The National Christchurch Memorial Service

The National Christchurch Memorial Service to remember those who are gone and to reflect on the impact of the 22nd of February earthquake was held in Christchurch’s Hagley Park, on the day of 18th March. The service was led by the Very Reverend Peter Beck, Dean of Christchurch Cathedral and other city church leaders. It was opened by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and included tributes from His Royal Highness Prince William, their Excellencies the Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO, the Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Susan Satyand, the Right Honourable John Key, Prime Minister, the Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Phil Goff, the Minister of Energy and Resources, Honourable Gerry Brownlee, the Prime Minister of Australia, Honourable Julia Gillard, the Leader of the Australian Opposition, Honourable Tony Abbot and other VIPs. Representatives of many faiths also attended as Venerable Abbess Manshin represented the Buddhists, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulhalim for Muslim, Surinder Tandon for the Hindus and other religions.

Assembling at 8am at the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple, around 20 Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) members with the lead of Venerable Juexi, attended the event that has tens of thousands participating. Starting at 10 am, they walked 30 minutes to the event. The event then started at around 12.30pm with music playing by bands and singers including Hayley Westerna in the event and moved the hearts of the crowd. Hagley Park had never been so full. On the big screens dotted around the park, as the arrival of Urban Search And Rescue team, fire rescue team and the police force marching in, crowd stood and clapped to show their utmost respect.

Mayor Bob Parker and Very Reverend Dean Peter Beck started a speech and shown a video of the damage in the city which is still unreachable for most people. For 14 minutes, people sat silent and watched the destructive force that have changed the face of Christchurch city, with sadness and pain felt among the atmosphere.

After the video, Ngai Tahu elder, Henare Rakiihia Tau performs a mihi whakatau (welcome) - he talks of a gathering of leaders from the four winds of the world. He then talks of ancestors and whakapapa of migration and how the Maori family tree relates to every nationality in the world.

A two-minute silence was then held by The Very Reverend Peter Beck at 12:51 pm. Mayor Bob Parker followed up by thanking the people and gave encouragement for them to stay strong.

When Prince William speaks he sounds warm and sincere."My grandmother," he says, "once said that grief is a price we pay for love. Here, today we love and we grieve". He brought a personal message, he said, "It is a message about strength through kindness, about fortitude. For you who are so close to these events and who have lost so much, it must be hard to grasp the degree of admiration, indeed awe, with which you are regarded by the rest of the world. Courage and determination had always been the hallmark of New Zealanders, of Cantabrians", he told the crowd and he had been humbled to see it. "Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people. I count myself enormously privileged to be here to tell you that ... Kia Kaha", he told the crowd: Be strong.

Prime Minister John Key has told the Christchurch earthquake memorial service that the city will be rebuilt. Addressing thousands of people in the city's Hagley Park in glorious weather, Key said the February 22 earthquake, had "left scars that will never be erased from our land and from our hearts". But he said the reaction to it had showed the strength and compassion of Cantabrians and others from across New Zealand and the world who have come to help. "It is simply not possible to list all the ways that people have supported each other," he said.

Towards the end of the service another video was screened, this time set to the rousing music of the Crusaders, Conquest of Paradise, and this time the images on the screen of rescue workers and policemen with masks on are all in slow motion. People again jump to their feet and cheer clap at various times. Then it's time for Prince William to stand while the National Anthem of New Zealand is sung.

Soon it was time for the prayers of many faiths. BLIA, FGS New Zealand’s Venerable Abbess Manshin stepped on repeating 3 times in the chanting of Na mo Sakyamuni Buddha then followed on with “A Prayer for Victims of the Christchurch Earthquake” from Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order. It brought power and encouragement to the people in this ceremony.

Later after the ceremony, a lot of people shook hands with Venerable Abbess Manshin and expressed their gratitude. FGS South Island NZ has helped a lot of people in need since the earthquake happened and brought Buddhism on to a new page in New Zealand history. In around 3 hours of the sunny day, people has respected each other and treasure more value of life; in the end leaving the park slowly and safely with a heart of gratitude. The Christchurch earthquake of 22nd February left lots of painful feelings, but, because of these feelings, people are now bonded together more and showed how warm and helpful they are. The 18th of March National Christchurch Memorial Service has been a big encouragement for the re-build of Christchurch city and in the making of this, it will bring people with strong will and togetherness.

Above are transcripts from His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG, The Right Honourable John Key Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Honourable Phil Goff MP Leader of the Opposition, Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker and Ngai Tahu elder, Henare Rakiihia Tau. Transcripts are from NZ Herald website.