Civic events  |  18 Feb 2025

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The fourteenth anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquakes will be marked with a public civic memorial service.

The ceremony will take place at Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial on the banks of the Ōtākaro Avon River, at the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Montreal Street on Saturday.

A minute of silence will be held at 12.51pm, and the names of the 185 people who lost their lives in the earthquake will be read aloud with the HMNZS Canterbury bell tolled with each name.

“Mayor Phil Mauger will lay a wreath at the Memorial Wall on behalf of the people of Christchurch, and the wider community will be invited to lay floral tributes after the ceremony concludes around 1.15pm,” says Christchurch City Council Manager Office of the Mayor and Civic Services Duncan Sandeman.

“We welcome all who wish to attend to join as a community and reflect on the impact the destructive earthquakes have had on our city, and to remember those lives that were lost.”

Mr Sandeman urges residents to plan ahead when visiting the area, with central city road closures in place and crowds expected with other large-scale events underway at the same time.

“Road closures and no parking restrictions will be in place around central Christchurch with the 2025 Navy Charter Parade event on Saturday afternoon and the Electric Avenue music festival underway on Friday and Saturday.

“We advise those attending the memorial service or visiting the city over the weekend to be prepared for possible delays and large crowds.”

Sections of road will be closed in the area surrounding Latimer Square between 1 – 3pm on Saturday for the parade as the crew from HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Pegasus will exercise their Freedom of the City.

The Hagley Park carpark and much of the surrounding on-street carparks will be closed during Electric Avenue which runs from 2 – 10.30pm Friday and 1.30 – 11.15pm Saturday. Saturday crowds are expected around North Hagley Park in the afternoon as the festival gates open at 1.30pm and close at 9pm.