Christchurch after the Earthquake
Keep up to date with what's happening in our city.
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Q1. What are the effects of the Earthquake on Christchurch and what do you think the future holds?
Christchurch and the University are looking towards the future and the many opportunities that have arisen post-earthquake.
Some parts of Christchurch have been minimally affected and other parts are in the process of being rebuilt. The majority of businesses however, are back up and running and life is beginning to return to normal for many.
For many residents in Christchurch, life has returned to (near) normal and people are carrying on with their activities and routines that they did before the Earthquakes.
This is an opportunity for Christchurch to regenerate itself and build something new from the ground up. This requires input and insight from innovative thinkers and provides opportunities for many for growth and future stability. It is an exciting time to be in Christchurch as there is the element of a grass roots feel and a new and fresh start.
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Q2. What sort of accommodation is available?
Temporary
The Earthquake has had an impact on accommodation within the central city, however there are still a significant number of accommodation providers operating within Christchurch city and you will find full accommodation services available throughout the remainder of the Canterbury region. You can refer to the latest information at the Christchurch & Canterbury website.
The University also has limited accommodation available.
Buying
As you would expect, there has been a slight decrease in availability of properties to buy and the types of property people are buying are different. There was a lot of speculation due to the uncertainty of the future of some areas of Christchurch and this may be around for some time.
Just for your information – the below stats represent activity in April 11:
- Houses for sale on Realestate.co.nz : 4,334 / Trade Me : 4,586
- Sections for sale on Realestate.co.nz : 1,567 / Trade Me : 1,599
- Lifestyle property on Realestate.co.nz : 849 / Trade Me : 1,055
Refer to the Unconditional website for an insight into the Christchurch property market – after the earthquake.
Areas which have been less affected are:
Western Suburbs: |
Northern Suburbs: |
Southern Suburbs: |
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Rental Properties
Despite a high demand immediately after the Earthquake, there does seem to be an increase in the availability of rental properties.
| TradeMe, the largest Internet-auction website operating in New Zealand, where you can buy & sell amongst many other things, property online, have stated that in the first week of June 2011 there were 27% more rental properties available then pre 22 February 2011. |  |
McPherson Property Management Blog
It is hard to comment on specifics as this is a dynamic market even when earthquakes are not a motivating factor and this is continually changing. We would suggest contacting Real Estate Agencies for a more up-to-date comment on the property market:
Bayleys
Phone: +64 3 375 4700
Fax: +64 3 355 9521
christchurch@bayleys.co.nz
Harcourts
Phone: 03 379 6596
Fax: 03 379 2241
enquiries.city@harcourts.co.nz
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Q3. What schooling options are there?
New Zealand’s education system focuses on the lifelong learning needs of students. In line with best practice, schools and teachers use a variety of learning materials and techniques to encourage critical thinking. Each student is able to develop their potential along a number of possible pathways to support their academic and/or career goals and interests.
The impact on schools was temporary and the majority of schools have reopened and back to usual curriculum activities.
The University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and the Christchurch Polytechnic are all now fully operational.
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Q4. Where are the Shopping Centres/Cafes/Entertainment?
Although parts of the CBD are still closed, there are a number of Shopping Centres/Malls throughout Christchurch which offer a variety of Shops/Cafes/Restaurants and Entertainment (including large movie theatres in some):
- Westfield Riccarton
- Northlands Mall
- Eastgate Shopping Centre
- Barringtons Shopping Centre
- Merivale
- Bishopdale
- South City Centre
- Hornby Hub
There are a large number of bars and restaurants that have reopened either in the same or new locations and a great website to visit is www.whatsopen.co.nz.
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Q5. What’s on in Christchurch?
There are a number activities and events happening throughout Christchurch and Canterbury and a lot for you to choose from to fill your weekends:
Depending on what you like to do:
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Tramping/Hiking
- Horse-riding
- Ski fields
- Winery tours
- Mountain bike trails
- Markets
- Beaches/surfing/sailing sports
And the list goes on – for more information on these, you can visit the following websites:
www.christchurch.org.nz
www.bethere.co.nz
www.eventfinder.co.nz/whatson/events/christchurch
Places to visit around Canterbury for those weekends/Day trips away:
East of Christchurch on Banks Peninsula
- Akaroa - A French-inspired settlement buzzing with seaside cafes, boutique shops and wildlife cruises
North of Christchurch
- Hanmer Springs and Hurunui - Waipara's Wine Valley and our favourite alpine spa village with natural thermal pools
- Waimakariri - River adventures, art retreats and farmers markets - only 20 minutes' north of Christchurch
- Kaikoura - New Zealand's eco-tourism capital, from whale watching to wilderness walks
West of Christchurch
- Selwyn - A favourite Sunday drive destination - head toward the Southern Alps, sample fresh local produce and pinot, and bask in genuine rural hospitality
South of Christchurch
- Ashburton District - Stretching from Alps to Ocean, from the braided Rakaia River to world-class Mt Hutt ski area
- Central South Island - From Peel Forest to Pleasant Point, this is a land of outdoor recreation and local food & wine delights
- Aoraki Mt Cook Mackenzie - New Zealand's highest peak, glacial lakes, stargazing tours and iceberg cruises
- Waimate - Close-up wallaby encounters and historic Edwardian and Victorian architecture
Christchurch has come through a major disaster and is well on its way to recovering and looking to the future. This is an opportunity for the central city area and the people to be visionary and rebuild from the ground-up.
Christchurch and its surrounds have a lot to offer and will only continue to grow.
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