22 February 2011 earthquake interment site

The interment site at Avonhead Park Cemetery, Christchurch, for victims of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was unveiled at a ceremony on 21 February 2012 and opened to the public the following day.

From the Christchurch City Council website:

‘[The inner circle] area is reserved for the burial of the unidentified remains held by the Chief Coroner following the close of the victim identification process and to commemorate the four unfound victims of the earthquake. The term unfound is preferred by some of the victim’s families.

‘Exposed aggregate paths flanked by Timaru bluestone entrance columns lead towards a Timaru bluestone plinth with a central Timaru bluestone feature.

‘The central feature is intended as a gift from the City to the four unfound victims and is the centrepiece of the design. It includes six granite plaques with the following text repeated in English, Filipino, Maori, Russian, Spanish and Braille: Etched in our City’s memory, never to be forgotten. The City of Christchurch’

Read more about the memorial here (CCC website).