We all have a story...
Everyone in Canterbury has a story from the terrible earthquake that struck Christchurch New Zealand on 22nd Feb 2011. No one has been left unaffected, there are wide spread stories of tragedy and loss, hardship and fear. However, despite all this there have been amazing acts of kindness, generosity, selflessness and even glimmers of humour from those affected locally and internationally. These qualities display what it means to be a Cantabrian and a New Zealander. This website is a photo album to celebrate these acts, either small or large.
If you have a photo that tells a postive story, displays a kind act, or shares a light hearted moment, please make sure it is included in this album by uploading your photo.
Join the Christchurch earthquake coversation at www.facebook.com/riseupchristchurch
Card from people in Taupo.
Thanks to Bevan from Mayfield who delivered water to North New Brighton.
Dog joins the meeting, Bow-wow Ave - Bower Ave
Message of love from NI sent to North Beach Welfare centre.
My cat Max expressing his opinion of Earthquakes and Aftershocks!
Some uplifting words inspired by the 1931 Napier Earthquake but so apt now for Christchurch.
This photo was created for the day of the national memorial service as a reminder to Canterbury there are people from all over New Zealand and the world who continue to stand behind them in this difficult time.
Wellington SPCA Animal Rescue Unit (NZ's only specialist technical animal rescue team - including USAR qualified) were proud and felt privileged to be able to help. We were blown away by the courage and fortitude shown by all Cantab's, esp our colleagues at the Chch SPCA Shelter. Kia Kaha Chch!
Great job the dogs did but little said about them in the media...
The pledge... I went to a wonderful fun day in Sumner on the weekend and signed 'the Pledge"... It was a very special moment.
A very common sight all over CHCH... Friends helping friends.
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at sunset.
Someone made this smilie face on the big mountains of silt on the street. Made me smile.
Driving through Avonside and found this, it made me smile that someone built this from bricks.
Much appreciated assistance (food supplies) from the cheerful folk of 0800 Hungry !!
After six days of having no power, this generator arrived to bring electricity to the neighbourhood so we could use our "mod cons" !!
Flames etched into the earthquake dust built up on a police car nicknamed 'Punisher' on Moorhouse ave just after the memorial service.
Graffiti in Victoria Square a month before the quake. Wish I could take credit for the idea but only the photo is mine.
NZ Emergency Relief Therapists giving free massages at the Memorial Day Service. They have also been giving free massages to the emergency crews at the Art Gallery.
these people set up a bbq in their front section across the road from our place on gayhurst road, where they cooked sausages, had hot and cold milo and food packages for any one. my hat goes off to those people for doing what they did.
The Gap Filler project is such a postive thing to come out of the earthquakes. I took my girls down for a picnic tea and to listen to some live music ... we loved it. The wind was cold but the warmth of the people was truely special.
Free apples from Motueka at Mount Pleasant Farmers Market.
This family-run digger company turned up on our street to clear up our silt. They even helped us get students to clear our individual yards out. By way of thanks I let them park in my garden overnight. THEY WERE GREAT!
While trying to retrieve things from our broken house, I noticed beautiful sparkles of light reflected on my ceiling from all the windows that had shattered all over my floor.
I was barefoot in our kitchen when the quake destroyed our Mt. Pleasant home. My feet were cut. Luckily my wonderful husband went in to get me some shoes...this is what he brought me!
Loading another lot of essential supplies on to the NZ Army Iroquois at the Rangiora Earthquake Express.
The helicopter loading crew from the Rangiora Earthquake Express.
NZ Army taking off with another load from the Rangiora Earthquake Express.
Preparing yet another load of hot meals and essential supplies at the Rangiora Earthquake Express.
The Rangiora Earthquake Express taking off after delivering a load of essential supplies by helicopter to Burwood.
Phil Goff helping to load a truck at the Rangiora Earthquake Express HQ.
Prince William in the dust after the Memorial Service, 18th March 2011.
Just one of the many acts of generosity at the Redcliffs community information site.
Happy cat cuddling up to the brick stack in the back yard.
On my way through the cordon, a couple of weeks post-quake I was cheered up by this sign and floral arrangement on Barbadoes St.
Brendan, Jayne and chopper pilot Ben from the Rangiora Earthquake Express about to fly another chopper mission of food and essential supplies into the eastern suburbs.
Free coffee for the locals at the Pop Up Farmers Market in Mt Pleasant. Queue was huge!
Lyttelton became a gathering place for creative, healing and a Stong sense of community. One of those pursuits that has taken place regularly is the hand stitching of hearts. Made of donated blankets, wool, needles loads of buttons and anything else that can be sowen. These hearts have been given to all who venture in the street as a sign of solitude and community. All are made with love and many smiles and all that are given recieve the same.
Saw this in New Brighton soon after quake, made me feel better again.
I had some friends from Auckland come down to help out clean up silt.
I found this note pinned stuck to my sons bed. My 7 year old had written it and stuck it on without my knowing!
When the water came to South Brighton neighbours were inventive with transportation.
Rainbow I saw when walking to work a couple days after the quake. A sign of hope for canterbury.
New Brighton. This made me feel happy again.
Monarch butterfly landed in the middle of Harker St while I was digging silt with my mum.
Dear Christchurch, I hope you are okay after that big disaster, from Queenstown Primary School.
A message on the water tankers in the Heathcote Valley.
After clearing silt and a chimney from our friends driveway we sure felt like celebrating!!
The Eastern played a free gig in St Albans on 1 March.
A couple hundred people converged on West Spreydon School to clean up the silt. A great moment to see the community working together. This group then also headed down to Barrington Park to help clean up there too. All in about 2hours. BOOM!
Search and Rescue from Mexico, Art Gallery.
4 Sale - Handymans dream, Mild reno's needed, Easy indoor/outdoor flow with water feature.
A Bexley Luxury Portaloo. This portaloo has toilets, shower, her and her basins and allegedly hot water. Sheer indulgence. I wonder if they also have soft toilet paper?
A quick and easy way of protecting your kitchen crockery at no cost.
Children in Christchurch write heartfelt thanks to people who have helped them in the aftermath of the quake.
Dandelions are tough, like us Christchurch people.
My son and I had been digging furiously at my parents house for ages when a whole band of lovelies turned up to help us out. THANK YOU!
Rise Up Christchurch - on Sparks Road in Halswell.
Another sign, this was on Oxford Terrace inside the 'red zone'.
A University of Canterbury Geology student explain liquifaction with a model to parents and children at the Heathcote family fun day.
These kids had a 'red and black day' at school and shaped out this heart on their field to show their support.
One of our responders had his own vehicle trapped in the CBD carpark buildings, and the Canterbury Car Club came to the party with a free lend of their support vehicle.
The fine students of Fielding Ag High School sent in some lovely supportive comments and letters, which were displayed in the Art Gallery Emergency Operations Centre for all to enjoy.
This was next to the 'we can rebuild' sandcastles on Barbados St.
Much of our inner city is in ruins but parts of it remain beautiful! Photo of the river taken on the evening of 8/3/11.
Digging as part of the student army- conquering the silt!!
This sign was first put up in Fisher Ave, Beckenham, in the week after the 22 Feb earthquake. The barbeque has been repeated every couple of weeks since
The gentleman in the orange in the centre is my Dad, Team Leader of NZRT12. Myself and my mother are also members of the team and while the recent earthquake meant hard times, long days, sorrow and loss, we found the the time to smile and be thankful for what we still had.
A young Wellington resident sent cookies with an accompaning note to the Heathcote family fun day.
Outside a North New Brighton home.
The army boys down at south ramp in brighton, my son wanting to get a photo with them .. doing a stirling job converting salt water into fresh
Me and a mate helping another mate get his chimney down.
I saw this while I was walking down Barbados St and had to take a photo. The 'silt' castles were a model of Sumner Beach and the Cathedral.
'Where there is hope, there is life.' - Ghandi
Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.
Vigilant security guards are on duty while the staff at Nature's Discoveries tidy up inside.
Sept earthquake was all about the bricks, this time its the liquefaction!
Free gas at Caltex Blenheim Rd!
Mum and I decorated a neighbours silt-castles while he was in his back yard getting another load.
Three days after the 6.3 quake I came across these friendly, vocal and generous gentlemen offering free coffee and tea to neighbours, passing motorists and pedestrians, just minutes from the devastated Christchurch CBD. At a time when most were without energy and basic supplies this was a welcome sight.