Public Hearing of Canterbury EQ Royal Commission
On October 17 at 1.00pm, members of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island participated in the public hearing of Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry at St Teresa of Lisieux Parish church hall in Riccarton by invitation of New Zealand Police.
Venerable Miaoyu of FGS South Island with BLIA South Island upcoming president See-Shen Lee, upcoming vice-president Louisa Kuo, BLIA member Sally Lim, Young Adult Division (YAD) president Hao-Tin Lin and YAD member Jordan Wong attended the event. They were welcomed by Constable Andrea Williams. Other guests include Acting District Commander Inspector John Price, District Intelligence Manager Inspector Doug Parker, the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission’s Justice Judge Mark Cooper, St Teresa of Lisieux Parish Priest Reverend Antoine Thomas, locals and foreigners from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and many parts of the worlds, plus family members of the deceased from the earthquake. Around 100 people gathered for the ceremony kick start the royal commission of inquiry into Canterbury's earthquakes.
Ngai Tahu's Rev Maurice Gray formally welcomed the public in a song for the opening and blessings, followed by Parish Priest Reverend Antoine Thomas’s words and blessings. Pupils from St Teresa's School's kapa haka group sung Irish blessings to family members before everyone were welcomed into the hall.
The public hearing started soon after the blessings. This hearing is intended to let everyone understand the cause of the four most serious Christchurch's building that collapsed at the earthquake and related matters for the family to understand the truth. The "shadow of death" had long left Christchurch, and this public hearing hopes to bring an "order through the chaos" that had plagued the city in the past year. A small army of media respectfully kept their distance as grieving family members and public stood in silence during the ceremony. This meaningful event in all to gave everyone in Christchurch a feel at ease and a new beginning to life.