Media Release Thursday 23rd February 2017
Comment about proposed Mt. Erebus National Memorial after recent Christchurch Earthquake National Memorial Unveiling
Advocates for a national memorial for the 257 people who lost their lives in the 1979 Mt. Erebus air accident warmly
commend the organisation and work for the recently unveiled Christchurch Earthquake National Memorial. They suggest it
is an excellent example of what can be done with hard work, creativity, national and local Government endorsement, and
wide public support, and look forward to similar support for the planning of the Mt. Erebus air accident national
memorial for the 40thanniversary on 28th November 2019.
Erebus National Memorial spokesperson, Rev Dr Richard Waugh says, “The Christchurch earthquake memorial is an attractive
design, accessible, not in a cemetery, and a special place to display all the names of the earthquake victims. I have
had many Erebus families contact me saying, “Did you see the Christchurch memorial. That’s what we can do to have all
names together, in such a special way.”
There is presently no public memorial to the Erebus accident where all 257 names are displayed together. The Mt Erebus
air accident with 257 fatalities - 237 passengers and 20 crew - is still New Zealand’s worst civil disaster and the
worst aviation accident in the Southern Hemisphere.
Advocacy and planning has been underway since last year for a national memorial for the Mt. Erebus air accident. At
present significant discussions are being held with Government through the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and
communication with other people and interested organisations.
Dr Waugh says, “New Zealand as a nation continues to be profoundly affected by the Mt. Erebus tragedy and it is a
pastoral and public oversight that nothing has yet been done to establish a national memorial to the Mt. Erebus accident
victims, especially for the many families involved. There is such relevance and power in having all the names
appropriately displayed and honoured. We see that at memorials on ANZAC Day and we saw it yesterday in Christchurch. The
Erebus families need and deserve a significant place where they, and the public, can gather for special remembering.”
See website: www.erebusnationalmemorial.nz Erebus families and others are encouraged to register their interest on the website.