Their names were read aloud by first responders and members of the Christchurch community, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Wall.
Ardern said the anniversary was a chance to remember and celebrate those who lost their lives alongside their families.
She also acknowledged those foreign nationals prevented from attending the service by Covid; the survivors left with “unseen scars” from the disaster; and the children who grew up in its aftermath – known as the “generation of the rebuild”.
“Ten years on, there will be people still living their daily lives in the long shadow of that day,” she said. “… It’s the Kiwi way to be stoic, and sometimes the pressure to be OK or to have moved on with the passage of time can be very pronounced – but healing takes time, and even as time passes, none of us will forget.”
Marine Lourens/Stuff
From left are Tessa Lancaster-Gowland and her siblings Anahera, Britta, and Lennox, helping to plant a tree across from the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Their brother, 5-month-old Baxtor Gowland, died in the earthquake. Breanna said the children really wanted to be part of the event to honour their brother. “We have other anniversaries we celebrate for Baxtor, but obviously this one is a day to remember him and also the other people who passed away.” She said Christchurch had done very well as a community to physically, mentally and emotionally heal from the tragedy. “I still think we’ve got a long way to go. Mental health support is very needed in this city and there is a real shortage of that.
New Zealand Remembers Catastrophic February 2011 Earthquake newzealandstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newzealandstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.