Remembrance, Gardens, Museum- A Full Day

Friday February 22 was another warm day- the high reached 29C but the temperature dropped during the day - 21C at 5:00 p.m. and just 15C at 9:30 p.m.  Unfortunately, a cold front is predicted for the next few days and rain is in the forecast starting late on Saturday.   We have only had a few minutes of rain the entire trip to date.  Locals say this cold front is a usual occurrence and that after a few cool and rainy days, it will get warm again.

We started our day by having a coffee at the roastery and temporary headquarters of C4 Coffee Co.  We had their coffee at another café on Thursday and after checking with Google, found their flagship store/café en route from our apartment to town.  Staff told us that their old location had been destroyed during the earthquake.  They have been in the location they are in now for a few years, but are planning a move to the main part of the city.

Outside C4 Coffee Co.

Swag

The Roastery

Ordering coffee

We had a great coffee in a cool industrial setting.  We continued our walk and checked out C1 Espresso, located in a former Post Office, which our friend Sari had visited a few years ago.  They have a light dinner menu and the food gets delivered by pneumatic tubes.  We plan to get a bite there for dinner.

Wonderfully restored post office- C1 Espresso

We passed lots of shipping containers holding up damaged buildings

Elephants on the move

We then went to the memorial service for the 185 victims of the February 22, 2011 earthquake.  It was the 8th anniversary of the quake.  The service started at 12:30 p.m. and there was a moment of silence at 12:51 p.m., the exact time of the quake.   The service was held at Oi Manawa, the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial, which opened on February 22, 2017.  The local tribe (iwi) Ngāi Tahu, gifted the Māori name for the memorial, which means "tremor or quivering of the heart".   The memorial is located on both sides of the Avon River.  One side of the river was turned into pedestrian space- a reflective space on the north bank, which is a park with large trees and seating and where one can look across the river to the memorial wall area.  

At the beginning of the memorial wall

Reflective side of the Avon where people gathered

Wreaths to be placed on the wall after the ceremony

Looking across to the wall

New Zealand Army band playing

The service was very tasteful and lasted 30 minutes.  The Chief Operation Officer of the Ngāi Tahu tribe was the MC.  There was an opening Māori greeting and words of welcome by The Honourable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch.

MC and Mayor

Then the names of the 185 people who lost their lives were read by first responders, members of the community and diplomats from the countries whose nationals died in the earthquake.

Reading of the names

There was a moment of silence at 12:51 p.m. and then the dignitaries placed wreaths at the foot of the memorial.

Descending the stairs to the memorial

Crowd watching the placing of the wreaths

At the wall

Families then followed placing flowers and mementos at the wall.  The public were given flowers to throw into the river and then walked across the bridge to the wall.

We walked across the bridge and threw flowers into the river

Signage at one end of the wall

Names and flowers at the wall

Most of the crowd at the wall

It was a very moving ceremony.  There was a booklet that listed all the names of those who died.  There were many people from China, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand who had been studying at the language school where most of the 185 deaths occurred.  Clearly, some families had made the long journey this year, but many would be unable to come.  The wall extends more than 100 metres along the curve of the Ōtākaro/Avon River.  There is a significant kōhatu pounamu (greenstone) at the memorial entrance gifted by Ngāi Tahu sub-tribe, indicating the importance of the memorial.

One can see the influence of Maya Lin, the architect and designer of the 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

After the ceremony, we wandered a bit more in town.  There is a large Bridge of Remembrance, remembering New Zealanders who fought in WWI, WWII, and other campaigns.

Bridge of Remembrance

Poster remembering those fallen in battle

Exploring Christchurch in 2019

We wanted to sit out and enjoy the sun, so we stopped at Made for another coffee.  We still can't get used to coffee shops opening very early at  6:30 or 7:00 a.m. and closing very early between
3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Another coffee

Behind the coffee bar-- all food made on the premise

We then wandered over to the Arts Centre which houses the I-Site Visitors Centre.  There are a number of beautiful stores on the second floor.  The entire Arts Centre building is still being renovated, but a portion has now opened.

Frances Nation-specialising in NZ made homewares

There was a small art gallery on the second floor with an exhibit of photos and poems by Lynne Lambert called Glass Half Empty-Glass Half Full (Thoughts on a Post-Quake City).  There was a very moving 4 minute audio, where the artist read some of the poetry she has written about her quake experience.

Very strong statement

Part of the Arts Centre still being renovated

We then walked over to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens--- huge gardens located right in the city.  We only walked a small portion of the Gardens and then sat out for a bit in the sun.

Sign at the Gardens

Very English gardens

Gorgeous flowers

Amazing greenery

The trees were awesome--very, very large 

Amongst the hydrangeas  (glad I wore a floral dress)

Sculpture- Regret- on loan from the collection of Robin Judkins- artist- Sam Mahon

Hug for the monkey puzzle tree

The Canterbury Museum was located very close to the Botanic Gardens.

Outside of the museum

The museum is free.  We wanted to see the temporary exhibit on pounamu-- the greenstone found on the South Island which is very important in Māori culture.  Both Alain and I have bought small pieces on our trip.  The Māori often hand their pounamu jewellery down from generation to generation and they often have very large and beautiful pieces.

The exhibit was called: Kura Pounamu: Our treasured stone

Water feature highlighting the beautiful colour of the stone

Many different types of pounamu

Toki shape

Room with stones

Pendant in human form

The signs said "touch me"

Māori are the descendants of Pacific voyagers

Major sources of pounamu

An exceptional stone

Contemporary pounamu jewellery

Fish hook shapes

There was a picture of the New Zealand Olympics team performing a haka (customary Māori chant with dance) for a medalist at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.  The pounamu has become a symbol of New Zealand's identity and spirit.

Wearing pounamu at the 2008 Olympics

We walked over to the Art Gallery, which we plan on visiting on Saturday.  It was just closing at
5:00 p.m.

Another view of the gallery

There were some wonderful pieces in front of the gallery.

Alain-the maestro at work
Michael Parekowhai (b. 1968) Chapman's Homer 2011 

Matt Akehurst b.1971 You are Here 2011

We walked down High Street and came across large spray cans.

Grafitti rules!

The late afternoon sun was very warm.  We stopped for a glass of wine at a wonderful wine bar called Not Without You.  They serve coffee during the day and then offer a great selection of wine and cheese plates in the evening.  We had some sheep cheese with our wine.

I had a wonderful dry Greystone Pinot Gris and Alain had an Elephant Hill red

Not Without You--- took pic as we left-- so nice sitting outside

We then went for a quick bite to eat at C1 Espresso Café, located in the old Post Office, which we had checked out earlier in the day.  We shared some sliders and curly fries that were delivered by pneumatic tube.

Inside of C1 Espresso

There is a ring and one's meal is delivered

Sliders and fries

Since we had already had the cheese plate, a small bite was fine.  Very funky place.  There was a sliding bookcase that lead to the washrooms and the menu had lots of crazy graphics.

We walked back to the apartment for some tea and rest after a very busy day.