Remembering the Christchurch Earthquake and 22 February 2011

by Eugenie Sage

Children released 185 monarch butterflies at the end of today’s service as a tribute to the 185 individuals who died as a result of Christchurch’s severe earthquake on 22 February. Fluttering above the audience, the butterflies carried memories and hopes. Memories of life before the quakes and of a horrific day when the earthquake shattered families and loved ones did not return home or were injured. They carried hopes that life will get better and that Christchurch and its people will thrive again.

As members of the Police, Fire Services and other service personnel read aloud the names of everyone who had died it was enormously sad thinking of what each person meant to their family, workmates, friends and communities. But a strong and positive energy to guide the rebuild was also obvious, such as in the talented young musicians of the Linwood College Orchestra, and in a short film clip of Christchurch residents saying what they liked about the city and what they were looking forward to.

It has been a long, intense twelve months. The daily pain of loss, of healing injured bodies and minds, seemingly endless emails and phone calls to EQC and insurance companies about repairing or relocating homes and businesses, and long commutes on car clogged roads can make life difficult. The public’s vision for Christchurch which emerged through the City Council’s innovative “Share An Idea” Expo and consultation was of a beautiful, connected and sustainable city which people would want to live, work in and enjoy. As we navigate streetscapes with expanses of grey concrete and twisted reinforcing steel where heritage buildings once stood, a beautiful city seems hard to imagine.

Real progress in rebuilding Christchurch will occur if we keep faith with that public vision, keep alive the memories of those whom we lost, and if the community is given a much greater say in decisions on the rebuild.