After more than a decade of tragedy, Christchurch emerges as New Zealand’s most ‘vibrant city’

Christchurch has shrugged off its once-conservative reputation and is now the ‘capital of cool’ in New Zealand, according to its mayor. Photograph: denizunlusu/Getty Images

From 2010, New Zealand’s second-largest city, Christchurch, became inextricably linked with crises. The city, which had been known for its gardens, gothic architecture and monochromatic culture was rocked by a decade of tragedy – devastating and fatal earthquakes, wildfires and a terrorist attack on two mosques that killed more than 50 people.

But in recent years, the city of crises has taken a surprising turn – shrugging off its once-conservative reputation and rebuilding from tragedy to become one of New Zealand’s most appealing cities.