22.02.13. Flowers in orange, plastic, road cones, Wairakei Rd
Quake Memorial Service focus. Not a fan of public displays of emotions, I'd avoided quake Memorial Services in previous years. Friday 22.02.13. I drove down Wairakei Rd to the 22 February 2011 Quake Memorial Service at Latimer Sq. Like last year's anniversary, people put flowers in OPRC-cordons. Ilam Rd junction, a fence banner:
WE REMEMBER. Red hearts either side of the words.
22.02.13. WE REMEMBER banner, Wairakei Rd
Worcester St: I parked, then trekked past ghost-houses to Latimer Hotel rebuild. Latimer Hotel would be renamed Rydges Hotel. Across the road, Tower On Latimer multi-storey was gutted, awaiting restoration.
22.02.13. Boarded, quake trashed house, Worcester St
22.02.13. Two cranes. Latimer Hotel rebuild, Worcester St / Latimer Sq. Latimer Hotel rebuild would be renamed Rydges Hotel
22.02.13. Quake boarded house. Behind, The Tower On Latimer, awaiting restoration, Worcester St / Latimer Sq
Latimer Sq: About a 4 000 crowd awaited the Memorial Service. I saw two black platforms for media-cameras. I saw the speakers' platform by by Hereford St trees. A NZ flag fluttered, half mast, next to four creamy, makeshift memorial-steps bearing a cross on top. The four memorial-steps tapered to the cross & was backdropped by Latimer Sq trees. Floodlights illuminated the makeshift-memorial.
22.02.13. Crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
By the speakers' platform, a giant screen broadcast the service. On the other side of the speakers' platform, the NZ army band in red-jackets were seated. Men choristers wore black-cassocks. Before the Memorial Service started, the giant screen stated:
REMEMBERING
22 FEBRUARY 2011
Two years on we remember our
community's strength and kindness
in the days following the earthquake
and take heart in our city's future.
22.02.13. Choristers, NZ Army Band, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Politicians, crowd, NZ Army Band, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. NZ Army Band, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
I saw many uniforms in the crowd: Rescue workers' blue-overalls; St John Ambulance personnel & CERA workers' orange Hi-Vis vests; Ryan Security personnel, olive Hi-Vis vests; blue-clad cops; brown-clad NZDF-soldiers; varigated ladies seated at a little Information-tent; workmen wearing hard-hats & Hi-Vis vests.
Madras St / Hereford St: While waiting for the service to start, I wandered to the Anglican Cardboard Cathedral, a work in progress: A-frame arches up, cardboard-roll-roof almost completed. Hereford St: I saw the parked NZ-army-band truck. On a side-mural: bandsmen.
22.02.13. NZ Army Band truck, IR bldg left, Les Mills gym right, Hereford St
22.02.13. Anglican Cardboard Cathedral construction, St Johns demolition site, Hereford St / Madras St
22.02.13. CTV bldg, demolition site, Madras St. 115 people died when the CTV bldg collapsed. Les Mills gym behind
Madras St: Near Les Mills gym, I saw a SMF-cordon by the CTV demolition-site which was opened for grieving families to pay their respects by placing flowers. There I saw three female CERA officials in orange Hi-Vis vests & a female NZDF-soldier in uniform. 115 people died when CTV collapsed & burned.
A road-sign:
TEMPORARY
ROAD CLOSURE
22 FEBRUARY 2013
FOR
MEMORIAL SERVICE
FROM
11 AM TO 3.30 PM
22/02/2013
ENQUIRIES: ...
Fence cordon, CERA condolence sign:
February 22nd 2013
This site has been opened today to allow
access for the families and friends who lost their
loved ones two years ago.
It will remain open until 6.30 pm.
Our hearts and thoughts are with you all today.
22.02.13. CERA condolence sign, steel mesh fence cordon, CTV bldg demolition site, Madras St
CERA usually had a SMF-cordon around CTV site, stopping mindless taggers.
Madras St / Cashel St: Diagonally across the road from the CTV site, I saw the 185 Empty Chairs memorial, remembering 185 quake-dead. The memorial had stood on St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition-site. Above all loomed red zoned, abandoned multi-storey IRD.
22.02.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, floral tribute. 185 Empty Chair Memorial, St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian, demolition site, Cashel St / Madras St
Latimer Sq: I recognized some grieving families in the crowd. Media pics, Royal Commission of Inquiry pics, Coroner's Inquest pics had enabled recognition over the last two years.
22.02.13. Makeshift memorial, NZ flag, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Deaf signers in crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Politicians, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. CERA minister Brownlee left, mayor Parker, PM Key, Ngai Tahu's Solomon, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Mayor Parker, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Choristers, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. NZ Army Band, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Makeshift memorial, NZ flag, politicians, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Catholic & Anglican bishops, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Media vehicles, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. St John Ambulance, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
I saw a claque of politicians & hangers-on & councillors, mostly wearing black, standing before the memorial-cross & speakers' platform. Two bishops, Catholic & Anglican wearing medieval garb stood next to the broadcast-screen near media-vehicles beneath trees. Both Anglican & Catholic cathedral-towers had collapsed in quakes.
22.02.13. Cleric, PM Key speech, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Crowd, NZ Army Band, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
Ceremonials: A fat female cleric ran the service. Tribute speeches: mayor Parker, then PM Key. Others dignitaries: speeches & prayers from bishops, interspersed with a bible reading, The Lord's Prayer, "How great thou Art", other hymns... The NZ-army-band played & choristers in cassocks led singing. On the southeast side of Latimer Sq, deaf signers "sang" hymns too.
22.02.13. Politicians, crowd, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. PM Key wreath laying, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Mayor Parker wreath laying, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Ngai Tahu's Solomon wreath laying, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. CERA minister Brownlee, mayor Parker, PM Key, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Toyama School principal wreath laying, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq. PM Key, Ngai Tahu's Solomon, cops behind
22.02.13. Cops wreath laying, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq. PM Key, Ngai Tahu's Solomon behind
22.02.13. St John Ambulance wreath laying, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq. PM Key behind left
22.02.13. Politicians applause, St John Ambulance wreath laying, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq. Toyama School principal left, next to Labour leader Shearer. Mayor Parker, PM Key right
22.02.13. Makeshift memorial, politicians, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Choristers, NZ Army Band, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Politicians, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Politicians, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq. Labour MP Cosgrove, Labour leader Shearer left, CERA minister Brownlee, mayor Parker middle, PM Key, Ngai Tahu's Solomon right
22.02.13. Makeshift memorial, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Catholic & Anglican bishops, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Jewish couple, floral tribute, 22.02.11 Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. NZ Army Band conductor, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
12.51pm, a minute's silence marked the 22 February 2011 Quake time, remembering the dead. Wreaths were laid on the makeshift memorial-cross steps by politicians & dignitaries including cops & St John, the latter two applauded by politicians.
22.02.13. Media photographers, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Mourners, floral tributes, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. NZ Army Band, crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Mourners, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. NZ Army Band, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
I saw mourners from all over the world, as different nationals perished in the 22 February 2011 Quake. The Japanese principal of Toyama School laid a wreath. Some of his language students died in the CTV collapse. A Jewish couple wearing yarmulkes laid a wreath. Israeli tourists also died in CBD masonry-collapses.
22.02.13. Labour MP Cosgrove, Labour leader Shearer, mourners, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Labour MP Dyson, mourner, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13. Mayor Parker, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
After wreath-laying, families of the dead queued, laying flowers on makeshift memorial-steps. Scruffy media photographers scurried, taking pics & videos, focussing on weepers. The creamy, makeshift memorial was cheap & nasty. Centre-stage, in media limelight, shabby politicians had hijacked mourners' grief. After politicians, real mourners, families in the wings, made late entrances.
22.02.13. Floral tributes, makeshift memorial, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
22.02.13 Crowd dispersing, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq
Although the Memorial Service was for 22 February 2011 Quake dead, PM Key boasted about the Blueprint Convention Centre which NZ National government had foisted on Christchurch's red-zone-CBD. NZ National government hadn't asked citizens if they wanted a Convention Centre nor other CBD Blueprint follies. Labour MPs were snubbed, standing near the National / Council claque, not taking part in Memorial Service ceremonials. The only Labour MP who did anything for Christchurch east was Dalziel. I'd seen her whinging at several protests in 2012. Late last year, I saw Labour MP Dyson addressing a Democracy protest. But that was all from Labour. And what did present Labour leader Shearer do for Christchurch over the last two quake-years? That Memorial Service was first & last time I saw Shearer in Christchurch.
*Trekked Wairakei Rd, Worcester St, Latimer Sq, Madras St. 147 images.
Coda:
The following week when Shearer shuffled his echelons, he downgraded Dalziel, saying in future more Labour MPs would have a say in Christchurch rebuild. Shearer just politicked for upcoming 2014 elections.
Meanwhile Anderton, ex MP, wannabe Christchurch mayor, beaten last election by mayor Parker, slagged off bishop Matthews who'd complained about Anderton's legal obstructions, stopping Anglicans saving quake-weathered, pigeon polluted icons & precious artifacts from Christ Church Cathedral. Despite Anderton's self-proclaimed sagacity about Christchurch "culture," Anderton didn't speak for my migrant culture! Why should other religions, atheists & immigrants pay for Anglican Cathedral repairs? I never heard Anderton acknowledging that migrants bought in mega-bucks & vast expertise into NZ!
Two years post 22 February 2011 Quake, Anderton's culture still ignored eastern suburbs' Third World roads & squalid living conditions!
Although the steeple collapsed in the 22 February 2011 Quake, injuring & trapping a woman & the west facade collapsed in 13 June 2011 Quake damaging Christ Church Cathedral more & the cathedral ruin weathered & rotted for two years behind a NZDF-cordon, citizens banned, Anderton & Heritage-hailers expected compliant clergy & laity & tourists to Save the Cathedral. The High Court had already ruled Christ Church Cathedral should be rebuilt by the Anglican diocese in Cathedral Sq, using insurance money. But expecting others to pay for Heritage- hailers' follies would continue for years.
Friday 22.02.13, 10.56pm, M3.9 quake, 8km depth, 15km east of Christchurch (GeoNet). I slept through it. Leah said it jolted & shook our house.
The Press, Wednesday 27.02.13. While Anderton jabbered about Saving the Cathedral, CERA boss Sutton spouted CERA excuses: Why eight months after Council requested an Insurance Advisory Service for citizens having difficulties with CERA's residential zoning decisions & subsequent insurer delays, nothing was done by CERA: "We're at the stage now of consulting with the Community Forum and we're committed to making sure that it's a good service that actually works for people." That so-called Community Forum would be silent for many months!
Two years post 22 February 2011 Quake, Sutton's version of earthquake RECOVERY was "consulting." Ha! Sutton was not up to earning his half million dollar p/a salary. EQC & insurers & CERA safeguards for assisting post-quake residential recovery were obnoxious. Sutton should publish minutes of ALL his "consulting," not just Insurance Advisory Service, so taxpayers paying his exorbitant salary were informed of Sutton's "consulting" with EQC & insurers.
Weekend Press, March 2-3, 2013, over two years post 4 September 2010 Quake, a front page headline: EQC WORKERS BULLIED. Emson, EQC's customer service boss whinged about irate clients bullying EQC staff & EQC having to protect itself against irate clients with razor-wire fencing & heightened reception desks & beefed up security at their cosy little hubs, like Bower Ave, which dealt with New Brighton's EQC & CERA neglected clients.
Emson failed to acknowledge EQC was the problem, not clients. Emson failed to mention that months before on Wednesday 08.08.12, Rev Coleman, ex mayor Moore, Labour MP Dalziel, councillors Livingstone & Carter & protesters had marched in bucketing rain to Emson's Princess St office, demanding that EQC dealt with clients properly. I saw Emson & EQC boss Simpson just standing in the rain & listening to protestors' complaints.
August 2019. The 185 Empty Chair memorial would still be on St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition-site. That 185 Empty Chair memorial would later be moved to St Lukes Anglican Church demolition-site, Kilmore St / Manchester St.
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Cathedral left to die with no dignity (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Church spat on sad day for city (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Cathedral plan now detailed group says (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Dismay over delays in insurance advice (The Press / Stuff Co).
See EQC workers bullied (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Neglected Cantabs say people not buildings priority (The Press / Stuff Co).
