A memorial service to remember those who lost their lives, and to reflect on the devastating impact of the February 22nd earthquake on our city and its people.
We look back at the first anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake.
The names of each individual killed by the Christchurch earthquake were read one after the other at a memorial service to commemorate the quake's seventh anniversary today.
A sign outside the PGC Building from "Just a Passer-by" with a poem for those who lost loved ones in the collapsed building.
A photograph of flowers in two road cones on a traffic island. On the anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, people were encouraged to place flowers in road cones as a way of honouring those who lost their lives during the earthquake.
A photograph of a flower in a road cone. On the anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, people were encouraged to place flowers in road cones as a way of honouring those who lost their lives during the earthquake.
A book of condolence in the memorial tent at the Botanic Gardens. The tent was set up for people who wanted to make a tribute to those who lost their lives during the Canterbury earthquakes.
A sign outside the PGC Building from "Just a Passer-by" with a poem for those who lost loved ones in the collapsed building.
A photograph of Peter Majendie's memorial artwork '185 Empty Chairs' on Madras Street, with the Transitional Cathedral in the background.
A photograph of Peter Majendie's memorial artwork '185 Empty Chairs' on Madras Street, with the Transitional Cathedral in the background.
A photograph of people at the site of the CTV building. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "Second anniversary 22 February earthquake".
A photograph of people at the site of the CTV building. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "Second anniversary 22 February earthquake".
Flowers and gifts left at the site of the CTV Building to honour those who lost their lives in the building during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of Peter Majendie's memorial artwork '185 Empty Chairs' on Madras Street, with the Transitional Cathedral in the background.
A photograph of people at the site of the CTV building. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "Second anniversary 22 February earthquake".
A photograph of people at the site of the CTV building. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "Second anniversary 22 February earthquake".
The stage party standing for two minutes in silence at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Memorials left at the Cashel Street cordon by the Bridge of Remembrance".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Kate Sheppard memorial, near the former Municipal Chambers on the Avon Riverbank".
The Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square, with strapping around the angel's neck and hips to prevent damage.
The public memorial service held at Hagley Park to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
AIRCDRE Howse, CDRE Wayne Burroughs and AVM Peter Stockwell at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
Members of the public singing "How Great Thou Art" at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
The public memorial service held at Hagley Park to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
The public memorial service held at Hagley Park to mark the first anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Kate Sheppard memorial, near the former Municipal Chambers on the Avon Riverbank".
When a tragedy occurs of local or national scale throughout the world a memorial is often built to remember the victims, and to keep the tragedy fresh in the minds of generations with the conviction that this must not be repeated. Memorials to commemorate natural disasters very to the objective of a human induced tragedy in that future catastrophic events that affect the lives and livelihood of many citizens are sure to reoccur in countries that are geographically pre-disposed to the ravages of nature. This thesis examines memorial sites as case studies in New Zealand and Japan to explore the differences in how these two countries memorialise earthquakes, and tsunamis in the case of Japan, and whether there are lessons that each could learn from each other. In so doing, it draws largely on scholarly literature written about memorials commemorating war as little is written on memorials that respond to natural disasters. Visited case sites in both countries are analysed through multiple qualitative research methods with a broad view of what constitutes a memorial when the landscape is changed by the devastation of a natural disaster. How communities prepare for future events through changes in planning legislation, large scale infrastructure, tourism and preparedness for personal safety are issues addressed from the perspective of landscape architecture through spatial commemorative places. The intentions and meanings of memorials may differ but in the case of a memorial of natural disaster there is a clear message that is common to all. To reduce the severity of the number of deaths and level of destruction, education and preparedness for future events is a key aim of memorials and museums.
A photograph of the north side of the ChristChurch Cathedral with the Citizen's Memorial to the left. The roof of the cathedral has been damaged, and many of the doors and windows boarded up. On the memorial, the angel's waist and neck have been braced to keep her standing.
CPL Willie Apiata shaking the hand of a Police Officer at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
A photograph submitted by Philip Broderick Willis to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Christchurch National Memorial Service".