Potential sites identified in Christchurch for National Erebus Memorial
Potential National Erebus Memorial sites in Christchurch have been shared with the families of the victims.
Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage said the sites have been identified as possible locations for the memorial.
It would 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 sightseeing tour.
"The potential sites we shared with Erebus families and members of Operation Overdue are Avon Riverbank in the central city, Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere and St James' Church grounds in Harewood," Leauanae said.
No decisions have been made about locating the memorial in Christchurch or which of the potential sites may be selected.
The ministry is currently seeking feedback from Erebus families on each of the potential sites.
"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," says Leauanae.
A rescue worker at the crash site of the Air New Zealand plane that hit Mount Erebus in Antarctica in 1979.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the city is honoured to be considered as a possible location for the memorial.
"On behalf of Christchurch, I extend a warm invitation to Erebus families to consider the city as a potential location for the memorial," says Mayor Mauger.
"As a city, we have experienced tragedy and understand the deep impact the Erebus disaster continues to have on people across Aotearoa.
"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."
Leauanae said the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage will continue to work closely with Erebus families, mana whenua and stakeholders to find a site for the memorial.
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Photo: Courtesy of Archives New Zealand Some families of Mt Erebus victims who have endured an excruciating wait for a national memorial hope the emergence of three potential sites in Christchurch will eventually put an end to years of controversy and delay. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage was seeking feedback from families about building a memorial on the Avon River bank in the central city, in Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere or the St James' Church grounds in Harewood to remember the 257 people killed in the plane crash in Antarctica in 1979. A plan for a memorial in Auckland's Dove Meyer Robinson Park in Parnell faced major pushback , with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens. The plan was ultimately abandoned in 2023 after cyclone damage meant the land was unsafe to build on. Protesters in 2022 occupied the pā site of Mataharehare in protest of the then-planned Erebus memorial at Sir Dove-Myer Robinson Park in Parnell. 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I think Christchurch is fine, obviously Auckland was the first starting point, but to be honest, I think Auckland has had its chance and I think they've blown it," he said. The Avon River bank was Stewart's favourite option. Landscape around the River Avon and Victoria Square in Christchurch on a warm spring day in New Zealand Photo: 123RF / Chris Putnam "I've visited the earthquake memorial along there a couple of times, and it occurred to me this would be a nice site. It's very accessible, it's quite a peaceful setting, and it's in the heart of Christchurch. "To me, it also shows Christchurch is embracing the memorial and offering some hospitality, which is much appreciated. "Cracroft Park on the Port Hills is fine too, from a different perspective, it offers these sweeping views of the plains and mountains and is somehow more connected to the sky." David Allan, who lost his parents and sister in the Erebus disaster, told Checkpoint that a national memorial was long overdue. David Allan's parents Malyon and Marjorie were on the flight, along with his sister Jane. Photo: Supplied "My view is regardless of location, the important thing is that we actually have a memorial. I am ambivalent about whether it be Auckland or Christchurch," he said. "It's a complete indictment of our society that after all this time we don't have one, and it's still causing considerable anguish for a lot of people." Kathryn Carter, the eldest daughter of the late Erebus captain Jim Collins, said she wanted to see Auckland "take ownership" of the national memorial. Kathryn Carter's father was Jim Collins, the pilot of the Erebus flight. She was 15 when he died. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly She said the Christchurch offer was generous, but she believed Auckland was most suitable because it was home to a significant number of passengers and crew. The flight departed from Auckland, so the city would be the best place for the memorial to celebrate Erebus passengers' "journey into the unknown" and to celebrate their lives, Carter said. However, the whole country was involved in the tragedy, making it frustrating that there was still no memorial decades after the disaster. Photo: Colin Monteith / Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said the city was honoured to be considered as a possible location. "We just offered and said if we can help, we certainly will," he said. "I go down to the earthquake memorial, and you see people there holding their hands on their loved one's name and remembering, so it's important, we know what it's like. "Two of the places that have been suggested are council land, we're more than happy to give that for the cause, it's up to the families or the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to decide where they want to put it." The ministry's senior officer responsible for the memorial, Glenis Philip-Barbara, told Morning Report families had been surveyed on preferred alternatives to Auckland. "Christchurch came up on top, and then, of course, we received the very generous offer from the mayor of Christchurch city to consider them," she said. "So we moved off to Christchurch to have a look and see what we could present to families." A cross on Mt Erebus marks the 257 people killed in the 1979 plane crash. Photo: supplied She acknowledged the wait for a memorial had been "excruciating" for families. "It has been a long journey and far more difficult than we ever anticipated. There are many Erebus families who just want us to get on and build a memorial." The site at Auckland's Takaparawhau was also being considered, she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
