Earthquake victims remembered 13 years after deadly event

Thursday, 22 February 2024

The bell tolled 185 times - one for each life lost in the February 2011 earthquake.

A civic memorial ceremony was held at Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial to mark 13 years since the deadly event.

Dignitaries laid wreaths at the memorial wall and the names of the 185 people who died were read out.

A minute of silence was held at 12.51pm, the time the earthquake struck.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the anniversary was a poignant day for many families as they thought about their loss.

“My thoughts and prayers are with those families,” he said.

Luxon said he was proud of his hometown city and where it was today.

“Here we stand in 2024, I think, incredibly optimistic about the future of this great city.”

Luxon said he told his British friends if they wanted to set up family life in New Zealand, they could go to Christchurch.

“Come to Christchurch, you have everything you need and nothing you don’t.”