Christchurch Sites Considered For Erebus Memorial Site
The sites will honour the 257 people who lost their lives in 1979 when Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing tour.
The government committed to building a National Erebus Memorial in 2017, with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage leading the project.
A plan for a memorial in Auckland's Dove Meyer Robinson Park divided opinions with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens, and it was ultimately abandoned in 2023 after cyclone damage and land instability meant it was no longer safe to build on the site.
Culture and Heritage secretary Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said the following three potential Christchurch sites had been shared with the Erebus families and members of the group Operation Overdue.
Avon Riverbank in the central city
Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere
St James' Church grounds in Harewood
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is seeking feedback from the Erebus families on each of the sites and said no decisions had been made about locating the memorial in Christchurch, nor which of the potential sights may be selected.
"We are grateful to Erebus families for their continued engagement. Sharing these potential sites is an important step and we will carefully consider their feedback.
"We are committed to building this memorial - for the people who lost loved ones, for New Zealanders, and for those here and overseas impacted by the Erebus tragedy," Leauanae said in a statement.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the city was honoured to be considered as a possible location for the memorial.
"As a city, we have experienced tragedy and understand the deep impact the Erebus disaster continues to have on people across Aotearoa," he said in a statement.
"Christchurch is long connected to Antarctica, we feel a deep sense of responsibility to honour the lives of your loved ones with great care and quiet dignity."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Surge in house fire deaths over alternative heating methods
Barbecues used indoors can spark fires. Photo: 123RF Fire and Emergency (FENZ) says the cost of living could be to blame for the highest number of house fire fatalities in a decade. According to FENZ, in the past 12 months 17 people have died in avoidable house fires. In a typical year there were about 13 fatalities. FENZ reduction and investigations manager Pete Gallagher said in some cases, fires had been sparked by people using barbecues to heat their homes. "One of the things we're concerned about is people using non-traditional heating devices as a way of heating their homes," he told RNZ's Midday Report . "In order to reduce the cost of living and reduce their use of electricity, they're resorting to using items we wouldn't normally see in a household setting, things like barbecues being brought inside and used as a heating device in the home." He estimated roughly four or five fatal house fires in the past year were caused by people taking desperate measures to keep themselves warm. "We still see people utilising industrial heaters in a domestic home, and obviously they're a very powerful heater designed to heat large warehouses, and we saw some tragedy result in the use of one of those last year." Gallagher said people needed to think about safety when heating their homes. He said there were two incidents in the past year where candles caused a fire, which resulted in death. Gallagher said this past year's statistics were disappointing, as house fire fatalities had previously been on the decline. "The population has been doing a great job at reducing the number of deaths from house fires. I'd like to think this is just a blip in our statistics. But it looks to be a trend we need to get on top of because we don't want to get back to the days of the 1970s and 1980s, where a large number of New Zealanders were dying in house fires." He attributed financial pressures and people not giving proper attention to their electrical devices to the number of deaths "skyrocketing back up". "We're seeing wider use of electrical devices, there are more things people plug in or turn on in their homes and sometimes without the necessary care and attention. "But certainly the cost of living, we see that driving the way people are operating these days, and that's definitely impacting our fire statistics. 'It's a concern that people are putting themselves at risk." Gallagher said with the country experiencing colder days recently, it was timely for people to make sure they were taking a safety approach to staying warm. "We have this phrase, the 'heater metre'. We want everyone to be aware that a heating device is just as effective when it's a metre away. "When drying clothes, they don't need to be on top of the heater; they can be a metre away." He said two-thirds of the fire fatalities in the past year happened in homes while people were sleeping. "The importance of a smoke alarm cannot be overlooked. It's key for that early warning, and once it activates, it's important to have a plan to get out and stay out of the house." Fire statistics showed that those aged 65 and over, in particular, were at greater risk, Gallagher said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Kiwis Invited To ‘Beat The Bin' With New Digital Challenge To Slash Food Waste And Save $1,200 A Year!
Press Release – Love Food Hate Waste Beat the Bin is about helping Kiwis take that first step or get back on track with reducing food waste. We dont need perfection from everyone. What we need is millions making progress. Together, so we can save $2.8 billion and dramatically … In a bid to help New Zealand households reduce food waste and save the $2.9 billion worth of food that goes to landfill every year, Love Food Hate Waste NZ has launched Beat the Bin, a free, three-week email challenge designed to provide practical, bite-sized actions for busy individuals and families. With the average Kiwi household throwing away up to 16 supermarket bags of perfectly edible food (86kgs, worth around $1,200), Beat the Bin offers an accessible solution to this pressing issue. Participants will receive weekly emails containing simple tips and challenges focused on smarter storage, effective meal planning, creative use of leftovers, and making the most of every part of their food. 'We understand that many people want to reduce food waste but feel overwhelmed about where to start,' says Sophie Wolland, Project Manager at Love Food Hate Waste NZ. 'Beat the Bin is about helping Kiwis take that first step — or get back on track — with reducing food waste. We don't need perfection from everyone. What we need is millions making progress. Together, so we can save $2.8 billion and dramatically reduce our impact on the planet.' Each week, participants can choose between a 'Quick Win'—an action that takes less than 5 minutes—and a 'Waste Warrior' challenge for those ready to delve deeper. The program is designed to fit seamlessly into daily routines, ensuring that even the busiest individuals can participate and make a difference. To incentivise participation, those who sign up during August will have the opportunity to win one of three $500 grocery vouchers, along with weekly spot prizes. Unlike other initiatives, Beat the Bin is entirely digital, allowing participants to engage with the content at their own pace and convenience. This approach ensures that more New Zealanders can access the resources and support needed to tackle food waste effectively. 'Our goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make lasting changes,' adds Wolland. 'By delivering the program directly to their inboxes, we're making it as easy as possible for people to get involved, share with friends and take action against food waste.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Kiwis Invited To 'Beat The Bin' With New Digital Challenge To Slash Food Waste And Save $1,200 A Year!
In a bid to help New Zealand households reduce food waste and save the $2.9 billion worth of food that goes to landfill every year, Love Food Hate Waste NZ has launched Beat the Bin, a free, three-week email challenge designed to provide practical, bite-sized actions for busy individuals and families. With the average Kiwi household throwing away up to 16 supermarket bags of perfectly edible food (86kgs, worth around $1,200), Beat the Bin offers an accessible solution to this pressing issue. Participants will receive weekly emails containing simple tips and challenges focused on smarter storage, effective meal planning, creative use of leftovers, and making the most of every part of their food. 'We understand that many people want to reduce food waste but feel overwhelmed about where to start,' says Sophie Wolland, Project Manager at Love Food Hate Waste NZ. 'Beat the Bin is about helping Kiwis take that first step — or get back on track — with reducing food waste. We don't need perfection from everyone. What we need is millions making progress. Together, so we can save $2.8 billion and dramatically reduce our impact on the planet.' Each week, participants can choose between a 'Quick Win'—an action that takes less than 5 minutes—and a 'Waste Warrior' challenge for those ready to delve deeper. The program is designed to fit seamlessly into daily routines, ensuring that even the busiest individuals can participate and make a difference. To incentivise participation, those who sign up during August will have the opportunity to win one of three $500 grocery vouchers, along with weekly spot prizes. Unlike other initiatives, Beat the Bin is entirely digital, allowing participants to engage with the content at their own pace and convenience. This approach ensures that more New Zealanders can access the resources and support needed to tackle food waste effectively. 'Our goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make lasting changes,' adds Wolland. 'By delivering the program directly to their inboxes, we're making it as easy as possible for people to get involved, share with friends and take action against food waste.'
