Most of Christchurch’s Central Business District is back to normal, with businesses and services running as usual. Buildings throughout most of the Central City are safe and in working order, according to representatives from Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism.
Full update on many services and accomoation providers below:
AIRPORT
Christchurch International Airport is fully operational. Runways, car park building and terminals have been fully assessed. Runways are undamaged. Terminals are structurally sound, but there is some superficial damage.
ATTRACTIONS
The International Antarctic Centre, located near the airport, is fully operational.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is open and all wildlife are safe.
Black Cat Cruises is operating normally in Akaroa with both the Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises and swimming with dolphins cruises departing as per its normal schedule. There has been some damage to buildings in and around the Akaroa area but most accommodation is untouched. Regular shuttle services to Akaroa are operating as normal. In Lyttelton the Diamond Harbour ferry is operating as per its normal timetable. Black Cat wildlife cruises in Lyttelton are not operating at present because the Lyttelton building has suffered some damage. They are relocating to temporary premises and expect to commence again on Wednesday.
Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura and Mackenzie region have been unaffected by the earthquake.
The historic Isaac Theatre Royal in Gloucester St has been undamaged, having been recently earthquake strengthened.
Mona Vale was closed on Monday. Damage appears to be minimal and it is anticipated the Homestead will be back in operation very soon.
The recently restored Bathhouse (almost all glass) next to the Homestead, which has just come through a two-year restoration, is completely in tact.
Air Force Museum has not sustained any damage, but as a public building they remain closed until clearance by structural engineers.
The Christchurch Arts Centre has sustained various amounts of damage, including the large chimney of The Great Hall collapsing internally. They are awaiting advice of engineers’ reports of when this will be cleared and stabilised.
The International Antarctic Centre is fully operational as a visitor attraction and event venue.
Christchurch City Art Gallery is currently the Civil Defence Headquarters and has held up exceptionally well.
Continental’s headquarters, main production kitchen and Event Hire base are located in Rangiora, a township 30km north of the Christchurch CBD. There has been very little property loss and no obvious structural damage to its offices or retail Continental Bakery, or damage to the Hires equipment. Uninterrupted power supply and no water contamination in Rangiora meant they could remain fully operational throughout.
On Saturday morning the Event Catering team swung into action, working with Civil Defence and utilising Continental’s specialised catering equipment to establish kitchens at the Emergency Welfare Centres set up at Linwood and Burnside Colleges and Addington Raceway.
The Welfare Centres are serviced by Salvation Army and Civil Defence personnel, feeding and housing people affected by the quake with both emotional and physical support. Numbers were lower than the 1200 anticipated on Saturday night but by Sunday evening space was filling fast as the extent of damage was further realised.
Akaroa has been lucky in the quake. The war memorial has some damage. A couple of houses are beyond repair. Duvauchelle Hotel is badly cracked, Okains Bay church has lost the east end and Little River catholic church has lost its porch and tower.
Tourism businesses are mostly all operating. There is plenty of available accommodation in Akaroa.
A few had damage that may take some time to repair – Rowandale Homestead is closed until further notice and Oinako Lodge is closed until further notice.
Eco-tourism expedition travel company Heritage Expeditions will be operating as normal by Tuesday or Wednesday (8 September), having suffered little damage.
VISITOR CENTRE
The i-SITE Visitor Centre in Cathedral Square is closed until at least Wednesday 8 September. The i-SITE Visitor Centre at Christchurch International Airport is full operational.
ACCOMMODATION
IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) three hotels in Christchurch, New Zealand remain open following the earthquake that rocked the Canterbury region in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Crowne Plaza Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Centre Christchurch and Holiday Inn on Avon Christchurch are all structurally sound and operational. Details on each of the hotels are as follows:
Crowne Plaza Christchurch has been assessed by structural engineers and given the all clear. All utilities have been restored and, apart from four floors that require some aesthetic repairs, the hotel is fully operational.
The hotel team is currently busy accommodating guests who have been displaced due to closure of other hotels in the city. The hotel has limited availability for anyone with unavoidable plans to visit the city this week.
Holiday Inn City Centre Christchurch has been confirmed structurally sound by engineers, with full functionality of all services and access to utilities.
Holiday Inn on Avon Christchurch has been cleared by structural engineers. All services have been restored and the hotel is fully operational.
Heritage Hotel Christchurch.
The hotel sustained relatively light damage and the Old Government Building has not been damaged. The hotel is continuing to operate with gas, water and power all on and has been given the ‘green’ permit to keep operating.
The Marque Christchurch
The Marque hotel, 166 Gloucester Street has been cleared and given green status and is fully operational.
Millennium and Copthorne Hotels
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand (NZX:MCK) advises that some of its hotels in Christchurch had suffered some damage as a result of the earthquake.
“The safety and security of our guests and our staff is paramount,” said MCK Managing Director Mr. BK Chiu. “We are taking steps to minimise the disruption to our guests including relocating them to our other properties and we are ensuring that our staff are looked after and able to work safely.”.
One hotel, the Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Durham Street has been issued with a Restricted Use notice from the Council and is closed to guests until further notice. Guests are being relocated to the Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central. Recovery and retrieval operations at the hotel are currently underway.
MCK’s other hotels, the Millennium Hotel Christchurch and the Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central have both passed Council inspections as being safe for occupation. Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central is operating as normal now that essential services have been restored to the Christchurch Central Business District.
Millennium Hotel Christchurch is open but is currently within the cordoned area of the central business district and access may be restricted.
CentrePoint on Colombo Motel is about 300 metres from the barrier at the corner of Armagh St. and Colombo St. The motel can be accessed easily and directly. Close to the Motel, the older buildings have been seriously damaged and some of our favorite restaurants within two minutes walk will unfortunately not be reopening for some time.
Charlotte Jane Boutique Hotel has not been affected.
The Classic Villa on Worcester Boulevard has not been affected.
Navigate Oceania’s properties in Christchurch – Clarement, Huntley Lodge, 36 Chester and Elm Tree House – have sustained very little damage, if any, and are operating as normal. All four properties have availability, and can accommodate guests who have been relocated from other properties.
CONFERENCING
Vbase
Christchurch Convention Centre and Christchurch Town Hall for Performing Arts have been cleared of structural damage and will reopen at 8am Wednesday. AMI Stadium and CBS Canterbury Arena will be assessed by structural engineers on Monday and Tuesday.
Events scheduled to be held at any of the four venues have been cancelled up until 8am Wednesday. The curfew placed on the Christchurch CBD does not affect the Convention Centre and Town Hall.
Vbase CEO Bryan Pearson says it does not appear that AMI Stadium or CBS Canterbury Arena have sustained structural damage but that will not be confirmed until engineers have completed their assessment.
Other major suppliers to Vbase, including technical, theming, trade display and security services are all fully operational.
Vbase offices in Peterborough Street are open for business. All clients with events at any of the venues over the next 10 days will be contacted by Vbase staff. Other clients are invited to contact Vbase for further information.
TRAVEL
The main coach and rail operators are operating as normal or close to normal.
COACHES
All InterCity, Newmans and GreatSights services in to and out of Christchurch are operating as normal. Due to inner city cordons, the pick-up point has been moved to the Christchurch Town Hall at 86 Kilmore St. This info is on their website and passengers with bookings are being contacted to inform them.
Magic Travellers Network is operating as normal.
Naked Bus is also operating as normal, their pick-up point has been moved but passengers are being contacted and the info is on their website.
