Year 3 CERA. Second Anniversary 22.02.11 Killer Quake. Memorial Service

 

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 22.02.11 Killer Quake Memorial Service at Latimer Sq. Like last year's anniversary, people put flowers in orange, plastic, road cones. Ilam Rd junction, fence banner:

WE REMEMBER. Red hearts either side of the words.

22.02.13. WE REMEMBER banner, Wairakei Rd

Worcester St: 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, 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 4 000 crowd awaited the Memorial Service. 2 black platforms for media cameras. Speakers' platform by by Hereford St trees. NZ flag fluttered, half mast, next to 4 creamy, makeshift memorial steps, a cross on top. 4 memorial steps tapered to the cross, backdropped by 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. Other side of the speakers' platform, NZ army band in red jackets were seated. Men choristers wore black cassocks. Before the Memorial Service started, the giant screen:

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

Crowd uniforms: 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 in hard hats, Hi-Vis vests.

Madras St / Hereford St: While waiting for the service to start, I wandered to Anglican Cardboard Cathedral, a work in progress: A-frame arches up, cardboard-roll roof almost completed. Hereford St: parked NZ army band truck, 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, steel mesh fence cordon by CTV demolition site, opened for families of the dead paying respects, placing flowers. Three female CERA officials in orange, Hi-Vis vests, a female NZDF soldier in uniform stood by. 115 people died when CTV collapsed & burned.

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 steel mesh fence cordon around CTV site, stopping mindless taggers.

Madras St / Cashel St: Diagonally across the road from CTV site, 185 Empty Chairs memorial, remembering 185 quake dead. The memorial had stood on St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site. Above all loomed red zone, multi-storey IRD ghost.

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 enabled recognition over the last 2 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

Claque of politicians, hangers-on, councillors, mostly wearing black, stood before the memorial cross & speakers' platform. Two bishops, Catholic, Anglican, wearing medieval garb, stood next to the broadcast screen by media vehicles beneath trees. Anglican & Catholic cathedral towers collapsed in quakes.

22.02.13. Crowd, 22.02.11 quake Memorial Service, Latimer Sq

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: 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... NZ army band played, choristers in cassocks led singing. SE 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, minute's silence, marking February 22 Killer Quake time, remembering the dead. Wreaths laid on makeshift memorial cross steps by politicians, dignitaries, including cops, St John, the latter 2 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

Mourners came from all over the world, as different nationals died in February 22 Killer Quake. Japanese principal, Toyama School, laid a wreath. Some of his language students died in CTV collapse. Jewish couple wearing yarmulkes laid a wreath. Israeli tourists died from CBD, unreinforced masonry collapse.

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. Creamy, makeshift memorial: cheap, nasty. Centre stage, in media limelight, shabby politicians 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 22.02.11 Killer Quake dead, PM Key boasted about the Blueprint Convention Centre NZ National govt foisted on Christchurch's red zone CBD. NZ National govt hadn't asked citizens if they wanted a Convention Centre nor other CBD Blueprint follies. Labour MPs were snubbed, standing by the National / Council claque, not taking part in Memorial Service ceremonials. Only Labour MP who did anything for Christchurch E was Dalziel. She'd whinged at several protests in 2012. Late last year, Labour's Dyson made a speech at a Democracy protest, but that was all. And what did Labour leader Shearer do for Christchurch over the last 2 quake years? 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 Parker, slagged off bishop Matthews, who'd complained about his 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. In apartheid SA I'd encountered many cultural fascists. Why should other religions, atheists, immigrants pay for Anglican Cathedral repairs?

Two years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, Anderton's culture ignored E suburbs' Third World roads & squalid living conditions.

Although the steeple collapsed in 22.02.11 Killer Quake, injuring & trapping a woman & the west facade collapsed in 13.06.11 quake, damaging Christ Church Cathedral more & the cathedral ruin weathered, rotted for 2 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 Beggar-bowl mentality, expecting others to pay for Heritage hailers' follies, would continue for years.

Fri 22.02.13, 10.56pm, M3.9 quake, 8km depth, 15km E of Christchurch (GeoNet). Slept through it. Leah said it jolted, shaking our house.

The Press, Wed 27.02.13. While Anderton jabbered about Saving the Cathedral, CERA boss Sutton spouted another excuse, why 8 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." So-called Community Forum would be silent for many post quake months.

Two years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, Sutton's version of earthquake RECOVERY: "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 slackers like EQC & insurers.

Weekend Press, March 2-3, 2013, over 2 years post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake, 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, Wed 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 EQC dealt with clients properly. Emson & EQC boss Simpson just stood in the rain, listening to protestors' complaints.

Aug 2019. 185 Empty Chair memorial would still be on St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site. 185 Empty Chair memorial would later be moved to St Lukes Anglican Church demo 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).