By Jessica Rowe
Only four of Christchurch’s 79 pipe organs survived the city's earthquakes.
With the city's town hall out of action, its magnificent Reiger organ has been temporarily silenced.
But Auckland has come up with the answer.
It is the ceremonial sound of royalty, pomp and celebration.
The Aotea Ali, as it is affectionately named, is one of the largest pipe-less organs in New Zealand and now it is in Christchurch.
The organ was previously housed in Auckland’s Aotea Centre but now it is on loan to Christchurch and local organist Martin Setchell says the city has a musical heart again.
“They have loaned this magnificent Allen electronic organ for as long as we need it, to use for our concerts, so it is a life saver for the city.”
Many churches suffered significant damage in the earthquakes and Mr Setchell says only about four of the 79 large pipe organs in Christchurch survived, or are accessible after the earthquakes.
In February, this Methodist church collapsed crushing its pipe organ and the three people who were trying to remove it.
And with the city's town hall still out of action, its beautiful Reiger pipe organ is also unavailable for an unknown period of time.
So its temporary replacement, the Aotea Ali has moved to he city's CBS arena, Christchurch’s only remaining venue for big public gatherings.
The council says it will help bring the city together again.
Christchurch deputy mayor Ngaire Button says it means they can have some of their iconic events that we look forward every year.
The Aotea Ali is expected to be in Christchurch for several years while the town hall is being restored, playing at many of the city's large public gatherings, including graduations and concerts.
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