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First responders, a representative of those injured in the earthquakes and a talented young local musician will play key roles in next week’s Dedication of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial and Civic Commemorative event marking the sixth anniversary of the deadly quake.
The event … View moreFirst responders, a representative of those injured in the earthquakes and a talented young local musician will play key roles in next week’s Dedication of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial and Civic Commemorative event marking the sixth anniversary of the deadly quake.
The event starts at 12 noon on February 22, at the Memorial site on the Ōtākaro/Avon River, in the area bordered by the Montreal Street Bridge, Durham Street, and Cambridge and Oxford Terraces.
The Memorial will be a place for people to reflect on the devastating earthquakes that changed Canterbury and its communities forever, honouring those who lost their lives on 22 February 2011, and acknowledging those who were seriously injured and everyone who helped in the rescue and recovery operation.
The Order of Service summary for the event released today includes:
- The names of the 185 people who died in the February 22 2011 Earthquake to be read in an order reflecting their arrangement on the Memorial Wall – an arrangement guided by the wishes of their bereaved families;
- Representatives from First Responder groups who assisted in the rescue and recovery unveiling the Words of Acknowledgement on the Memorial Wall;
- Bev Edwards, representing people psychologically and physically injured in the earthquakes, reading the Dedication of the Earthquake Memorial;
- And moving musical performances by young Lyttelton musician Marlon Williams and lone piper Tom Glover.
Families from around the world who lost loved ones on this day six years ago, and those who were seriously injured will join local and national dignitaries and first responders as invited guests, along with dignitaries from countries which lost people in the quake, and those that sent rescue and recovery teams to help in the days and weeks following the devastating earthquake. Many of these first responder groups and dignitaries will also lay wreaths at the service.
Two large areas with screens have been reserved for the public, and the event will be live streamed to enable people throughout New Zealand to share in remembering and reflecting, and acknowledge the help and support that was received.
Ōtākaro Limited, Christchurch City Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage have worked together to deliver the Memorial.
A Facebook page www.facebook.com... has information and updates on the Memorial, and people are encouraged to share their stories of the earthquakes and give thanks to those that helped out at www.quakestories.co.nz...
The event will be livestreamed at www.canterburyearthquakememorial.co.nz...
Great news!
The Christchurch Lantern Festival will still go ahead as planned this weekend however there will be NO Fireworks as previously advertised.
Council event staff have been in contact with Police and St John and they are supportive of this event still proceeding.
Saturday and … View moreGreat news!
The Christchurch Lantern Festival will still go ahead as planned this weekend however there will be NO Fireworks as previously advertised.
Council event staff have been in contact with Police and St John and they are supportive of this event still proceeding.
Saturday and Sunday Feb 18-19
5pm - 10.30pm
North Hagley Park
The Lantern Festival has been part of the Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206BC - 221AD).
Usually held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, it marks the end of New Year festivities.
Parking
Wilson Parking and the Council have teamed up to offer cheap parking for this event. Select Wilson car parks within the central city will offer flat-rate car parking of $3 between 3pm - midnight on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February.
The locations are:
118 Victoria St - 40 parks
374 Montreal St - 60 parks
55 Kilmore St - 30 parks
66-68 Kilmore St - 80 parks
76 Armagh St - 60 parks
109 Cambridge Tce - 30 parks
605 Colombo St - 35 parks
74 Worcester Blvd (Old Clarendon Tower site) - 60 parks
Other parking options include central city Council car parks and on street parking (various charges may apply), parking is not permitted on the grassed area of Cranmer Square.
There will be no public car parking available on Hagley Park.The Botanic Gardens Armagh Street car park will be closed to incoming traffic from 3pm on both days, with the exception of mobility card holders.
Drop-off zones will be located on Park terrace (between Armagh and Kilmore Streets) and Harper Ave.
Update on Port Hills fires -6.25am.
Slightly cooler weather conditions and higher humidity with some light rain having fallen early this morning is welcome relief for emergency services fighting the Port Hills fire in Christchurch..
It has been a quiet night with a few minor flare ups … View moreUpdate on Port Hills fires -6.25am.
Slightly cooler weather conditions and higher humidity with some light rain having fallen early this morning is welcome relief for emergency services fighting the Port Hills fire in Christchurch..
It has been a quiet night with a few minor flare ups contained by fire crews. Thermal imaging is being used to identify hot spots.
There is a lot of work to do to clean up the whole fire area and this will go on for several days.
Te Hapua Welfare Centre remains open with a small amount of people staying there. Nga Hau E Wha Marae and the Selwyn welfare centre have been closed.
Police cordons are still in place and these areas are still considered dangerous. The situation is being constantly reassessed and we will provide further information as soon as it is available.
Fifteen crew from the United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star are assisting police and the New Zealand Defence Force in the evacuated areas.
A Defence Force Hercules is expected to arrive in Christchurch from Australia today with fire retardant.
Road closure information:
· Cashmere Rd is closed between Hendersons Road and Kaiwara Street.
· Penruddock Rise is also closed at Cashmere Road
· Worsleys Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Hoon Hay Valley Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Kennedys Bush Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Sutherland Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Worsleys Track from Worlseys Road is closed
· Dyers Pass Road is closed between Hackthorne Road to Governors Bay Road. Use the Lyttelton Tunnel or Gebbies Pass as the alternate route.
· Summit Road is closed between Gebbies Pass and Rapaki Track
· Old Tai Tapu Road is closed between Osterholts Road and Early Valley Road.
· Early Valley Road is closed at Old Tai Tapu Road
On Sunday 19th February between 1 pm and 5 pm all buses travelling towards Northlands will detour away from Kilmore St while road works are carried out. Buses will detour off Manchester St onto Peterborough St and back onto Colombo St to continue the normal route. Buses travelling to the city are … View moreOn Sunday 19th February between 1 pm and 5 pm all buses travelling towards Northlands will detour away from Kilmore St while road works are carried out. Buses will detour off Manchester St onto Peterborough St and back onto Colombo St to continue the normal route. Buses travelling to the city are not affected. Bus stop 53159 on Kilmore St will be closed and a temporary stop will be available on Manchester St just after the Kilmore St intersection instead. View detour map below.
Our situation with our Real Time Information disruptions and detours on the Blue Line and 145 Eastgate - Westmorland remain the same this afternoon. We are not expecting any change to those detours overnight unless emergency authorities lift road closures. Detailed information is below. We thank … View moreOur situation with our Real Time Information disruptions and detours on the Blue Line and 145 Eastgate - Westmorland remain the same this afternoon. We are not expecting any change to those detours overnight unless emergency authorities lift road closures. Detailed information is below. We thank all our customers for your patience and understanding during this time.
Our Real Time Information systems continue to be affected by the fire and a number of buses are unable to be tracked. This means some buses will not show in our "next bus" online tools and most bus finders displaying the ETA's of buses on street will not work. It is likely that our systems will be affected for a number of days and we ask that if your bus does not appear on "next bus" tools that you use the bus timetables instead. Metro thank all fire fighters for their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe.
As of Thursday 16 February two bus services are affected by the fire, they are;
- Blue Line - all trips will end at Princess Margaret Hospital, no trips will travel to Cashmere Hill
- 145 Westmorland - Eastgate - all trips will end and start their trips on Rose St until further notice.
Providing sustenance & messages of thanks to the Fire Fighters
Nice wee piece here from a former colleague and bloody good writer. Simple, eloquent, and very honest. A snapshot of our days. Kudos Sean.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ urges those with asthma and respiratory conditions in the Christchurch area to be prepared – as bush fire smoke can trigger asthma attacks, allergies and shortness of breath.
The smoke from bush fires contains small particles that … View moreThe Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ urges those with asthma and respiratory conditions in the Christchurch area to be prepared – as bush fire smoke can trigger asthma attacks, allergies and shortness of breath.
The smoke from bush fires contains small particles that can cause irritation to the lungs, eyes, nose and throat.
People are advised to minimise their exposure to smoke and time spent outdoors. Windows and doors need to be kept closed, air vents blocked, and air conditioning set to a recycle setting.
Tips for asthmatics during bush fires:
- Continue taking asthma preventer medication as prescribed.
- Always carry asthma reliever medication, and use it as soon as asthma symtoms are present. When possible use a spacer which enables more medication to be delivered into the lungs.
- If asthma reliever medication is not working, or is required every 2-3 hours or more, seek medical advice by calling 111 for an ambulance.
- Elderly people, children, and people working at the fire front are most at risk. Access help fast if someone appears unwell.
- If you don’t have an Asthma Action Plan or are unsure of what to do in an asthma emergency, follow the Asthma First Aid procedure.
- It is important to remember that people who aren’t in affected areas are also at high risk, as winds can carry smoke and ash particles for long distances. Smoke and air pollution can linger long after the fires have subsided, so it is essential to remain prepared.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is a not-for-profit organisation committed to those affected by asthma and respiratory illness. Free resources are available at asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz.
This event really is massive. Here's a good illustration of just what our emergency services - and our neighbours - are facing. Kia kaha Canterbury.
Our colleagues at the Press, particularly the visual journalists, are doing some incredible work. We'll share as many as we can as they come through. This from Joseph Johnson.
At last, a map of the most affected areas. Stay safe - and please don't use this as a destination map if you don't need to be there!
Emergency services have been out since first light fighting the huge Port Hills fire concentrating their efforts on three fronts at Worsleys Road, Early Valley Road and Governors Bay.
The fire, which started in Marleys Hills on Monday night has now spread over 1800 hectares on the Port Hills. … View moreEmergency services have been out since first light fighting the huge Port Hills fire concentrating their efforts on three fronts at Worsleys Road, Early Valley Road and Governors Bay.
The fire, which started in Marleys Hills on Monday night has now spread over 1800 hectares on the Port Hills. Reports on the number of houses destroyed or damaged have varied overnight. Please understand that this is an unfolding situation, but the Fire Service has confirmed that definitely five houses have been lost – three in Worsleys Road and two in Hoon Hay Valley Road. Emergency services are preparing to continue their operations for at least over the weekend and say the immediate emphasis is on directing the huge fire away from people and property.
The New Zealand Fire Service says that today’s firefighting effort included 15 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, the maximum number that can safely be in the air at any one time, and ground firefighting crews from the New Zealand Fire Service, Department of Conservation, territorial authorities and volunteers.
Helicopters have been brought in from throughout the South Island and out of town fire service staff from both Nelson and Timaru and are boosting local resources. Twenty-one urban appliances are on the Summit Road, eight on Worsleys Road and 10 on Early Valley Road.
There are concerns about the short-term weather forecast with today’s north-east wind today expected to further drive the fronts. It is hoped a south-west change predicted for tomorrow will lower temparatures and humidity, slowing the fire’s progress.
There is a total fire ban in plan in North and Canterbury. Fire Region Manager Steve Turek says it is important that there is no type of fire lit so fire resources can remain concentrated on the major fire.
Christchurch Police have dedicated 50 staff working around the clock on the operation. Police assisted by New Zealand Defence Force staff have managed the evacuation of residents in at-risk areas. 400 homes have been evacuated by police with hundreds of other residents choosing to self-evacuate.
No evacuations are underway at this time, but police warn the situation is extremely volatile and should the fire change direction, people may have to leave at short notice.
Superintendent John Price of Christchurch Police says patrols are also working around the clock in both areas at risk and those evacuation. “We are providing reassurance to residents about evacuation, but also to others that we are keeping a watchful eye on their property,” he said.
Police are also checking on the safety of contractors working on the fire, logging everyone who goes into and out of the cordon.
The main message remains - the police are stressing that it is imperative that members of the public keep away from the hills. People “rubber-necking” are disrupting the emergency response and making it harder for police and fire services to do their jobs.
The New Zealand Defence Force had 36 staff working alongside emergency services last night and another 25 have joined the operation this morning.
Welfare and health agencies are on standby reading to step in at a moment’s notice. Christchurch District Health Board reported no overnight admissions due to respiratory issues. St John had dealt with a number of minor issues.
Welfare Centre - Te Hapua Halswell Centre and Nga Hau e Wha National Marae
Around 11 evacuees are currently at the Te Hapua Halswell Centre. Catering is being provided with donations from the local supermarket assisting.
While the Welfare Centre has been set up in the community room at Te Hapua Halswell Centre, the facility’s library and pool are operating as usual.
A welfare centre also remains open at Nga Hau e Wha National Marae on Pages Road. Welfare agencies will provide updates on how to access a range of services today.
The public are encouraged to follow official updates on the Christchurch City Council’s Newsline website and social media, as well as other emergency services updates.
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