Transitional City

From 8am to 8pm on 22 February 2012, people brought flowers to drop in the river and wrote messages for a Tree of Hope.From 12.30 to 1.30pm, local community groups hosted the sites. At 12:51 two minutes' silence was held, followed by the release of red, helium-filled biodegradable balloons. The River of Flowers was an opportunity to come together as a city through a river of flowers; let go through dropping flowers into the river; hold two minutes of silence to remember those who have died, been injured, or who have lost their homes; and to write notes of hope and post them on a tree of hope. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of the river(s) in the life and heritage of the city; give a token of respect back to the river(s); show the connections between communities - particularly those most affected - and to celebrate our strength, our resilience and our support for one another.

The Student Volunteer Army was created after the September 2010 Earthquake via a Facebook page and served as a platform where people could find the necessary information about how to volunteer. Over the next two weeks the SVA provided safe and organised volunteer placement, transport, food and support for over 2,500 students, clearing 65,000 tonnes of liquefaction.Following the major damage of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, the SVA again dispatched thousands of volunteers within a three-week period. The SVA cleared over 360,000 tonnes of liquefaction in over 75,000 volunteer working hours. It also helped taking care of the residents, showing a presence in the streets and offering hot meals, clean water and guidance or professional assistance. The SVA also offered assistance to government departments, and helped delivering chemical toilets and information pamphlets, laying sandbags, staffing data entry and manning call centres.After March 2011, the Facebook page had over 26,000 followers and continued to act as a platform to organise and coordinate volunteers in Christchurch throughout 2011. In 2012, the SVA established itself as an incorporated society. The Founders of the SVA also established the Volunteer Army Foundation Trust, aiming to further the development of volunteering in New Zealand, and youth involvement in natural disasters.