Memorial opening to mark quake anniversary

On the sixth anniversary of the deadly February 2011 Earthquake, a national memorial to the Canterbury Earthquakes will be unveiled.

A Place to Remember will provide a quiet space for people to reflect on the impact of the earthquakes, and a memorial to those who lost their lives or were injured. It also honours everyone who helped in the rescue and recovery operation. 

An artist's impression of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial

A memorial wall on the south bank is inscribed with the names of the 185 people who died in the quake.The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, designed by Slovenian architect Grega Vezjak, is on the banks of the Avon River between the Montreal Street Bridge and Durham Street, and bordered by Oxford Terrace to the South.

A National Dedication ceremony will be held there at midday on February 22, in a joint event with the annual Civic Memorial Ceremony.

A continuous River of Flowers will take place during the service from the public area on Cambridge Terrace. People are encouraged to bring their own unwrapped flowers and they will also be able to write messages for the Memory Tree of hope in this area.  

The memorial was developed in close consultation with those most affected by the disaster, including bereaved families, those who were injured, and first responders to the emergency. 

The National Dedication and Civic Memorial Service will be livestreamed on the Council website. A Facebook page has information and updates on the Memorial, and people are encouraged to share their stories of the earthquakes and give thanks to those that helped out here.

* Sport Canterbury's Run to Remember event, which was planned for this weekend, has been called off because of the Port Hills fires. Last year more than 1600 people took part.

A map of the memorial site