Once Upon a Time in Epsom

As any Austrian mother will probably tell you, playing with toads can give you warts.

Of course he didn't listen, because he didn't think there were any toads in Godzone.

Signs o' the Times

Christchurch, Wednesday November 16.

Carrying On Without the Missing Elephant in the Room

As they've done in past general elections, the good folks at Bryndwr Baptist Church provided a community service by making their hall available for the Ilam electorate candidates debate. With one of the country's biggest electoral majorities, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee didn't bother to attend. No apology, no stand-in to represent his party, just the terse message that he's a busy man.

Thanks and cheers to the six party reps who did the decent thing by the electorate.

 NZFirst candidate Denis O'Rourke.

 United Future Ilam candidate Vanessa Roberts.

 Mãori Party Te Tai Tonga candidate Rãhui Kãtene.

 Alliance co-leader Andrew McKenzie.

 The Mãori Party's Rãhui Kãtene, Alliance co-leader Andrew McKenzie, and NZFirst's Denis O'Rourke.

 Ilam Labour candidate John Parsons.

 Ilam Green Party candidate Kennedy Graham.

Kennedy Graham and Rãhui Kãtene.

Show Day 2011 - Warm, Windy and a Welcome Break

On the carousel:

I wear my leather jacket like a great big hug,
Radiating charm, a living cloak of luck

World champion axeman Jason Wynyard warming up.

Preparing to unsheath.

The champ in action.

Real lumberjacks demonstrate the art of staying upright.

USA wins the pole climb by a good two lengths.

Not so much a victory lap as a victory plank.

Massed clydesdales, with a big rig of yesteryear bringing up the rear.

Horsepower to spare: The solo clydesdale sledge.

Shearing his way to second place.

The winner, Corriedale Senior Machine section.

Canterbury shearing's finest.

Political showgoers: Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns and Labour Leader Phil Goff.

Down with the kids.

Always superior, no matter what the circumstances.

The scream machine.

The big wheel in a high wind, look at those poplars bending.

Addington Cup Day 2011

Welcome to the home of the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Sartorial and obliging. Thank you Sir!

No harness racing event is complete without a mermaid.

Yes, the gloves are painted too.

Serious phone stuff, serious spring tan.

 Shoe trouble, part one.

Shoe trouble, part two.

The New Zealand Army Band entertains.

Even those who look as if they know what they're doing take time to study the form.

Captain America and posse follow the action.

Go you beauty!

Better luck next time.

147 Heritage Buildings Gone - Stop the Destruction

In the wake of the sudden clumsily handled demolition notice for Christchurch Cathedral, around 200 concerned Cantabrians gathered early on Monday afternoon to protest the ongoing demolition of the City's heritage buildings.

Marchers begin to gather at the heritage listed Harley building on Cambridge Terrace. 

Although it's currently empty it's hoped that the building will be saved.

Marchers travel along Cambridge Terrace.

A call for sensible priorities.

Along the route of the march, the onetime all-male preserve of the Canterbury Club undergoes post-quake repairs.

Green and pink.

Christchurch Green Party representative (and former Sneaky Feelings bass player) John Kelcher, along with retired Labour politician Dame Ann Hercus, among those gathered to hear speeches.

Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns addresses the gathering.

Green Party co-leaders Metiria Turei and Russell Norman.

Cup Day's tomorrow, but the hats are out for heritage.

Dame Ann Hercus back in action for the cause.

Life Returns to the Former Red Zone

After eight months of post-quake remediation, a section of the city's red exclusion zone opens for shoppers. Temporary shops in shipping containers form a pop-up mall, relieving the raw scars of demolition.

Any misgivings about returning to the shattered city are forgotten in the gorgeous spring weather.

An estimated 10,000 take the opportunity to reclaim their lost city.

Almost like it used to be, only the $2 shops seem to be missing.
In the distance the hopelessly damaged Hotel Grand Chancellor awaits the high-rise wrecking ball.

Good to be back. Having a coffee in the city is like pinching yourself to make sure that you're not dreaming, only much more fun.

Once the city's premier riverside cafe strip, Oxford Terrace is still undergoing demolition.

Prime Minister John Key proudly displays his rugby world cup lapel badge as he mixes with the crowd after declaring the mall open. A hapless security operative grimly shields Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee from the PM's radiance.

"It's alright kids, he's just a big softy".

The Prime Minister reassures children that he has Brownlee totally under control, while the Earthquake Recovery Minister encourages a seagull to head over to one of the remaining orange zones if it wants to pull that sort of nonsense.

TV One's Charlotte Bellis and crew on the job.

Mayor and media veteran Bob Parker in his element.

It takes a real media professional to remain unmoved by the mayoral smile.

A chance for a closer look into the remaining red exclusion zone.

Even the advertising appears to mimic people's hunger for a glimpse of their city's lost heart.

Inside the nearby Tap Room things remain eerily frozen in time since the earthquake of February 22nd.