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Christchurch to mark deadly earthquake one year on John Key leads Christchurch quake anniversary tributes
(about 4 hours later)
href="/news/special/shared/panels/css/v1/panel.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> href="/news/special/world/asia_pacific/12/christchurch/css/clickable.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> New Zealand's prime minister has led tributes to the 185 people who died in the 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch one year ago.
CLICKABLE John Key told a memorial service that the quake had "changed everything", but had not broken the city's spirit.
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class="hd">Cordon zone

 Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has been working to clear and rebuild parts of the city since the February quake and a number of after-shocks that have followed. The area cordoned off to the public has been gradually reduced but it is estimated more than 60% of the historic buildings in central Christchurch were destroyed or severely damaged.

class="hd">Christchurch Cathedral

 Badly damaged in the earthquake, the cathedral has since been made structurally safe so the bells and other artefacts could be removed. The cathedral was deconsecrated in November and parts of it will be demolished before it can be rebuilt at a cost of NZ$30m.

class="hd">Hotel Grand Chancellor

 The 26-storey building suffered severe damage in the quake and is now being taken apart floor by floor. More than 800 other buildings in the city centre have been earmarked for demolition or partial demolition.

class="hd">Cashel Mall

 The Cashel shopping centre was devastated by the quake. A new temporary mall of more than 20 stores built out of shipping containers, opened in October 2011.

class="hd">AMI stadium

 The AMI stadium suffered severe earthquake damage and will not reopen this year. Engineers have recommended at least one stand should be demolished - they are still working out how best to repair other seating stands which dropped several centimetres in the quake. The pitch is being removed to a rugby league ground. 		Services are being held across the country - including the cities of Auckland, Wanganui and Wellington.
Residents of the New Zealand city of Christchurch are set to mark the first anniversary of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that killed 185 people. The quake wrecked central Christchurch and is considered the country's worst natural disaster in 80 years.
Memorial services are to be held across the country - in Auckland, Waimakariri, Selwyn, Wanganui and Wellington. Mr Key said it had been one of New Zealand's darkest days.
The quake is considered the country's worst natural disaster in 80 years. "People were huddled under blankets, sirens were blaring, and dust and smoke was thick in the air," he told the service in Latimer Square, which was used as a makeshift medical centre on the day of the quake.
A special cemetery for victims of the quake - Avonhead Park Cemetery - was officially dedicated on Tuesday, with hundreds gathered for the unveiling. "There were fires, helicopters with monsoon buckets hovering overhead."
Those in attendance included Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker. The ceremony was attended by families of the victims of the quake.
Thousands of people are expected to attend a memorial service in the city on Wednesday.
The earthquake hit at 12:51 local time on 22 February 2011.The earthquake hit at 12:51 local time on 22 February 2011.
Six months before that, the region was also hit by a 7.1 magnitude quake, but that did not cause major destruction. Thousands are expected to attend a civic memorial service later, which will mark a year on from the moment the quake struck.
Christchurch has experienced at least 10,000 tremors since the September 2010 quake.
Major quakes also struck the city in June and December last year.
Rebuilding effortsRebuilding efforts
Ahead of the anniversary, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told the BBC that "the big task of rebuilding is just getting under way now". Before the anniversary, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told the BBC that "the big task of rebuilding is just getting under way now".
"It has been a massive job and continues to be so," he said of recovery efforts."It has been a massive job and continues to be so," he said of recovery efforts.
Immediately after the quake, it was believed that up to 10,000 homes would have to be demolished and 100,000 would need repairs.Immediately after the quake, it was believed that up to 10,000 homes would have to be demolished and 100,000 would need repairs.
"In terms of where we have got to so far, there are many thousands of residential homes that needed to be examined," Mr Parker said."In terms of where we have got to so far, there are many thousands of residential homes that needed to be examined," Mr Parker said.
"New areas for residential growth opened up because we realised that some pieces of land were no longer suitable for people to live in. They were just unable to be strengthened in the appropriate way and we want to be the safest city in the world."New areas for residential growth opened up because we realised that some pieces of land were no longer suitable for people to live in. They were just unable to be strengthened in the appropriate way and we want to be the safest city in the world.
"So any decisions that we make have to be well-judged decisions around the safety of land and the safety of buildings.""So any decisions that we make have to be well-judged decisions around the safety of land and the safety of buildings."
Almost two-thirds of the deaths during the quake happened when the six-story Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapsed. Those killed included people of many different nationalities because there was a language school in the building. Almost two-thirds of the deaths during the quake happened when the six-story Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapsed.
Those killed included people of many different nationalities because there was a language school in the building.
An official report from the Department of Building and Housing released on 9 February stated that it did not meet requirements when it was built in 1986. The load-bearing columns were not sufficiently reinforced with steel, it said.An official report from the Department of Building and Housing released on 9 February stated that it did not meet requirements when it was built in 1986. The load-bearing columns were not sufficiently reinforced with steel, it said.
After the quake struck, it was thought that people would start leaving New Zealand's second-largest city.After the quake struck, it was thought that people would start leaving New Zealand's second-largest city.
According to Mr Parker, only 10,000 of the base population of 500,000 have actually left. He sees this as "the greatest vote of confidence".According to Mr Parker, only 10,000 of the base population of 500,000 have actually left. He sees this as "the greatest vote of confidence".
The city is now recruiting thousands of skilled workers to fuel its NZ$30bn ($24.4bn) rebuilding effort.The city is now recruiting thousands of skilled workers to fuel its NZ$30bn ($24.4bn) rebuilding effort.
The area is frequently hit by tremors, with major quakes striking the city in June and December last year.
Six months before the devastating quake, the region was shaken by a 7.1-magnitude quake, but that did not cause major destruction.
CLICKABLE
Cordon zone Cathedral Hotel Grand Chancellor Cashel Mall AMI stadium

Cordon zone

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has been working to clear and rebuild parts of the city since the February quake and a number of after-shocks that have followed. The area cordoned off to the public has been gradually reduced but it is estimated more than 60% of the historic buildings in central Christchurch were destroyed or severely damaged.

Christchurch Cathedral

Badly damaged in the earthquake, the cathedral has since been made structurally safe so the bells and other artefacts could be removed. The cathedral was deconsecrated in November and parts of it will be demolished before it can be rebuilt at a cost of NZ$30m.

Hotel Grand Chancellor

The 26-storey building suffered severe damage in the quake and is now being taken apart floor by floor. More than 800 other buildings in the city centre have been earmarked for demolition or partial demolition.

Cashel Mall

The Cashel shopping centre was devastated by the quake. A new temporary mall of more than 20 stores built out of shipping containers, opened in October 2011.

AMI stadium

The AMI stadium suffered severe earthquake damage and will not reopen this year. Engineers have recommended at least one stand should be demolished - they are still working out how best to repair other seating stands which dropped several centimetres in the quake. The pitch is being removed to a rugby league ground.