2010 4 September 04:35 NZST (New Zealand Standard Time) A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes New Zealand’s South Island. The epicentre is 37 km west of Christchurch near Darfield. Central Canterbury, especially Christchurch, incurs structural damage but there are no fatalities. More than 351 aftershocks are recorded.
In the days that follow, Sam Johnson starts a Facebook event called the ‘Student Base for Earthquake Clean Up’ to remove liquefaction from Christchurch. The Reserve Bank’s initial estimate of recovery and rebuild costs is NZ$5 billion.
2011 22 February At 12:51 NZST a magnitude 6.3 aftershock lasting approximately 10 seconds strikes the Canterbury region. The epicentre is 2 km west of Lyttelton, just 10 km south-east of the Christchurch Central Business District (CBD). The shallow quake creates unprecedented ground shaking and is felt as far north as Tauranga and at Invercargill in the south.
Within minutes of the quake about 300 million tonnes of ice falls from the Tasman Glacier, located 200 km from the epicentre.
The National Crisis Management Centre is immediately activated to manage public response to the earthquake. The Mayor of Christchurch City declares a level 3 state of emergency. Hundreds of people are trapped in building rubble as hundreds more attempt to flee the devastation. Christchurch Hospital’s emergency department treats 231 patients within the first hour post-earthquake.
A ‘Red Zone’ is quickly established in Christchurch CBD. Many buildings are cordoned off and widespread liquefaction begins to crack roads, swallow vehicles and rupture water and sewer pipes.
The Canterbury Television Building (CTV) collapses and catches fire. The Pyne Gould Corporation Building (PGC) housing 200 workers also falls. The spire and upper tower section of the Christchurch Cathedral collapse.
At 13:04 NZST a magnitude 5.8 aftershock hits Christchurch, followed by another aftershock measuring 5.9 at 14:50 NZST.
Emergency shelters are set up in Hagley Park. Power and water supply is cut off to 80% of the city. The eastern suburbs and Avon River environs are the hardest hit, with Lyttelton and New Brighton deemed unliveable. Christchurch Airport is closed to all but emergency flights.
Sam Johnson and over 2500 volunteers join with the University of Canterbury Students’ Association to create the University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army.
23 February Prime Minister John Key declares a national state of emergency as fatalities reach around 75. More than 1000 New Zealand Defence Force personnel lead the largest-ever rescue and recovery operation on home soil. Urban Search and Rescue and Disaster Victim Identification teams arrive from Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. The last survivor is pulled from the rubble.
The Student Volunteer Army joins thousands of people in the removal of over 200 000 tonnes of liquefaction silt.
A temporary mortuary is set up at Burnham Military Camp.
25 February Death toll reaches 115 with 228 people missing and many thousands injured. Recovery operations continue with a focus on the CTV building and the Christchurch Cathedral site. Nine aftershocks measuring between 3.1 and 3.8 are recorded.
Christchurch Airport reopens as hundreds of Cantabrians leave the city.
Power is restored to 75% of the city but water and sewerage systems remain compromised.
March The official earthquake toll is 185 with 115 people perishing in the CTV building, 18 in the PGC building, 36 in the central city, 12 in the suburbs and 4 associated deaths. 81 international students and staff from King’s Education died in the CTV building. More than 6000 people, including 220 major trauma cases, have been treated at Christchurch Hospital since the quake.
Prime Minister John Key announces that an estimated 100 000 houses have liquefaction damage and 10 000 are to be demolished. 163 primary and secondary schools remain closed including Avonside Girls’ High School. 4879 Christchurch students enrol in other schools across New Zealand.
18 March Tens of thousands of people, including the Duke of Cambridge, attend the National Christchurch Memorial Service at Hagley Park, where the names of the 185 victims are read out.
13 June A magnitude 6.3 earthquake, part of a prolonged aftershock sequence, occurs inland south-east of Christchurch. It affects about 400 000 people, with 46 people injured and widespread gas leaks and soil liquefaction. More than 100 additional buildings are now beyond repair. Christchurch Cathedral suffers further damage as the rose window in the west wall collapses. Experts believe this aftershock will increase construction costs by approximately NZ$6 billion. The Christchurch population year-to-date has fallen by 2.4% as 10 000 people relocate.
2012 Many schools reopen and Avonside Girls’ High School students return to the school’s original site.
397 025 tonnes of silt has now been cleared from Christchurch City. More than 90% of properties in Greater Christchurch suffer some earthquake damage. The Reserve Bank’s revised repair and rebuilding estimate is NZ$20 billion. Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority suggests the rebuild plus improvements may well cost NZ$30 billion.
2013 The government purchases the CTV and PGC sites and makes a commitment to consult with the bereaved families over development plans. Cordons are finally lifted from the entire city.
2014 24 July Construction begins on a transitional cathedral in Christchurch.
15 August A dedication service for the transitional ‘Cardboard Cathedral’ designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is held in Christchurch.
2015 February 1240 buildings in the four avenues of the Christchurch CBD have been demolished since the September 2010 earthquakes.
2015 November Ground-breaking (sod turning) ceremony announces the commencement of construction work on the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial.
2017 21 February The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial is unveiled to the bereaved families with a ceremony led by Ngāi Tahu representatives.
22 February Thousands of people attend the public opening of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial on the sixth anniversary of New Zealand’s worst natural disaster since 1931.