The public commemorative events on Wednesday 22 February 2012 were:
Service to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake
8am-8.45am, Latimer Square
A service focused towards the families of those lost and first responders.
Order of Service [PDF 500KB]
Prime Minister's speech at the 8am Service in Latimer Square
Civic Memorial Service
12 noon-1.30pm, North Hagley Park
A public event for the whole community, this service included musical accompaniment from Christchurch school children, the reading of the names of the 185 lost and an observance of two minutes’ silence at 12.51pm. More info »
Order of Service [PDF 500KB]
Voices of hope.
A year on from the Feb 22 quake, these people volunteered their thoughts on Christchurch, its people and its future...
[Video that played during the Service 22 Feb - this is now on our Youtube channel ]
Photographs from the Civic Memorial Service
Click on image to see larger version.
Christchurch Earthquake Awards
2pm-4pm, North Hagley Park
This was a public event for the whole community where we recognised our earthquake heroes.
The Christchurch Earthquake Awards awarded on 22 February 2012 is available as a List of Recipients.
As well as the events in North Hagley Park Christchurch residents organised their own community events across the city.
Avonhead Park Cemetery interment site
Christchurch City Council has developed an interment site at Avonhead Park Cemetery - for those 185 lost in the 22 February 2011 earthquake - a place where people can pause, remember and grieve in peace for those who lost their lives.
Visit here for more information on the Avonhead Park Cemetery interment site.
Tributes and mementoes
Christchurch City Council anticipates tributes and mementoes will be left as part of the 22 February commemorative events and is working with Canterbury Museum to handle these sensitively. Sites will be monitored with the collection of items at regular intervals if required.
Non-perishable items will be assessed for potential safe-keeping by the Museum so they can form part of the city’s memory of these events. Organic materials will be composted for use on the city’s gardens.
If you have questions about this process please contact the Council on 941 8999.
Planning for the anniversary
There are many people in Canterbury and around the world who will not be able to attend Christchurch’s commemorative events but want to mark the day in some appropriate way.
For ideas on suggested remembrance options, compiled by national trauma and grief support agency Skylight, click here.
For help in planning how you spend the February anniversary, click here.
Community Events on February 22 around Christchurch.
Tell us what you are organising and we'll advertise it here. For more information call the Council Customer Centre on 941 8999 or email us at info@ccc.govt.nz
| What | Where | When | Details |
| St Paul's Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church Musical production | St Paul's Trinity Pacific Church hall | 18 Feb
7.30pm | The young people of our church will be presenting a Muscial Production, with Dance, Drama, Singing etc. Gold coin entry fee |
| River of Flowers Local 22 February Memorial | Along the Avon River | 22 Feb
8am-8pm | At 8 - 10 designated sites along the Avon, local community groups will host memorial gathering points. These will be signposted and open from 8am to 8pm on 22 February and include a bucket of rose petals and a Tree of Hope to which messages can be pinned throughout the day. Folk will be invited to come down to the site with live flowers and cast them into the river (or use some of the rose petals provided) and write a message for the Tree of Hope www.healthychristchurch.org.nz/river-of-flowers |
| Canterbury Quakes Exhibition | Canterbury Museum | Daily from 22 Feb to 1 Oct 2012
9am-5.30pm | This temporary exhibition explores in plain English the science behind the earthquakes that have struck Canterbury. It also celebrates aspects of the human spirit in the face of the disaster and gives a glimpse at some of the future plans for the recovery of the district. www.canterburymuseum.com/events |
| Aranui Community Trust Commemoration | 37 Hampshire Street, Aranui | 22 Feb 10am-12.30pm | Tea and coffee outside the Aranui Community Trust building, with community members welcome to write feelings in a commemorative book. At 12.15pm, all are welcome to join Trust staff as they go to the Avon River to release flowers as a mark of respect to those lost in the earthquake. |
| Festival of Flowers Commemorative Event | Christchurch Botanic Gardens | 22 Feb
10am-11.45am | A Commemorative Garden, situated near the Peace Bell, is being especially designed for the 23rd Festival of Flowers - the garden will provide a perfect place for reflection and contemplation. The Commemorative Event includes the unveiling of a 'Golden Angel/Spirit' sculpture - to honour the people who lost their lives. The Peace Bell will be rung by a Japanese student returning from Japan, to honour the loss of her friends in the CTV building. Taiko Drummers will present their powerful choreographed drumming rhythms and local brother and sister duet, Lisa Tui and Nikora Johnathon will provide exquisite music throughout the morning. www.festivalofflowers.co.nz |
| Memorial Day Happenings @ Wainoni/Avonside Community Services Trust | Methodist Church, 878 Avonside Drv | 22 Feb 12.45pm | A community gathering which will amongst other things will include lighting of candles, music, 2 minutes of silence and a cup of tea. |
| Kuaka Crescent Street party | Kuaka Crescent | 22 Feb
2pm | Street party for the residents of Kuaka Crescent, BYO food and drink. |
| Community Picnic at Branston Intermediate | Branston Intermediate | 22 Feb 4.30pm -7.30pm | Hornby Presbyterian Church, Branston Intermediate and The Gough Group are hosting a Community Picnic to remember the events of 22 February 2012. Free BBQ and ice cream and games for the kids. The Crusaders will be there to help man the BBQ. |
| Mass by the Filipino Community of Christchurch | Sacred Heart Parish Church, 70 Spencer Street, Addington | 22 Feb
Mass 5-6pm
Memorial 6-8pm | This is a tribute by the Filipino Community of Christchurch to the familes and victims of the 22nd earthquake. Refreshments provided but bring a plate would be much appreciated. |
| A Memorial Reflection in North East Christchurch | Queenspark Reserve in Queenspark Drv | 22 Feb
5pm-7pm | The event put on by Parklands Baptist Community Church, St Andrews Anglican Parish and St Kentigen Presbyterian Church in North New Brighton consists of stations around the park with photos and visuals where people can wander around and reflect on the past year and also a free sausage sizzle. |
| Reflection of Loss of Lives, Livelihoods and Living in neighbourhood | Oxford Terrace Baptist Church at 288 Oxford Terrace | 22 Feb
7pm | An installation of 184 white chairs which sit on 184 m2 of freshly laid lawn, the chairs are an assorted wooden/metal type chairs painted white, all being different to resemble the different nationalities of people who were victims of the earthquake. The installation will stay in place for a week. |
| Holy Trinity Avonside Memorial Service | Holy Trinity, Avonside, 168 Stanmore Road | 22 Feb
7pm | To mark the anniversary of the 22nd of Feburary, a brief memorial service will be offered at the St. Francis Hall at the Holy Trinity Avonside Church at 7pm, with an opportunity to light candles. Following this service will be a normal Ash Wednesday service www.holytrinityavonside.co.nz |
| Chinese Community Commemoration | Rewi Alley Education & Cultural Centre, 32A Matipo Street, Riccarton | 22 Feb 7pm-8pm | You are welcome to light candles, write messages on a card and place fresh flowers in the designated area. All flowers and cards will be sent to the Earthquake Memorial at Avonhead Park Cemetery. Speakers from New Zealand and China plus musical performances. |
| Remembrance & Ash Wednesday Service | Spreydon Baptist Church Auditorium, Cnr of Cobham & Lyttelton Sts | 22 Feb
7.30pm | A 1 hour service to reflect on the past year and to begin looking forward to Easter. www.spreydon.org.nz |
More information and FAQs about the February 2012 commemorative events
Is there a public memorial service for the one year anniversary of 22 February 2011?
Yes, there is. There are three public events to commemorate the first anniversary of the earthquake. Public events on Wednesday 22 February.
Who will be appearing at the Civic Memorial Service, will it be the same as the National Christchurch Memorial Service on the 18 March?
The Civic Memorial Service on 22 February 2012 will have a strong community focus including musical accompaniment by Christchurch school children. We will be observing two minutes’ silence at 12.51pm. More info »
Where do I find an order of service / programme of the public services?
Order of Service at Latimer Square [PDF 500KB]
Order of service for the Civic Memorial Service [PDF 500KB]
If I have to work and I can’t come to the Civic Memorial Service how do I observe the two minutes’ of silence?
There will be many who are unable to attend the public service. It is up to individuals how they observe the two minutes’ of silence, you need to do it in your own way.
I am unable to attend the Civic Memorial Service but would like to watch it on TV. Will it be screened on TV as the National Christchurch Memorial Service was on 18 March? If so what channel and what time will it be screening?
The Civic Memorial Service will screen live on TV One from 12 noon to 1.30pm.
If the weather is bad on 22 February 2012 will the ‘Service to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake’, the Civic Memorial Service and Christchurch Earthquake Awards be delayed until the next day?
The ‘Service to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake’, the Civic Memorial Service and Christchurch Earthquake Awards will be held on Wednesday 22 February 2012. If the service is unable to be held due to extreme weather conditions (most likely the only weather to prevent these events is high winds as it will continue in the event of rain) then a public notice will be announced on local radio stations and on the Christchurch City Council website by 11am for the North Hagley Park events. These events will not be re-scheduled.
Can I get a bus to the public commemorative events?
To find out more about bus services visit www.metroinfo.co.nz for scheduling details.
Will there be parking available for the public commemorative events?
There will be public parking available at Hagley Park. Visitors will be asked to give a gold coin donation to the charity which is managing the parking. Parking will be limited, so people are encouraged to take a bus or come early.
Is there a public earthquake memorial site where I can go in Christchurch?
There are plans for an Earthquake Memorial in the Central City Plan which is now under ministerial review. There is not yet an official earthquake memorial site. Visit www.ccc.govt.nz for further information about the Central City Plan.
I heard that there was a memorial at Avonhead Park Cemetery for those lost on 22 February 2011?
There is an interment site for those lost on 22 February 2011 at Avonhead Park Cemetery. This is currently under construction and closed to the public. It is expected to open to the public in late February 2012. This is not an official earthquake memorial site. An official Earthquake Memorial is currently proposed in the Central City Plan which is under ministerial review. Visit www.ccc.govt.nz for further information about the Central City Plan.
I would like to place some flowers on the CTVsite / PGC site / Cathedral Square on 22 February 2012, am I able to do this?
These sites are currently located in the Central City Red Zone and cannot be accessed by the public. The Central City Red Zone is constantly under review and part of it may be reduced at any time. Refer to http://cera.govt.nz/cbd-red-zone/red-zone-cordon-map for further information about the status of the Central City Red Zone cordon.
I want to nominate someone for a Christchurch Earthquake Award – am I too late?
Nominations for the Christchurch Earthquake Award closed on Friday 23 December. Nominations will no longer be received.
Will there be private events for the families of those who were lost?
Any private events for families of those lost will not be communicated publicly.
I want to organise a community event on the day, do I need permission from Council to do this?
Council expects that there will be community events across the city on 22 February 2012. For more information call the Council Customer Centre on 941 8999. Otherwise, it is up to community and resident groups to organise their own events.
Can I leave tributes and mementoes at the commemorative events?
Yes. The council anticipates such items will be left as part of the 22 February commemorative events and is working with Canterbury Museum to handle these sensitively.
What will happen to my tribute or memento after 22 February?
Items will be collected at regular intervals, with non-perishable items assessed for potential safe-keeping by Canterbury Museum and organic materials composted for use on the city’s gardens.
I am unable to attend the Civic Memorial Service but want to mark the anniversary in some way. How can I do this?
Click here for ideas on suggested remembrance options.
For help in planning how you spend the February anniversary, click here.
