PM to attend quake memorial service

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will speak at the civic service in Christchurch commemorating the seventh anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake.

The 45-minute service will be held at 12.30pm on the North Bank of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial Oi Manawa on the corner of Montreal Street and Cambridge Terrace.

Anyone planning on attending the service is asked to be at the site by 12.20pm.

The Council-organised service is being hosted in partnership with the Quake Families Trust. Julian Wilcox, Chief Operating Officer Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, will act as MC.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Chair of the Quake Families Trust Tim Elms, and Te Maire Tau, Upoko Ngāi Tūāhuriri, will join Ms Ardern in the official party.

The Mayor, along with Mr Elms, will be welcoming guests on behalf of the city.

"The theme of this year's service, 'Keeping their dreams alive" helps us look back at all that we've lost with a sense of hope and aspiration for the future,'' says the Mayor.

"It also helps us to recall all those who came to our rescue and those who offered support at our time of need and what that meant to us."

During the civic memorial service, the names of the 185 people who lost their lives in the earthquake will be read out in the order they appear on the Memorial Wall.

There will be a minute’s silence at 12.51, the time the quake struck seven years ago. The Act of Remembrance will be read by members of many faiths before an address by the Prime Minister.

Voices Co. will perform For Good before the closing karakia and blessing. After the service the official party, along with invited guests, families and survivors are invited to lead the public to walk to the Memorial Wall to lay tributes such as wreaths and flowers.

Parking will be limited, so attendees are reminded to plan their trip and use public transport if possible. The memorial site is a short walk from the Bus Interchange and several parking buildings.

The service will be streamed on the Council website.

As a mark of respect, the Council meeting will be held in the afternoon, starting at 2pm.