December quake damages, murals & windows.
07.08.13. Worcester St view, E end, abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, apse, chancel, transepts, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Stacked shipping container cordon. Christ Church Cathedral, N side apse, chancel, transept, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Quake damaged stonework, N transept window & buttress, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Quake collapsed, part demolished tower, damaged N nave wall, useless steel braced, quake collapsed, W facade, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. WW 1 memorial statue in foreground
07.08.13. Quake collapsed, part demolished tower, quake collapsed W facade, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Steel bracing was useless in the 13.06.11 quake. See stone rubble, clad by thin stones structure, collapsed / part demolished tower walls.
Cathedral Sq info board said Maori used the area as a worship place long before colonists arrived, hence the flowery whare before Christ Church Cathedral ghost. Like jarring junk art on cordon fencing, the whare blocked access to Christ Church Cathedral.
Three years later, June 2016, post CERA era, Christ Church Cathedral ghost would still be fence cordoned. No progress made by NZ National govt, Anglican diocese, nor Heritage hailers, Anderton, Burdon, et al, on a decision to demolish, or repair, or restore, or rebuild Christ Church Cathedral.
Sept 2018. NZ Labour coalition govt: Dr Megan Woods, Labour MP, Regenerate Christchurch (CERA morph) would briefly lead restoration of Christ Church Cathedral. Sept 2019. Whare gone. 2021. Stabilisation would begin on Christ Church Cathedral, Reinstatement hopefully completed by 2027! Whenever I visited Christchurch from S Canterbury, I would view Christ Church Cathedral's sloooow reinstatement from first & second floor windows of the new Turanga Public Library overlooking Christ Church Cathedral ghost. 2024: Reinstatement halted due to balooning costs!
07.08.13. Abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind
07.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordoned, Cathedral Sq, NW view, abandoned bldgs: Abandoned Rydges Hotel behind. Chancery Arcade middle, Government Life right awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. 2021. Rydges Hotel would still be abandoned together with abandoned, boarded shops & abandoned multi-storey carpark below. Eyesores.
07.08.13. Abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. Steel bracing didn't stop W facade collapsing in the 13.06.11 quake. See stone rubble structure clad by thin stones. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left. Abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right
07.08.13. Flowery, Maori whare middle, Cathedral Sq. Abandoned Christ Church Cathedral, abandoned Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel left. Aug 2019. Whare gone. Chalice right, quake survivor
07.08.13. Abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. See stone rubble structure clad by thin stones. Bordered by abandoned / repaired hotels
07.08.13. Maori whare view, quake trashed W facade & tower, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. See stone rubble structure clad by thin stones. Repaired, reopened Novotel behind left
07.08.13. Abandoned, fence cordoned, Christ Church Cathedral & Chalice, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Cathedral Sq, NE view: Christ Church Cathedral, boarded S transept, fenced / stacked shipping container cordon. Repaired, reopened Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel right
07.08.13. Christ Church Cathedral: Columbarium, boarded S transept, S nave wall, clerestory, chancel, Cathedral Sq
07.08.13. Worcester St, W view: Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq, fenced / stacked, shipping container cordoned apse, chancel, transepts
Durham St Nth: Durham St Methodist: Demolished. 3 people died there in 22 February quake when the church collapsed. Like so many CBD demolition sites, Durham St Methodist became a carpark, nothing to remember the dead, nor collapsed church.
07.08.13. Durham Street Methodist Church, desecrated as a carpark, Durham St Nth / Chester St West
Late August, a church Information board was erected by the carpark cnr, remembering the dead:
Durham Street Methodist Church
From 1864 to 2011 this was where the Durham Street Methodist Church stood. Badly damaged in the earthquake of September 2010 the building collapsed as a result of the major earthquake on February 22nd 2011. Sadly three men who were removing the organ for restoration lost their lives when the building fell.
Constructed of locally quarried stone it was the oldest stone church in Christchurch.
From 1984 the site was shared with the Methodist Mission serving social and community needs for Christchurch city.
Plans are being prepared for a replacement building that will continue the work and worship of the Methodist Church in this place.
Currently the congregation worships off site - details of services...
2018-19. New Durham St Methodist Church would be built.
So far, little in the CBD remembering 185 quake dead. Majendie's 185 Empty Chair Memorial, temporary memorial needed maintenance & vigilance against hooligans desecrating, stealing chairs from the memorial at St Pauls Trinity Pacific demolition site. Driving around Christchurch, I saw daily increased tagging, signs of ghosts.
Late August, Anderton's Heritage hailers, peeved by losing court cases to save Christ Church Cathedral, wanted more squabbling with the Anglican diocese & bishop Matthews (media criticism of bishop Matthews) by appealing to the Supreme Court. Their energies & money wasting, enriching lawyers, would've been better spent organizing a decent quake memorial. Their whinging insulted families of the dead & those injured by quakes. People from over 20 nations died in 22 February quake.
Colombo St / Brougham St: Sydenham Heritage: Demolished. Makeshift, white board hut atop rubble, 3 pics: King Brownlee; Joker Parker; Knave Insurer. The church was "illegally" demolished, during 22 February quake, National State of Emergency, hence the rubble eyesore years later. When rubble would be removed, Heritage hailers hoped to save artifacts, like wooden pews buried by rubble. 2020. Rubble still there, eyesore. 2021. Rubble gone.
07.08.13. Sydenham Heritage Church demolition site, Colombo St / Brougham St.
Cashel St / Olliviers Rd: Samoan Seventh Day Adventist: Demolished. Church hall still stood. Church destroyed in 4 September quake.
07.08.13. Samoan Seventh Day Adventist Church demolition site, Cashel St / Olliviers Rd. Church hall behind
Union St: New Brighton Union Church: Demolished, decapitated steeple stood on the ground. Church Hall & Op Shop OK, Church Office, a porta-cabin.
07.08.13. New Brighton Union Church demolition site, Union St. See decapitated steeple
Wakefield Ave: *All Saints ghost: Behind double layer, shipping container cordon below Sumner cliff. All Saints, next to several tagged, red zone, ghost houses.
Erased history, Nov 2015. All Saints would be demolished. 1995. During our post-immigration, 6 months stay in Sumner, we'd attended All Saints services.
07.08.13. Abandoned, red zone house below Sumner cliff, Wakefield Ave
07.08.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, fence / shipping container cordoned, All Saints Anglican Church below Sumner cliff, Wakefield Ave. Nov 2015. All Saints would be demolished
Nash Rd, Aidenfield, Halswell: St John of God: Steel mesh fence cordoned, boarded, scaffolded, undergoing repairs. Post- immigration, during our Halswell years, our sons attended Oaklands Primary School, Leah taught at one of the 2 schools near St John of God.
07.08.13. Abandoned, scaffolded, steel mesh fence cordoned, St John of God, Aidenfield, Halswell
Riccarton Rd / Main Sth Rd: *St Peters ghost, Church Corner: Steel mesh fence cordoned, boarded, scaffolded, repairs stalled. 2019-20. St Peters would be repaired.
07.08.13. Abandoned, steel mesh fence cordoned, boarded, St Peters Anglican Church, Riccarton Rd / Main Sth Rd
*Trekked Riccarton Rd, Deans Ave, Fendalton Rd, Ilam Rd, Bryndwr Rd, Harewood Rd, Papanui Rd, Church Ln, Bealey Ave, Edgeware Rd, Stanmore Rd, Lychgate Cl, Barbadoes St, Madras St, Manchester St, Hereford St, Worcester St, Cathedral Sq, Durham St Nth, Brougham St, Cashel St, Union St, Wakefield Ave, Aidenfield. 275 images.
Last month CERA minister Brownlee announced cordons would be dropped in Christchurch CBD when NZDF soldiers evacuated, after occupying the CBD for 28 months. Part true, many CBD bldgs & streets still steel mesh fence cordoned, or orange, plastic, road cone cordoned. Also many bldgs, roads, churches fence or cone cordoned in Christchurch, nearly 3 years post 4 September quake.
Recently it was frustrating driving anywhere in Christchurch, due to SCIRT excavations, fence cordons, detours. New road cordons & detours formed daily, obstacle courses. SCIRT obstacle courses would continue for years, according to CERA's Greater Christchurch Recovery Update, Issue 24, August 2013:
More detail about the sequence and timing of works will be available in coming months. Work will increase significantly from October this year. From then there will be up to 40 SCIRT work crews in the central city at any time to get the work done by the end of 2016 finish date.
It took Civil Defence (3 months) then CERA (since 13 June 2011) more than 2 years to demolish trashed CBD bldgs, indictment of Kiwi workmen & management. (No wonder builder firms recruited efficient foreign labour, like Filipinos & Irishmen). SCIRT would take another 3 years completing CBD infrastructure rebuild: waste water pipes, sewage pipes, water pipes, repairing roads, another indictment. Suburban mess by SCIRT too, rebuilding suburban roads.
Post-quake Christchurch roads: Imagine several Hi-Vis vested persons at various road detours, wearing hard hats, brandishing STOP - GO signs, chatting into radios, obstructing your vehicle daily for years.
Given SCIRT's slow progress & poor man management (shirking workers) for road infrastructure rebuild, there would be slow CBD rebuild by CERA, hardly begun, nearly 3 years post 4 September quake. So far there was boasting by CERA, CCDU, SCIRT, but little rebuild.
08.08.13. Dominion Post report: after Christchurch quake hassles with weak bldgs, NZ National govt found there were approx 25 000 quake prone bldgs in NZ. The govt report was only released post Seddon / Wellington quakes. NZ National govt gave bldg owners 5 years to assess bldgs, then 15 years to strengthen those old bldgs, up to revised bldg code, or demolish thereafter. 20 years to sort out quake prone bldgs! Heritage bldgs were given 30 years!
Despite Christchurch demolitions, I could think of several Heritage bldgs, including churches, needing strengthening. NZ National govt gave owners 30 years to quake-strengthen their rubbish bldgs. Pre-quakes, bldg owners already had many years to strengthen those bldgs up to code!
Latimer Sq: Having witnessed the recent Memorial Service for 185 quake dead, where local & govt politicians & lackeys jostled for photo-coverage: Labour's Cosgrove & Dyson recently resigned. Soon to resign, Labour leader Shearer showed little interest in post-quake Christchurch. He demoted Dalziel, only effective Labour voice against National's edicts regarding land zonings, clearances, slow EQC, slow insurers. Dalziel thus wanted to be Christchurch mayor, a recycled politician foisted on Christchurch. Parliament queers: one coveted Labour leadership, while PM Key mocked Labour's "Idol" competition, TV OneNews, 26.08.13.
Nearly 3 years post 4 September quake, there was little Christchurch rebuild. There was some housing development by Halswell Junction Rd & Aidanfield, but many demolitions still had to go in the residential red zone & CBD. Little CBD rebuild. Anyone visiting the CBD & residential red zones could see CERA's non rebuild.
Fri 16.08.13. Seddon & Wellington shaken, M6.6 quake & aftershocks. Bldg damages: Seddon, Ward, Wellington, the latter gridlocked, trains cancelled for the day. Breathless, TV anchor girls jabbered Cantabrian script: tough, resilient citizens, complacent of dangers. Like 4 September quake & 26 December quake, the 2 Seddon / Wellington quake swarms, a month odd apart, were warnings for future, bigger quakes. (14.11.16. The M7.8 Kaikoura quake would cause extensive damage to the N part of the S Island & Wellington). GeoNet fault line map of Marlborough showed Seddon was close to several NE trending faults.
Two & a half years post 22 February quake, there was disconnect between those wanting to save Heritage bldgs in Christchurch & those wanting justice for 185 dead. NZ National govt wasn't interested in pursuing justice for families of the dead. It still allowed 30 years for quake prone, Heritage bldgs to be brought up to code & 20 years for other quake prone bldgs to be brought up to code. It ignored Coroner's reports & Royal Commission of Inquiry reports. There was no outrage at 185 deaths from NZ National govt, just silence.
Cops did zilch. Cops had the CBD red zone to themselves with Civil Defence & CERA demolishers & NZDF cordon soldiers for 28 months post 22 February quake. What criminal evidence did cops find regarding quake dead in the CBD? Council, engineering, builder, owner accountability?
We endured newspaper articles & cop TV programmes where clever cops investigated road accident deaths, cold murder cases & cops expecting citizens to dob in perps caught on CCTV cameras. I heard no outrage from cops about 185 quake dead, nor outrage from lawyers like Chen. Where were the clever cop TV programmes about 185 quake dead?
Stanmore Rd / Worcester St crossing: Post 4 September quake, daily I'd driven past cordoned ghosts, some covered in gaudy tarps flapping in the breeze. During 22 February quake one of those ghosts collapsed on Wicks Fish shop, killing 2 people. Along Worcester St & Stanmore Rd more shops collapsed, like Argonaut ghost. During 13 June quake more shops collapsed at that crossing. If I could snap many pics of dangerous, cordoned shops over several months before demolitions, why couldn't cops gather evidence for a manslaughter case at Wicks Fish shop? Never mind 115 people killed when CTV multi-storey collapsed & burned.
Coda:
Sun 14.02.16. Valentines Day, M5.7 quake. Christ Church Cathedral's W facade would crumble more.
30.11.17. After years of CTV investigation, NZ Police media release: "Police has determined that there will be no criminal prosecution in relation to the collapse of the CTV building in Christchurch in February 2011..."
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Merivale 1894 church demolished (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Christ Church Cathedral needs to stay (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Second campaign group prepare legal case (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Joyfully unmunted festival for cardboard cathedral (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Cardboard Cathedral finally unveiled (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Traffic hub to help drivers save time (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Stadium date upsets rugby boss (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Deadline for quake safety set at 20 years (Dominion Post / Stuff Co).
See Rumblings of rebellion in Christchurch (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Christchurch Town Hall $127.5m restoration approved (The Press / Stuff Co).
See New Catholic bishop reconsiders Christchurch Cathedral restoration (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Outcome of investigation, collapse of the CTV building (NZ Police).
