Skip to content.

Historic New Zealand - Pouhere Taonga

CANterbury Tales

print page

Survey

We're interested to find out more about how visitors to this website are finding the experience so we can make improvements.  Can you spare five minutes to let us know what you think? The survey is anonymous. 

 Yes, I'll take the survey now

Thanks for your support. 

Original beauty at the heart of Knox Church

The Knox Church has farewelled its bricks but the famous timber interior lives on.

read more

New City Hotel

Owners committed to New City Hotel repair

One of inner Christchurch's "traditional" hotels will keep serving pints long into the future if its owners have their way.

read more

Eliza's Manor House

Boutique hotel bounces back

Eliza's owners Harold Williams and Ann Swimpfer are back in business.

read more

The Malthouse

Strengthening saves Malthouse

There's a good reason why The Malthouse didn't collapse during the quakes.

read more

McKenzie & Willis

Handsome facade to stay

It was touch and go for a while, but a familiar sight at the corner of Tuam and High streets will remain in the new Christchurch.

read more

Nurses Chapel

Chapel holds special place for nurses

The next challenge for a damaged historic 85-year-old hospital chapel is for it to be strengthened to meet new safety standards.

read more

New Regent St

New Regent St shops preserve streetscape

An entire historically important street is looking forward to being part of the new Christchurch.

read more

Dave Margetts, corner of Manchester Street

NZHPT and the earthquake recovery

A year after the first earthquake struck Canterbury, the NZHPT continues to work alongside property owners and leading authorities towards the best results for heritage. Amid the loss of the region’s heritage there are a number of success stories too – where owners have determined that their heritage properties will be restored.

read more

Stained glass window

Second time around

Materials salvaged from Christchurch’s demolished heritage buildings are finding new uses in the city’s rebuild. But will this compromise their historic integrity?

read more

Antigua Boatsheds

Vision pays off for Boatsheds

While many visitors to the Antigua Boat Sheds are keen to take a punt that was not an option for owners Mike and Sally Jones five years ago when they set about safeguarding their business’ future.

read more

The Octagon, Christchurch

Down but definitely not out

A flyer handed over by Alan Slade from the Slade Family Trust which owns the former Trinity Congregational Church in central Christchurch has a succinct heading – ‘Bugger! But we’re coming back’.

read more

Shattered model timeball station amongst the rubble

Picking up the pieces

For 135 years Lyttelton residents and visitors to the port settlement have looked up to the spur above Officers Point and seen the Timeball Station. Now, the visual reality of the seismic activity that has rocked Canterbury since 4 September 2010 is plain to see.

read more

Arts Centre, Christchurch

The Arts and mind of Canterbury

The Arts Centre in Christchurch takes up an entire block in the central city – so it’s fair to say repairing the iconic heritage complex and visitor attraction following successive earthquakes and countless aftershocks will be a complex task.

read more

Canterbury Club, Christchurch

Standing up to the shake

The Category II-registered Colonial Italianate Canterbury Club building on Cambridge Terrace overlooking the Avon River has stood up remarkably well, all things considered, to the earthquakes of last year and this.  So much so that plans are underway to celebrate the club’s 140th anniversary on site next August.

read more

Alec Bruce and Colin Sweetman

Christ's College motto the real strength

The motto at Christ’s College – ‘Good traditions, well maintained’ - is particularly apt given the challenges the school has met following the earthquakes and aftershocks of the past year.

read more

Brick furnaces at 550 Colombo Street

Archaeological discovery in central Christchurch

An exciting archaeological discovery was made during the demolition of an earthquake damaged building in central Christchurch in September. 

read more

Canterbury Provincial Government Building

International recognition for quake-damaged Christchurch landmark

The significantly-damaged Canterbury Provincial Government Buildings in Christchurch has been placed onto a world list of sites to help ensure its retention and restoration.

read more

Canterbury map
donate online. join us.