One for the Christmas stocking, with royalties going to earthquake recovery, former New Zealand Listener journalist Bruce Ansley chronicles the destruction of many of Christchurch’s important heritage buildings during the earthquakes. The book is a chance to marvel at the city’s rich architectural history and provides a fascinating social account, interspersed with some amazing photography from a bygone era. Salvaged from the top floor of the devastated Press newspaper building, photo librarian Jude Tewnion has spent countless hours sifting through wheelie bin remains of the building to uncover an important body of imagery.

Ansley explores a range of projects including Christchurch’s Cathedral, the Town Hall, the Arts Centre, The Theatre Royal, and Ohinetahi, along with more general subjects such as pubs, high rises and chimneys. In true journalistic style, he incorporates a number of intriguing stories; apparently the roof of The Press building’s trademark tower once housed a pigeon loft for carrier pigeons, presumably to send news around the city, while the Carlton Hotel, which was totally ruined in the quakes, was said to have been haunted by the ghost of a newborn baby buried under the floorboards.

CHRISTCHURCH HERITAGE: A CELEBRATION OF LOST BUILDINGS AND STREETSCAPES by Bruce Ansley; Random House NZ; 2011; $49.99.