Re-Start Christchurch (by Ashlyn)

Editor's note: This is the second in a four-part series based on our recent trip to the South Island. 

Our guide book, “The Rough Guide to New Zealand,” has become like a travel bible to us.  The front lists “29 things not to miss” and interestingly, more than half of them (17 to be exact) can be found on the South Island.  No. 1 is the Milford Sound, which Luke wrote about in the last blog.  I’ll take No. 16, Re-Start Christchurch.

We started and ended our trip to the South Island in Christchurch.  Our new friends, Catherine and David Boyer hosted us in a lovely B&B on their Oxford farm (about 45 minutes west of the city).  I met Catherine through some development connections with Educate Plus, and she and David helped to set our two-week trip off on the right note.  That included a wonderful NZ lamb dinner (with the requisite local sauvignon blanc and pinot noir), L&P for the kids, and hot cross buns for the road, just in time for Easter! 

They also shared their story of leaving behind a home in Maine and successful careers (law for David and veterinary medicine for Catherine) to take up farming with their three small children over ten years ago.  David has written a book “Four Legs Good,” which I hope he will publish so I can share their story with you.  They gave us a great sense of rural life near Christchurch, and I knew a lot more about the joys and challenges of farming as I gazed at sheep, cattle and deer along the roadways.

We looped back to Christchurch for the final evening of our trip.  We found a great spot for dinner called Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn with Kiwi craft beers and live music.  The next morning we headed out to see the city, starting at Quake City, an exhibition on the devastating earthquakes from 2010 and 2011.  All four of us were visibly moved, especially by the video stories of several survivors.  We also felt a strong sense of resilience from the citizens of Christchurch and the generosity of so many people across the world who reached out for support.  Luke and Sedona did enjoy the re-building section of the exhibit where they got to use Legos to bring to life new architectural visions for the downtown area.

We spent much of the rest of the day wandering around the “Re-Start Christchurch” area, looking at still obvious earthquake damage, creative use of shipping containers for temporary stores in Cashel Mall, new construction and many, many cranes.  Of course, seeing the Christchurch cathedral (an iconic symbol of the city) was quite sad, but the “cardboard” cathedral down the road offers a nice substitute with a generous heaping of hope.

We also enjoyed Hagley Park, the river Avon, the Canterbury Museum, and a quick glance at the Crusaders rugby stadium.  I hope that on our next visit to Christchurch we will see even more recovery in this fine city.

An example of a container store on Cashel Mall