Family members of Erebus disaster victims were invited to the unveiling of Momentum, a sculpture marking the significant events in Air New Zealand’s history.
After confirmation was received that no one had survived the crash of TE901, expressions of sympathy began to arrive from around the country and around the world.
Deputy Leader at Scott Base, Ted Robinson, and building services officer, Garth Varcoe making the Erebus memorial cross that was dedicated in December 1979
Judge Mahon disagreed with Chippindale's 'probable cause' that the pilot was at fault, and cleared the crew of any responsibility for the accident. He laid the blame squarely with Air New Zealand.
Calls for a public inquiry into the Erebus disaster, which had begun shortly after the accident, continued amid the controversy of who received Chippindale's interim report.
On 22 January 1980 a special inquest was opened by the Auckland district coroner, Allan Copeland, into the deaths of the 257 people on board Flight TE901.
As those involved in the recovery operation headed to Antarctica in the immediate aftermath of the Erebus disaster, work was also under way in New Zealand to help identify the victims that they recovered.
