Soon Christchurch will be reaching the year mark since the first 7.1 quake hit the region on September 4. Since that life-changing event, over 7,000 aftershocks have shaken the city, including the devastating 6.3 on February 22 that has left the central city a “no go” zone. However, in a positive step forward for the city, last week Christchurch City…

  AUIP staff in Christchurch are enjoying working from home today as the city has been hit with its heaviest snowfall in 16 years. Residents woke to a foot of snow that had fallen overnight. That snow coupled with further heavy falls during the morning has brought Christchurch to a relative standstill with the airport, universities, many shops and public…

For those of you who have been on the New Zealand program you would have most likely visited the beautiful Hinewai Reserve and met the charming Hugh Wilson. Sadly, last week a fire caused by a lightning strike destroyed a  third of the reserve.  The Hinewai Reserve  includes more than 12,000ha of gorse and regenerating native bush. It has more than…