Riding through the Red Zone

Yesterday a friend and I took the CERA bus trip through the CBD.  Before we started there was a safety briefing which warned us we were going into the largest worksite in New Zealand, that it is hazardous, and if there was an earthquake we might not survive.  The latter warning surely applies these days to anywhere in Christchurch, if not the whole of New Zealand.  As we started out my feeling was one of excitement, rather than apprehension. 

So many familiar buildings have completely gone, the Armstrongs Building opposite Victoria Square, the Oxford on Avon, the Plunket building – too many to list!  From the site of the Civic Building in Manchester Street you can now see right through to Latimer Square. 

Trinity Church - Octagon

At least they haven’t completely removed the old Trinity Church, but it will be a long time before I celebrate another birthday in the wonderful Octagon Restaurant.

It seemed very strange to drive the “wrong” way down Madras Street, past the site of the CTV builiding.  Part of the old Farmers’ building in Cashel Street is still standing and looks perfectly okay.  Perhaps this is one heritage building that may survive?  The bus stopped outside the Christ Church Cathedral.

Christ Church Cathedral

 

I was pleased to see that although John Robert Godley has fallen off his plinth, the cairn that marks the protest over the removal of our democratically elected regional council is still there.  It was hard to get a photo as we were on the other side of the bus.

Cairn and Godley plinth

The Citizens’ War Memorial has survived, but the large angel who bends the sword of war, has a bandage round her middle.

Citizens' War Memorial

Only the wrought iron balcony of Warner’s Hotel remains, and there is a huge gap where the “Press” once stood.

Once was Warner's

 From 1987 I had walked through Cathedral Square every weekday on my way to and from different places of work.  After being shut out for nine months, I appreciate CERA’s finally allowing me to see some of the places I care about.  But I want so much to be able to walk through these familiar streets, to stand and contemplate the buildings that hold my memories, whether they are broken, or completely gone.  How much longer must we wait for this?

 “This trip inside the CBD
was not enough to placate me.”