From the CTV Building Family and Friends Group – Christchurch
Released by David Lynch
Momentus Public Relations
18 September 2018
Why We Must Never Forget the Christchurch Earthquake
Tel Aviv's Hila Oren has been brought to Christchurch by one council-funded entity, the Christchurch Foundation, to help
another council-funded entity, ChristchurchNZ, craft the city's narrative.
Last Monday, Hila Oren addressed a presentation, attended by Mayor Lianne Dalziel and other invited guests, where she
said that she believes the city's earthquake epoch should be eliminated from the Christchurch narrative. "It's not
important at all. Let it go."
The following commentary in response to Hila Oren’s statement for Christchurch city's earthquake epoch to be eliminated
RESPONSE:
Next February we mark the eighth anniversary of the collapse of the Canterbury Television building (CTV) on February 22,
2011, which resulted in one of the most tragic and unnecessary losses of life in the history of New Zealand.
The final report by the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission found that the CTV building should not have been granted
a building permit in 1986 by the Christchurch City Council because it did not meet the building code of the time.
The report highlighted inadequacies in the CTV building’s construction and concluded that the building should not have
been given a green sticker after the September earthquake.
Whilst Hila Oren clearly believes that the city's earthquake epoch should be eliminated from the Christchurch narrative
and that: “It’s not important at all and to let it go,”- I totally disagree.
In my opinion, Oren’ s comments are not only disturbing but disrespectful and will no doubt be very upsetting to the
friends and families of the 115 people who lost their lives in the CTV building on that fateful day.
Next February’s anniversary, like the previous ones, offer an opportunity to take stock of lessons learned, reflect on
the recovery process, and to appreciate once again, the heroic efforts of the first responders who rushed to the
collapsed CTV building, and in many cases, put their own lives at risk to save others.
The tragedy of CTV building collapse will always be linked with building and engineering design and safety. It is hoped
that it will continue to lead a discussion and growing awareness of safety issues and to major improvements in the
regulation and seismic design of new buildings both here in New Zealand and around the world.
February 22, 2011, impressed upon us that life is a precious gift…. And I believe that we all have a duty to every
person that lost their lives in the earthquake, or suffered significant physical and emotional trauma, “To Not Let Go”
and to ensure that what took place on that day is never forgotten and is accorded a rightful chapter in the Christchurch
story.
In closing, I note that Hila Oren’s time in Christchurch is consulting for the Christchurch Foundation, which receives
core funding from the Christchurch City Council - initially for the first five years.
With this in mind, I believe It would important for the Press to see if the Mayor and Councillors share Hila Oren’s
views in respect of this matter.