Christchurch Cathedral

Just arrived in Christchurch after returning our hire car and I don't think we were prepared for the devastating condition the city's cathedral is in. Really sad to see it like this. This is all a result of a series of earthquakes, the first of which hit the region of Canterbury on September 4th 2010. The quake which devastated the cathedral is of February 22nd 2011.

We wandered with two backpacks each through the streets, many full of condemned buildings and empty spaces left by the demolition the quakes necessitated.

But we were heartened by the survival of many historic structures and to see their heritage so dearly valued, the rebuild is very much underway and beautifully ingenious reuse of shipping containers, wood and other materials to hand are being used as shopping spaces and civic art work. It's heartening to see the city get back on its feet with such energy and passion.