Our day in Christchurch left us with bitter-sweet memories.
View of Wanaka from the top of the mountain
After the Continental Breakfast supplied by the Guest House we set out to discover Christchurch and its surrounds. On the advice of our host we first headed out of town to the little town of Wanaka, also known as Summer due to its popularity as a holiday town in that season, the mountains around it. It was an excellent suggestion and a beautiful way to start the day. We didn’t go into the town but took the road up into the mountains which rise straight up from coast road. There were the expected sheep on the mountain sides which were beautifully green. The higher we climbed we were treated to stunning views of the town, the harbour and the Pacific Ocean. At the top was a parking area where the beauty of the land was spread before us. Sadly, we were unable to go down the other side as the roads were still under repair following the earthquake 7 years later.
A ship in Wanaka Harbour
The mountain opposite the one we were climbing
We drove back down the way we had come and returned to the city. We found a central parking from where we could walk to the Cathedral College, University of Canterbury Arts School and other buildings in the area. These buildings all had scaffolding around various parts and it was this sight that really made us think. It was almost 8 years since the major earthquake and there was still so much repair work waiting to be done. Some notices told of the costs of repairs and that for non-government or non-priority roads and buildings funds needed to be raised for repairs. Seeing these time consuming repairs and the enormous costs in a “developed” country taking more than 8 years to re-establish itself what happens in countries such as Haiti, Indonesia and very recently Mozambique when they suffer cyclones and typhoons. Do they ever return to normality?
Protective structures
Courtyard of Cathedral (note scaffolding at rear left)
Entrance to the Arts School
We returned to the Botanic Gardens where we ate our lunch and to enjoy parts of the Gardens we had missed yesterday. We saw what appeared to be a very deformed fir tree which had branches all over the place; the Peacock Fountain which was bought in 1911 from money donated by Mr William Peacock, a local philanthropist and the World Peace Bell made of coins and medals from 103 countries mixed with copper to show unity. So glad we returned for a 2nd look.
Deformed Fir Tree
Pelican Fountain
The World Peace Bell
We then drove around to what is currently being used as the Transitional Cathedral, also referred to as the Cardboard Cathedral as it built with drywall materials. It was quite beautiful in its simplicity. We met the Dean of the Cathedral who was really pleased that we had taken the time to see how they were coping.
Front entrance to the Transitional Cathedral
Nave, font and sanctuary
Across the road at the rear of the Church was a temporary art display of 185 Empty Chairs. They were all white but there was a wide variety of chairs which included a rocking chair, a kitchen chair and even a baby’s high chair. It was quite an eerie feeling standing looking at these chairs representing those who lost their lives in the earthquake. The idea of artists using an empty chair to symbolise a death first happened in in 1870 when Luke Fildes used this theme on the death of Charles Dickens.
Some of the 185 Empty Chairs
After driving past the original Cathedral, currently deconsecrated, which was covered in scaffolding for restoration. Costs are expected to be in the region of Aus$40m some of which will come from the state. Near the Cathedral is a simple but lovely Family Recovery Garden where families with social issues can find peace, be counselled or just share their situations.
Cathedral under restoration
Info on the Family Recovery Centre
The Counselling/Discussion Area
We finished our day in Christchurch with a visit to Victoria Square where there was a beautiful fountain which had been completely destroyed by the earthquake and was fully restored. There were 2 statues in the Square – one of James Cook who visited NZ 3 times and a statue of Queen Victoria with friezes on all sides of the plinth. The square had a number of flowering gardens.
Restored fountain in Victoria Square
James Cook
Queen Victoria
The final building we saw was the very modern Art Gallery built post the earthquake in July 2011 and had a sculpture of a bull on a piano at the front and of a man on the roof.
Art gallery with Sculpture of a bull on a piano and a man on the roof
We returned to our Guest House in time for a supper, a frozen meal which we heated in the microwave and to pack for us to leave in the morning. Our next stop would be Mt Cook where Sir Edmund Hillary did his training to climb Mt Everest.
