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NEW ZEALAND LOWERED its flags today and made special note of those who could not travel as it marked the 10th anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake that killed 185 people.
Hundreds of people attended an outdoor service in Christchurch, which continues to rebuild from the magnitude 6.3 quake that destroyed much of the city’s downtown area.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was important to remember that 87 of the victims were foreigners and many of their families could not attend due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
“Our flags fly at half-mast for them today too,” she said.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel talked about the 28 Japanese citizens who died, the largest number of victims from any country outside of New Zealand.
“I especially wanted to mention all the Japanese family members who I last year met in Japan and who so wanted to be here,” she said.
“We are forever connected by this tragedy and we do not forget you even when we are apart. You are with us in spirit.”
Another who spoke at the service was Maan Alkaisi, a university professor who has spent years trying to compel authorities to press criminal charges against those who designed the CTV building which collapsed during the quake, killing 115 people including his wife, Maysoon Abbas.
A review after the quake found the building’s design was flawed and it should never have been approved.
“Today commemorates 10 years of injustice and mistreatment,” Alkaisi said.
“Today reminds us of our responsibility to make sure we learn from this tragic experience and honour those lovely people we lost by ensuring their dreams are kept alive, by ensuring this will not happen again.”
The memorial service was held on the banks of the Avon River, and a moment’s silence was observed at 12.51pm, the time the quake struck. Emergency service workers and others took turns reading out the names of each of the victims.
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I’d say most of them would fail to pick it out on a map
Are you joking – they don’t give a fup about NI
There are 60 million people living in mainland Britain. Why would the north with 1.5 million be front and centre or anywhere near the top of their priorities?
@John Mulligan: why should SF change for DUPs benefit? DUP backed a hard BREXIT in the hope of breaking the close link with the Republic from the GFA. If anybody has to change its the DUP to reflect the changing political climate in the North
To most people in Britain, Northern Ireland is just a giant pain in the butt. A running sore that needs cortorising and gone from their life’s ASAP.
The Tories don’t give a flying feck about NI.
Funniest thing I’ve read all week. NI isn’t even in the back of the mind of those that are looking to become ty next Tori leader. When will those in NI realise they are a thorn in the side of the mainland.
@Jason Walsh: Mainland? What about the aisle of Wight?
@John Mulligan: Dear John, that comes across as a very entrenched and one sided view. When Michelle O’Neill laid a wreath at the war memorial in Belfast last week to honour the Unionist war dead, she was really poking them in the eye, you say.
and yesterday when she attending a Muslim festival in Belfast and spoke about celebrating all the rainbow colours that make up society in the north as that society is no longer one of Orange and Green, she was really poking unionists in the eye you say?
Wise up there John before you are left behind with the DUP!
@John Mulligan: you’re spot on, with the two established parties of conflict as the main parties, it is harder than ever to agree on thinks. People voted for change for voting for the Aliance party. People are sick of green v orange
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