22 Feb 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pledged New Zealand’s ongoing support for Christchurch at a civic remembrance service to mark the seventh anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

“The promise I want to make today is that the whole country is still just as behind the people of Canterbury today as they were with you on that tragic day seven years ago,’’ the Prime Minster said as she addressed the crowd of about 1000 gathered in front of the National Earthquake Memorial.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern puts flowers at the base of the memorial wall.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern places a flower at the base of the memorial wall.

“We are with you as the city and the people move into a future that is marked by hope and by a sense of optimism. We will continue to stand alongside you as you rebuild a city that captures the spirit that has flourished over the last seven years.  As you move forward with your recovery, we will stand alongside you. We will do all we can to support you,’’ she said. 

At the start of the service, Mayor Lianne Dalziel said 22 February 2011, 12.51pm was “one of those moments etched in our collective memories’’.

“People who were in Christchurch that day remember exactly where they were and what they were doing. People who weren’t here, but had a connection to Christchurch, remember when they first heard of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that claimed 185 lives and devastated the city and beyond,’’ the Mayor said.

Quake Families Trust Chair Tim Elms said today was about “remembering all that we lost and about being grateful for all we have gained.

“Today is about remembering our loved ones and being grateful that they were part of our lives. Today is about ensuring we honour their legacy by being courageous, by being grateful, by being determined, by being kind. Through us, we are keeping their dreams alive,’’ he said.

People file past the memorial wall.

People file past the memorial wall at the end of the civic service.

During the service, the names of the 185 people who lost their lives in the earthquake were read out and then at 12.51 - the time the quake struck seven years ago - the memorial site fell quiet as a minute's silence was observed.

At the end of the service the Prime Minister joined the Mayor, family members and survivors in laying wreaths and flowers at the base of the memorial wall.

The service was organised by Christchurch City Council and hosted in partnership with the Quake Families Trust.