Thursday 21 February 2013
Commemorative service tomorrow
Tomorrow (Friday 22 February) a service will be held in Latimer Square commemorating the second anniversary of the
Canterbury Earthquake 22 February 2011.The Civic Memorial Service will be held in partnership with the Anglican
ChristChurch Cathedral and begin at 12 noon.
The service will include a welcome by Ngai Tahu, readings, prayers and an address by Prime Minister John Key. Family
members of those who were killed, seriously injured survivors, members of the emergency services and the wider community
will have the opportunity to gather together and remember.
Mayor Bob Parker says that it’s important to acknowledge that the last two years have been extraordinary; the prolonged
nature of the aftermath cannot be ignored and our personal and collective grief continues.
“But we can draw strength from remembering that in the days following the February earthquake the residents of
Christchurch and our neighbours in Greater Christchurch showed a tremendous sense of community, solidarity and
compassion. We helped each other: neighbours helped neighbours and communities pulled together to offer assistance to
those most in need. This service is an opportunity to respectfully acknowledge this together and look forward to
forging, step-by-step, a new future.”
The Venerable Lynda Patterson, Acting Dean of ChristChurch Cathedral says the anniversary comes at a time of enormous
change for Christchurch.
“Each person will have their own memories of February earthquake but it is also important to seek the support of each
other as a community and that is what we do on this day of remembrance. We take the opportunity to pause and remember
what we have lost, question how we are different because of the past two years, and know what we are thankful for as we
look to the future. The service is a chance for a collective expression of individual memories and also hopes for the
future.”
The service will conclude with one minute’s silence at 12.51pm.
The service will take place at the south end of Latimer Square and a screen will be set up in the north end of Latimer
Square for those who cannot see the stage. Wreaths and floral tributes will be laid at the temporary cenotaph in Latimer
Square. At the conclusion of the service they will be transferred to the Bridge of Remembrance. In due course any
mementos will be archived and the flowers mulched and sprinkled on Christchurch City Parks.
For more information and a copy of the Order of Service visit www.ccc.govt.nz/22Feb2013.
ENDS