After years of controversy and delays, three new potential sites for an Erebus memorial have been announced.
All 257 people lost their lives in 1979 when Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing tour.
Families have been waiting for a permanent location in New Zealand to honour their lives ever since.
In 2018, Auckland’s Parnell Rose Gardens was selected as the spot for it, but the land was damaged by poor weather in 2023.
Then, on the 45th anniversary of the disaster in November last year, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture advised a decision on a new site would be made by the end of the year.
Nine months on it’s revealed it’s considering three new options in Christchurch.
Secretary for Culture and Heritage, Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said: “The potential sites we shared with Erebus families and members of Operation Overdue are Avon Riverbank in the central city, Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere and St James’ Church grounds in Harewood.”
The Ministry said one other site remains under consideration in Auckland, which is Takaparawhau, Bastion Point.
A spokesperson added: “Any decisions about where the National Erebus Memorial will be located will be made by the Ministry’s Chief Executive, Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, who will consider the offer alongside any other viable options in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.”
The Ministry is currently seeking feedback from Erebus families on each of the potential sites.
Leauanae said: “We are grateful to Erebus families for their continued engagement. Sharing these potential sites is an important step, and we will carefully consider their feedback.
“We are committed to building this memorial – for the people who lost loved ones, for New Zealanders, and for those here and overseas impacted by the Erebus tragedy.”
Christchurch ‘honoured’
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says the city is honoured to be considered as a possible location for the memorial.
“As a city, we have experienced tragedy and understand the deep impact the Erebus disaster continues to have on people across Aotearoa,” Mauger said.
“Christchurch is long connected to Antarctica, we feel a deep sense of responsibility to honour the lives of your loved ones with great care and quiet dignity.”
A 100-year commitment
Ministry of Heritage and Culture deputy secretary of Māori Crown Partnerships Glenis Philip-Barbara last year told 1News: “I had anticipated this would be a challenging process, but I hadn’t anticipated just how tricky some of these negotiations would be.”
Philip-Barbara said the memorial was asking for a 100-year commitment, which was “not an insignificant ask”.
At the time, while there were just two sites being considered, Takaparawhau in Auckland and Pukeahu War Memorial in Wellington, she had suggested the Ministry was looking for options in Christchurch too.
A survey of family members late last year found Auckland was the preferred location for the memorial, with Christchurch the second most preferred.
A minority supported a site in Wellington being chosen and, based on those results, the Ministry paused further exploration of building at the Pukeahu site.
Family member Ross Negget has previously said: “I think Auckland would be appropriate, being point of departure and [intended] arrival of the flight.”
She said families had been assured the memorial would not be built in a place it was not “warmly welcomed”.
Asked about the continued delays, Philip-Barbara today said: “Manatū Taonga is working as quickly as possible to realise a National Erebus Memorial for Erebus families and New Zealanders. We continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure appropriate processes are followed and a suitable site is selected.”