At nine-minutes to 1PM today, it will be 11 years since a devastating earthquake struck Canterbury, killing 185 people.
The 185 empty chairs memorial for the victims of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. File photo Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Covid-19 measures saw this year's public gathering in Ōtautahi scrapped, with the mayor Lianne Dalziel instead laying a wreath at the city's Memorial Wall and reading the names of the dead aloud.
A live civic service traditionally marks the moment the quake struck with a minute of silence but Dalziel's address was pre-recorded this morning as whānau of the victims marked the anniversary privately.
A council spokesperson says the video of the mayor's address will be online in time to mark the minute of silence.