Earthquake Anniversary

Today marks eleven years since our city was shaken and forever changed by earthquakes. On each of the ten previous anniversaries I’ve been involved in facilitating a commemorative gathering beside the Ōtākaro/Avon River. We decided last year that we would make that the last one, and this year, because of Covid, there is no civic service either.

Tenth earthquake anniversary

Memories of the earthquake are planted deep inside the psyche of all who were here at that time. It was an experiential event that can never be fully understood by anyone from outside. While there’s no formal local gathering today, I expect I will wander over to the river, toss in a flower, and contemplate what happened, some of which I’ve recorded in this verse:

Before and After

Throughout the years before the quake
before the city’s mighty shake
our land we thought would never break
turned out to be a big mistake!

Once Rūaumoko got in action
the ground soon turned to liquefaction
with gravity in counteraction
it shook things up more than a fraction

So many houses gone a-tilt
whole neighbourhoods have been rebuilt
some suffer still survivors’ guilt
remembering the blood that spilt

And now eleven years have passed
since that day left us all aghast
the need to set things right was vast
our Red Zone now is fully grassed

There was a citizens’ committee
set up to plan for our new city
but then the Government got shitty
and over-rode them – what a pity!

But after all the ballyhoo
we finally have something new
a lovely river path, that’s true
and playground where the kids run through

Our town will never be the same
with much lost heritage a shame
new buildings sometimes earn acclaim
but few will merit long term fame