NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 10 January 2013 | Views [913] | View Smaller Image
New Brighton Beach/Pier, Christchurch, during a snow storm of one of the coldest winters in Chch in decades. New Brighton is also one of the harder hit suburbs of Chch.
The timing of these two cold winters was difficult because of the earthquakes. Many people did not have warm homes to shelter them and many districts were still being 'zoned' for earthquake repairs or demolition.
During the winter there were many people stuck in limbo with uncertain futures. This pier appears as a bridge to nowhere, which is how many people would have felt about their lives at the time; not knowing if they had a future in Chch or not.
However, the bitter cold made many in the city appreciate the things they still had. The beauty of the small kindnesses and the community pulling together was important for Chch. This also birthed local superheroes Flat Man and Quake Kid who regularly perform volunteer and charity work for Chch.
