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The Sussexes

Prince Harry’s New Zealand visit turns its focus to Christchurch and 2011 devastating earthquake

Prince Harry spent his fourth day in New Zealand hearing about the impact the Christchurch earthquakes have had on the city.

This visit will focus on the restoration programmes underway following the tragic earthquake in 2011.

Harry, of course, heard about Christchurch from Prince William, who visited after the quake in 2011. William paid a second visit with The Duchess of Cambridge during their tour in 2014.

Sadly, 185 people died as a result of the earthquake and a majority of the city centre was in ruins.

Christchurch and the Canterbury region are now in the process of rebuilding their historic city centre.

Harry began his visit at New Regent Street where he met with the Prime Minister John Key, boarding a tram to ride through the CBD. The CBD was by far the hardest hit area. During his tram ride, Harry had the chance to witness some of the worst hit areas including the severely damaged ChristChurch Cathedral.

Harry and PM Key ended the tram tour at Cashel Street and visited the Quake City Exhibition.

Prince Harry and the Prime Minister will get off the tram at Cashel Street where they toured the Quake City Exhibition. During the tour of the exhibition, Prince Harry and PM Key met members of the Christchurch community affected by the earthquake and its aftermath.

The exhibition includes photos and footage from the earthquake and artefacts such as the spire of Christchurch Cathedral, a liquefaction display and recognition to volunteer groups such as the University of Canterbury’s Student Volunteer Army.

The Prince and PM went on a public walk down Cashel Street and then along a side of the Re: Start Container Mall. The mall consists of a group of shipping containers converted into popup shops to help rejuvenate the area and the economy. There are over 50 business at the Mall as well as a host of street performers and various market stalls.

Later, Harry will visit the University of Canterbury campus and met with members of the Student Volunteer Army as well as students taking the ChCh101 course. The course was created to allow students the chance to join other communities across Christchurch to learn about businesses that trade to undertake social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances or the environment.

Shortly after the Canterbury earthquakes, over 9,000 UC students organised as the Student Volunteer Army to afford vital relief across the city. Since then, provides hundreds of hours of volunteering in the community.

During the visit, Harry will view a range of the community programmes that the Student Volunteer Army have been involved in over the years.

In an exclusive interview Monday with Sky News’s Royal Correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, Harry commented: “Royal tours like this are great fun. Hopefully, I’m doing alright by myself. It would be great to have somebody next to me to sort of share the pressure but, you know, time will come and whatever happens, happens.”

On Wednesday 13th May, Prince Harry will carry out one more engagement in Christchurch before heading to Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North for an afternoon of military activities.

Photo credit: Emily Nash @emynash