How it all began

Post quake Christchurch saw changes to many aspects of life and lives in the Eastern suburbs. Many dramatic changes to the buildings, houses, infastructure and environment. Some very visible and some that, at the time, seemed insignificant. As a community some of these changes took us a while to see and acknowledge that change had even happened.

Two years post quakes, New brighton residents and avid gardeners, Cathy and Ken Baker, a couple who noticed significant changes in their normally thriving summer vegetable garden. The fruit trees weren't as laden and the tomatoes weren't fruiting. The bees, butterflies, bugs and even the fungi were notably absent.

Cathy noted, through conversations with locals, that this was a common theme amoung the home gardeners in the area.

The removal of houses and thestripping of the land in the red zone had greatly effected the ecosystem.

Conincidently, over this period of time, the Christchurch City Council was recording a record financial deficit and was endeavouring to find ways to recoup it's losses. It was mooted at a council meeting that Rawhiti Domain could be subdivided. It was deemed to be a disposable unit of untidy waste land.

This insensed Ken Baker - the Domain, which is situated in his neighbourhood, is a much loved area for him and his family. He had long been appalled that the area, for many decades, had been neglected by the council, having had little maintenance and no upgrading of gardens.

Cathy and Ken began to realise just what an asset the Domain really was to the community. It was a place for families to roam, a peaceful haven, a place to gather and a place where monarch butterflies hibernate in the pine trees over winter. A unique feature in the East.

The last remaining sand dune between the sea and city sits in the heart of the Domain.

This sand dune has been designated as an area for a natural children's playground.

On discovering this fact, Cathy and Ken sought local interest to preserve the Domain, to protect the monarchs and to develop a habitat to encourage bees, butterflies, bugs and fungi back into the area.

They say the project embracing the local schools and community groups. A project that would fundraise and work together to develop a unique play and recreation area in the heart of Rawhiti Domain. This are would complement the sporting facilities that have been established in the Domain for generations.

The vision is to have Rawhiti Domain be the most inviting natural recreation space in christchurch, accessible to all for generations to come.