21/02/2026
Today marks 15 years of the Christchurch earthquake.
I remember the silence in the days that followed.
The city was so quiet, as if we were collectively asked to slow down.
Aftershocks kept moving through the ground, and the literal heart of the city was cordoned off for years. We couldn’t get close to it.
At the time, it felt like something had been taken away.
But with distance, I see it differently.
The heart wasn’t abandoned.
It was protected.
Given space.
Rebuilt with care, patience, and deep respect.
There’s something powerful about that.
Not rushing restoration.
Not forcing normality.
Allowing time for foundations to be strengthened before reopening.
Now, years later, the city feels open again. Alive. Creative. Expanding.
Today I’m holding quiet respect for those who were deeply affected, for the lives lost, and for the resilience that continues to shape this place.
I love you Ōtautahi
🖤