Memorials and services for the Canterbury earthquakes

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Memorials for the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes include the Crown's official Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Unofficial memorials have included the 185 empty chairs and several sculptures and plaques throughout the city of Christchurch. The sites of the former CTV and PGC Buildings, which both collapsed in the 2011 earthquake, serve as memorials. At the Avonhead Park Cemetery in Christchurch, there is an interment site for the unidentified remains of four people who died in the 2011 quake.

Contents

Services and commemorative events have included a vigil on the foregrounds of Parliament on 1 March 2011, one week after the earthquake. A memorial day on 18 March was held in Canterbury after the passing of the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Act 2011. In the River of Flowers ceremony, which is held annually on 22 February, people drop flowers into the Avon River / Ōtākaro in memory of those who died during the 2011 earthquake. Another remembrance tradition is to place flowers in road cones. Several condolence books have been created and signed, including in Parliament House.

Memorials

Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial

The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in 2020 Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, Christchurch City, New Zealand 04.jpg
The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in 2020

The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial (Māori : Oi Manawa [1] ) is the Crown's official memorial for those killed or seriously injured in the February 2011 earthquake. It is located on both sides of the Avon River / Ōtākaro downstream from the Montreal Street bridge. The memorial opened on 22 February 2017, the sixth anniversary of the earthquake. [2]

CTV Building site

The CTV Building memorial CTV Building Memorial TA 01.jpg
The CTV Building memorial

The collapse of the CTV Building in the February 2011 earthquake resulted in 115 deaths, 62 per cent of the total fatality count of 185 in that earthquake. [3] The site reopened on 21 February 2018, the day before the earthquake's seven year anniversary, as a quiet memorial space, at the request of the families of the victims. Some of the building's foundations were kept in places and there is a memorial plinth on the northwest corner of the former building. [4]

PGC Building site

A sign at the PGC Building site telling people to respect the site Pyne Gould Corporation building 011.jpg
A sign at the PGC Building site telling people to respect the site

The PGC Building collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake, resulting in 18 deaths. The site later became a lawn with a small garden and a few benches. There is a sign at the edge of the site telling people to respect it. [5]

Art

The Spires sculpture in Latimer Square was installed in 2014. Made by sculptor Neil Dawson, it was inspired by the former spire of Christ Church Cathedral, destroyed in the February 2011 earthquake. [6]

185 empty chairs was an unofficial memorial for the 185 individuals who died in the February 2011 earthquake. Envisaged as a short-term installation made from chairs painted white, it became a major tourist attraction in the city. Installed at the day of the earthquake's first anniversary, it preceded the official earthquake memorial—the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial—by five years. As of 2017, there was a desire to turn the temporary installation into a permanent fixture. The memorial was closed and the chairs dispersed in April 2023.

The sculpture Extant by Graham Bennett was designed for and dedicated to the victims of the CTV Building collapse. It was installed at Knox Plaza in June 2015. [7]

At the University of Canterbury is a sculpture named Roimata, [8] made by Riki Manuel. [9] On the sculpture is a plaque that says that the university's cycleway is dedicated "to the courage and contribution of the University community following the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes." [8]

Interment site

The interment site on the 10th anniversary of the 2011 earthquake Christchurch Earthquake 10th Anniversary, 22nd February 2021 (50967962721).jpg
The interment site on the 10th anniversary of the 2011 earthquake

There is an interment site at the Avonhead Park Cemetery for the unidentified remains of four people who died in the February 2011 earthquake. [10] The remains could not be identified because they were burnt by the fire in the CTV Building after it collapsed. [11] The gravesite was unveiled on 21 February 2012, the day before the earthquake's first anniversary. On the day afterwards, it was opened to the public. [10]

The centrepiece of the site has six plaques, each with the text "Etched in our City’s memory, never to be forgotten. The City of Christchurch". Each plaque is written either in English, Māori, Filipino, Spanish, Russian or Braille. [10]

Miscellaneous

A section of the former Medway Street footbridge, which became twisted in the September 2010 earthquake, sits on the bank of the Avon River / Ōtākaro to serve as a memorial. It was placed there in 2018. [12] There are signs on both sides of the river providing information about the old bridge. [13]

At City Mall there is a plaque dedicated to the 22 February earthquake. [14]

Services and commemorative events

First week

On 1 March, one week after the February 2011 earthquake, a vigil was held at the forecourt and grounds of Parliament. [15] Over 5,000 members of the public attended at Parliament, [16] as did Governor General Anand Satyanand and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English. [15] A two-minute silence was nationally held at 12:51 pm, exactly a week after the earthquake struck. Church bells were struck throughout the country to signify the beginning and the end of the silence. [17] [18] In Christchurch, over 200 firefighters and rescue workers congregated around the A Tribute to Firefighters memorial for the September 11 attacks for the silence. At the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools, water slides and spas were turned off and in Wellington, buses and cars were reportedly stopped and pulled over. [19]

Starting at 12:56 pm, the bells of the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul rang a half-muffled peal for 10 minutes. [20] [15] Flags were also flown at half-mast, including at Parliament. [15] [18]

Public holiday

A national memorial service was held on 18 March at North Hagley Park, coinciding with a one-off provincial holiday for Canterbury, which required the passing of the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Act 2011 to legislate. [21] Prince William, made a two-day trip to the country to tour the areas affected by the earthquake, [22] attended on the Queen's behalf and made an address during the service. [23] New Zealand's governor-general, Sir Anand Satyanand, attended, along with John Key, Bob Parker, and a number of local and international dignitaries. [24] Australia's official delegation included Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. [25]

2021 memorial service

A memorial service was held at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial on 22 February 2021 to mark ten years since the earthquake and was attended by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. [26] [27] A minute's silence was held at 12:51 pm, and the names of all the victims were read aloud by Christchurch residents and first responders, before a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial. [28]

River of Flowers

A man dropping a flower into the Avon River / Otakaro Christchurch Earthquake 10th Anniversary, 22nd February 2021 (50968073042).jpg
A man dropping a flower into the Avon River / Ōtākaro

The River of Flowers ceremony, in which members of the public drop flowers into the Avon River / Ōtākaro in memory of those who died during the earthquake, was inaugurated on the first anniversary of the event (22 February 2012) and remains an annual commemorative ritual. [29] The event was created by Michelle Whitaker of Healthy Christchurch and Evan Smith of Avon-Otakaro Network. [30]

The events have included people writing messages and placing them on several Trees of Hope. [31] [32]

In the 2013 ceremony, the quake-damaged Medway Street footbridge was farewelled. It was removed a few months later. [33]

Flowers in road cones

Flowers in road cones, 2014 Christchurch traffic cone flowers 2 (cropped).jpg
Flowers in road cones, 2014

Before the first anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake, Christchurch artist Henry Sunderland created a cartoon that encouraged people to place flowers in road cones on the first anniversary, as an act of remembrance. After Sunderland posted the cartoon on facebook and it received over 4,000 shares within a few days, people in several countries followed the suggestion on 22 February 2012. [34]

In 2021, the University of Canterbury put wheelbarrows with roses in them on on University Drive so that people could place them in road cones. [8]

Condolence books

A condolence book was set up in Parliament House, which was signed by both the public and the Diplomatic corps. [15] The council of Christchurch, Dorset, in England, which is a twin town with New Zealand's Christchurch, created four condolence books. [35] In the High Commission of New Zealand in London, Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton, as well as Prince Harry signed the condolence book. [36] [37] Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama signed the condolence book in the high commission in Fiji. [38]

References

  1. ↑ "Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial". Ōtākaro Ltd. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Canterbury earthquake memorial to open for February 22, 2017 anniversary". The Press . 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Collapse: One building, 115 deaths".
  4. ↑ "CTV site reopens as peaceful shared space, seven years after 115 died in building collapse". Stuff . 21 February 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "PGC building collapse: A tragedy and a search into night for survivors". Stuff . 20 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "New Christchurch sculpture inspired by Cathedral spire". Creative New Zealand . 25 February 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "CTV building memorial at centre of Knox Plaza". Stuff . 25 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Ten years on – UC marks earthquake anniversary". University of Canterbury . 22 February 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "University of Canterbury's post". Facebook . 22 February 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 "22 February 2011 earthquake interment site". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gravesite for unidentified quake victims". Stuff . 20 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Twisted bridge to return to the banks of the Avon". RNZ . 28 October 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "Footbridge destroyed by earthquake to return to the Avon River as memorial". Stuff . 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "City Mall crowd mourns quietly". The Press . 23 February 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "10 years on: The 2011 Canterbury earthquake". New Zealand Parliament . 19 February 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Silence speaks of grief". Stuff . 2 March 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Two minutes silence for Christchurch quake victims". Radio New Zealand. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  18. 1 2 "New Zealand mourns quake victims with two-minute silence". The Guardian . Associated Press. 1 March 2011. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Silence speaks of grief". Stuff . 2 March 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "Christchurch Earthquake: Earthquake vigil at Parliament tomorrow". The New Zealand Herald . 28 February 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "PM announces national memorial service for ChCh". One News. TVNZ. 7 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  22. ↑ "Prince William to visit Australia". ABC. 8 March 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  23. ↑ "Prince William to address thousands at quake memorial". The New Zealand Herald . 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "National Christchurch Memorial Service". Canterbury Earthquake.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  25. ↑ Hudson, Phillip (14 March 2011). "Gillard, Abbott to attend Christchurch earthquake memorial". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  26. ↑ "Christchurch earthquake: Memorial held for victims 10 years on". BBC News. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "The devastating 2011 Christchurch quake remembered". Radio New Zealand. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Hunt, Elle (22 February 2021). "Jacinda Ardern pays tribute as Christchurch commemorates earthquake victims". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  29. ↑ Allott, Amber; McCallum, Hanna (22 February 2021). "Christchurch's rivers awash with flowers as city turns out to remember lives lost". New Zealand: Stuff . Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Tuesday 22 February 2022 – Earthquake Commemorations". Christchurch City Libraries. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  31. ↑ "Leave flowers or write messages of hope". 22 February 2012. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  32. ↑ "Flowers thrown for quake memorial". The Press . 19 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  33. ↑ "Symbolic bridge to be put in storage". Stuff . 10 April 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Quake cone tributes go global". The Press . 23 February 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  35. ↑ "Twin town Christchurch's condolences for quake victims". BBC News . 22 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  36. ↑ "Christchurch quake: latest info". Stuff . 25 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  37. ↑ "William and Kate express sorrow over quake". Stuff . 26 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  38. ↑ "PM signs condolence book at NZ High Commission". Fiji Village . 1 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
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