A couple of years ago, Christchurch pop culture enthusiast (among other things), James Dann, noticed that the TV show Parks and Recreation was using a map of little old Christchurch as a stand in for Pawnee.
This map showing a version of central Christchurch, complete with Hagley/Ramsett Park appeared in the second season.
I’ve just done a bit of a binge-watch of Season 5, and was mildly surprised to see that the Pawnee=Christchurch thing wasn’t a one-off.
If this slide in a presentation by the inimitable April (episode 7, “Leslie vs April”) is anything to go by, Pawnee is the once and future Christchurch. ALWAYS.
Also, we’re getting a new park. Huzzah!
Let’s get a better look at that but with an actual Christchurch map for comparison. Here’s one I prepared earlier.
I like how they’ve kept some of the street names but changed others. Cashel St, for instance, has become “Quayle St”, Clarkson Ave has shortened to be “Clark” and Duke St has turned into “Dick St” (hur, hur) but Poplar, Ash, Alfred and Bedford have all stayed.
Apologies if this is not news to anyone but I thought it was cool.