The Earthquake Memorial
Introduction
The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial is a place to remember, to mourn, to express gratitude and to reflect.
Feedback from bereaved families, those seriously injured and survivors suggested that the memorial incorporate water and greenery, and be a peaceful and beautiful space.
The memorial location, either side of the Ōtākaro/Avon River downstream from the Montreal Street bridge, was chosen because it was an accessible central Christchurch location, suitable for commemorative events or an individual seeking quiet reflection.
An evaluation panel assessed more than 330 memorial design submissions from around the world before choosing a shortlist of six concepts. After considering feedback from a wide range of people, the panel recommended the south bank memorial wall design by Slovenian architect Grega Vezjak, noting it was:
- an evocative and powerful expression of loss and remembrance
- an elegant and contemporary design that was a strong civic statement
- well positioned in the sun alongside the river and the adjacent north bank park.
The memorial will be completed in February 2017, and opened to the public at the sixth anniversary commemoration of the 2011 earthquake on 22 February 2017.