COMMENTARY | Feb. 22 was a significant day for the people of New Zealand, especially those living in Christchurch. It marked the first anniversary of the 6.3 earthquake that claimed 185 lives and destroyed over a third of the CBD as well as thousands of other homes and buildings.
I went to the memorial service that was held in Hagley Park at noon. As I drove along earthquake-damaged streets, lined with hundreds of traffic cones, I noticed that each cone had flowers peeping out of the top. It was a touching gesture for a city in mourning.
Approximately 10,000 people gathered for the service and came with deck chairs, blankets and cushions — and one lady even brought her dog. Many were dressed in red and black, the provincial colors of Canterbury. The atmosphere was subdued and the level of noise extremely low for a crowd that size.
I personally found the Bible readings by Sam Johnson, leader of the Student Volunteer Army, and John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand to be a highlight of the service. The Governor General’s speech was inspiring and the crowd participated wholeheartedly in singing the national anthem and How Great Thou Art.
The most moving part of the service was the reading out of the names of the deceased by police officers and firefighters. This took nearly 13 minutes and I could hear people sobbing quietly nearby. The sense of loss and pain was overwhelming as we remembered the tragic events of the previous year. In the distance, cranes dotted the landscape of the CBD and the skyline was not the same as it was on Feb. 22, 2011.
At the end of the service, 185 monarch butterflies were released in memory of those who died. One of these landed on the arm of a woman sitting near my daughter – who was sitting in a different part of the park to myself. She said that people gathered around in almost reverential awe to gaze at its fragile body and beautiful colors — and to acknowledge what it represented. It was a tender moment, laced with grief.
The memorial service was a necessary step in Christchurch’s healing and those who couldn’t attend were able to watch the event on video. With the central city still cordoned off and thousands of people in limbo as the fate of their homes is decided, Christchurch has a long road ahead. So far, it has faced each day with great courage and determination and I’m proud to be a part of this great city.