Despite actually making it down to Christchurch before the earthquake and touring the city, I didn't actually take many photos...which in retrospect is pretty disappointing considering that many of the facades I admired have now crumbled. But from what I hear the city is coming back to life and hopefully they will begin the rebuilding soon.
This weekend off I recovered from some long weeks on call and spent my Sunday afternoon at Muriwai beach (in between the rain showers). It only about a 45 minute drive from Auckland...through groves of fruit trees and nurseries and sheep farms (in the drizzling rain) before descending down to the beach. There were, once again, way too many roundabouts which invariably mean a few too many expletives issued forth at them during the drive...
I mainly went to see the Gannet colony. Every year they fly over to Muriwai beach and camp out for 3-4 months from September to January where they nest, hatch their chicks and teach them to fly before heading back to Tasmania. Pretty remarkable birds!
The Gannets would take off from the cliffs and ride the updrafts around in circles...sometimes swooping right overhead. 
When flying against the wind they looked like they were in slow motion...hovering right next to me.
It also must be mating season for the gannets and I'm suspecting that this 'necking' is part of their mating ritual.
Looking Northward up Muriwai beach
