193 days ago

Do you remember the Crystal Palace theatre?

David from Redwood

The Crystal Palace theatre stood in the north-west corner of Cathedral Square from it's opening in 1918 to its demolition in 1986. It initially showed silent films, but was upgraded to show "talkies" in 1929. During the early 1930s it became the "All-British Theatre", showing only British films. 🇬🇧

The cinema was dwarfed by the neighbouring Government Life insurance built during the 1960s, and then in 1986 it was finally demolished to make way for the unremarkable "Crystal Plaza" shopping mall. Today, the site is part of the Te Pae complex; the iconic 32m tower stood roughly where the Cathedral Square entrance to Te Pae is today.

All of this was before my time, but it's been fascinating reading about how Cathedral Square was not only a public transport hub, a religious centre, but also an entertainment hub, with theatres all around the outside.

You can read all about the Crystal Palace in the new Wikipedia article!
en.wikipedia.org...

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.

Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔

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Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
  • 73.2% We work hard, we deserve a break!
    73.2% Complete
  • 16% Hmm, maybe?
    16% Complete
  • 10.8% Yes!
    10.8% Complete
639 votes
4 hours ago

Secure your homes over summer

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.

Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”

Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”

If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.

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6 days ago

Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.

We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?

Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.

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Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
  • 90.9% Yes
    90.9% Complete
  • 9.1% No
    9.1% Complete
88 votes