In November, we set off on a road trip around the South Island. Arriving in Christchurch, we spent days exploring on foot. Last time I visited the city, it was bleak, scarred, dominated by condemned buildings. The rebuild was still slow after the earthquakes, and the streets had a rough, trashed look. On a freezing night back then, I walked through the centre, spooked by all that dead space. There's something terrifying about derelict buildings.
Now, years later, the change is remarkable. The reconstruction has taken off; new buildings are everywhere, and many are aesthetically and architecturally interesting. The city seems compact and dynamic. The river and parks are gorgeous in the spring sunshine. We walk around taking it in: the new centres and cafes, the river, the mature trees that have survived continuous upheaval. Suddenly, surprisingly, Christchurch is beautiful.
Denne historien er fra November 25 - December 1, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 25 - December 1, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.