Civic Earthquake Memorial Service 22 February 2019
E nga mana e nga reo e rau rangatira ma tenei te mihi kia koutou i te kaupapa o te ra tena koutou tena koutou kia ora tatou katoa
E nga manuhiri o nga hau e wha
E nga waka o nga tai e wha
Nau mai taute mai
Greetings and welcome to everyone gathered here today – to our visitors who have travelled from the four winds, to all who represent the four oceans, welcome to this place. Thank you to Dr Te Maire Tau – Upoko, Ngai Tūāhuriri, for his words of greeting.
Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration
HE Mr Norikazu SUZUKI - Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Members of Parliament: Hon Ruth Dyson, Hon Gerry Brownlee & Poto Williams
Mayor Winton Dalley, Hurunui District and David Ayers, Waimakariri District
Sir Bob and Lady Parker
Councillors
Members of the Diplomatic & Consular Corps, Representatives of the Emergency Services, the families and friends of those whose names are engraved on this memorial and everyone who has gathered today - I welcome you to this place.
May I in particular acknowledge the Quake Families Trust, as I welcome you here on their behalf as well.
This is the place where we gather on the 22nd February to remember those whose lives were lost, to ensure that they live on, not only in the memories of those who loved and knew them well, but also in our collective memory as a city. We also remember those who were seriously injured, and all those who were affected and who carry the scars of the trauma they have experienced. And we remember all those who came to help us in so many ways.
Today’s theme is ‘caring for each other’. It seems so appropriate when the experience of the earthquake, alongside the tragic loss of life, traumatic injury and loss of homes, was this extraordinary sense of coming together - reaching out - caring for each other.
Forged in tragedy the bonds that were formed that day and in the days, weeks, months and years that have followed will never be broken.
And so it is that 8 years on from that fateful day we come together at this time, in this place, to remember, to share our sorrow, to record our gratitude to those who came to our aid and to care for each other once more.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa.
E nga mana e nga reo e rau rangatira ma tenei te mihi kia koutou i te kaupapa o te ra tena koutou tena koutou kia ora tatou katoa
E nga manuhiri o nga hau e wha
E nga waka o nga tai e wha
Nau mai taute mai
Greetings and welcome to everyone gathered here today – to our visitors who have travelled from the four winds, to all who represent the four oceans, welcome to this place. Thank you to Dr Te Maire Tau – Upoko, Ngai Tūāhuriri, for his words of greeting.
Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration
HE Mr Norikazu SUZUKI - Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Members of Parliament: Hon Ruth Dyson, Hon Gerry Brownlee & Poto Williams
Mayor Winton Dalley, Hurunui District and David Ayers, Waimakariri District
Sir Bob and Lady Parker
Councillors
Members of the Diplomatic & Consular Corps, Representatives of the Emergency Services, the families and friends of those whose names are engraved on this memorial and everyone who has gathered today - I welcome you to this place.
May I in particular acknowledge the Quake Families Trust, as I welcome you here on their behalf as well.
This is the place where we gather on the 22nd February to remember those whose lives were lost, to ensure that they live on, not only in the memories of those who loved and knew them well, but also in our collective memory as a city. We also remember those who were seriously injured, and all those who were affected and who carry the scars of the trauma they have experienced. And we remember all those who came to help us in so many ways.
Today’s theme is ‘caring for each other’. It seems so appropriate when the experience of the earthquake, alongside the tragic loss of life, traumatic injury and loss of homes, was this extraordinary sense of coming together - reaching out - caring for each other.
Forged in tragedy the bonds that were formed that day and in the days, weeks, months and years that have followed will never be broken.
And so it is that 8 years on from that fateful day we come together at this time, in this place, to remember, to share our sorrow, to record our gratitude to those who came to our aid and to care for each other once more.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa.