CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Ahmed Tani settled in Christchurch as a refugee in 1999. After his escape from civil war in Somalia, the New Zealand city seemed a place of peace, a haven.

Christchurch was more than just physically distant from the bitter strife he had previously known. With its leafy streets, vibrant gardens and green public parks, the Garden City as it is known was even visually a world away from the desolation of his war-scorched past.

But that peace hasn't always lasted and now the city will need to use its experience rebuilding from a 2011 earthquake to recover from the nation's worst terrorist attack.