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Erebus memorial site in Christchurch?
VIDEO CREDIT: The Press
A national memorial for the victims of the Erebus aviation disaster may land in Christchurch.
Three potential sites have been shortlisted: near the Robert Falcon Scott statue on the Avon riverbank in the central city, Cracroft Reserve on Cashmere hill, and St James’ Church in Harewood. The church grounds are adjacent to Christchurch Airport.
The Press understands Cracroft is currently the preferred location. The reserve is immediately downhill from the Sign of the Takahe, on Cashmere hill.
None of the sites have a particular connection to Antarctica or Air New Zealand Flight 901, which crashed into Mt Erebus on November 28, 1979. All 257 aboard were killed.
All 20 of the crew and a majority of the passengers lived in Auckland. About 50 resided in Japan and America. It is thought between five and eight lived in the South Island. Two are listed on a ministry website as residing in Christchurch.
Mayor Phil Mauger welcomed the announcement. “On behalf of Christchurch, I extend a warm invitation to Erebus families to consider the city as a potential location for the memorial.”
He continued, “We understand tragedy. We understand the significance of the Erebus disaster, and we understand the deep impact it continues to have on people across Aotearoa.
“As a city 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.”
He said that when hearing the aircraft was missing South Islanders turned on their lights in an attempt to guide the aircraft home.
David Nicholson’s sister, Christine, died on the flight. They resided in Christchurch and Christine planned to disembark in the city when the plane landed for fuel and a fresh crew.
“I’ve always supported Christchurch being the location for the memorial,” he said – due to the deep links between the city and the ice.
The project generated “endless consultation and no outcome … and should have been done a long time ago”, he said.
The memorial itself has been designed and is called Te Paerangi Ataata – Sky Song.
It is not unlike the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial, but with two sides and shorter in length and height. Names would be engraved on one side and a ramp would extend above a hill.
The design also evoked the “sense of adventure the crew and passengers are almost sure to have enjoyed as they boarded the flight”, according to the ministry.
It was designed for a reserve in Auckland but vocal opposition over many years caused that plan to be scrubbed, although site safety was the official reason.
The ministry could not find another location in the 3359km² that make up the Auckland metro area.
