Latest news with #OperationOverdue
1News
16-07-2025
- General
- 1News
Focus for Erebus memorial sites turns to Christchurch
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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. An earlier vision for the memorial in Auckland. (Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage) 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. ADVERTISEMENT '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." ADVERTISEMENT 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."
Scoop
16-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Christchurch Sites Considered For Erebus Memorial Site
Three possible Christchurch locations for an Erebus memorial site have been shared with families. The sites will honour the 257 people who lost their lives in 1979 when Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing tour. The government committed to building a National Erebus Memorial in 2017, with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage leading the project. A plan for a memorial in Auckland's Dove Meyer Robinson Park divided opinions with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens, and it was ultimately abandoned in 2023 after cyclone damage and land instability meant it was no longer safe to build on the site. Culture and Heritage secretary Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said the following three potential Christchurch sites had been shared with the Erebus families and members of the group Operation Overdue. Avon Riverbank in the central city Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere St James' Church grounds in Harewood The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is seeking feedback from the Erebus families on each of the sites and said no decisions had been made about locating the memorial in Christchurch, nor which of the potential sights may be selected. "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," Leauanae said in a statement. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the city was 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," he said in a statement. "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."
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Christchurch sites considered for Erebus memorial site
Koru on the tail of Air New Zealand Flight TE901 at the site of the Mount Erebus crash. Photo: Colin Monteith / Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection Three possible Christchurch locations for an Erebus memorial site have been shared with families. The sites will honour the 257 people who lost their lives in 1979 when Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing tour. The government committed to building a National Erebus Memorial in 2017, with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage leading the project. A plan for a memorial in Auckland's Dove Meyer Robinson Park divided opinions with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens, and it was ultimately abandoned in 2023 after cyclone damage and land instability meant it was no longer safe to build on the site. Culture and Heritage secretary Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said the following three potential Christchurch sites had been shared with the Erebus families and members of the group Operation Overdue. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is seeking feedback from the Erebus families on each of the sites and said no decisions had been made about locating the memorial in Christchurch, nor which of the potential sights may be selected. "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," Leauanae said in a statement. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the city was 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," he said in a statement. "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." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
16-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Potential Christchurch Sites For National Erebus Memorial Shared With Families
"Potential National Erebus Memorial sites in Christchurch have been shared with Erebus families," says Secretary for Culture and Heritage, Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae. The sites have been identified as possible locations for the memorial, which will honour the 257 people who lost their lives in 1979, when Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica while on a sight-seeing tour. "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." No decisions have been made about locating the memorial in Christchurch or which of the potential sites may be selected. The Ministry is currently seeking feedback from Erebus families on each of the potential sites. "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," says Leauanae. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says the city is honoured to be considered as a possible location for the memorial. "On behalf of Christchurch, I extend a warm invitation to Erebus families to consider the city as a potential location for the memorial," says Mayor Mauger. "As a city, we have experienced tragedy and understand the deep impact the Erebus disaster continues to have on people across Aotearoa. "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." Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage continues to work closely with Erebus families, mana whenua and stakeholders to find a site for the National Erebus Memorial.
1News
17-05-2025
- General
- 1News
Erebus disaster victim and wife finally recognised after 45 years
An unresolved remnant of New Zealand's worst aviation disaster was brought to a conclusion today with the unveiling of a gravestone marking the resting place of a victim. The breakthrough was made by a volunteer group called the NZ Remembrance Army, which maintained veterans graves around the country. Last year, the Remembrance Army found an unmarked grave at Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland. Research revealed it was the remains of Thomas William Noel Hyndman and his wife Shirley. Among other achievements, navy veteran Thomas Hyndman was a sonar operator and part of a group trained in anti-submarine warfare in the Pacific, based in the Solomon Islands. After further research, the Remembrance Army realised that Hyndman died on Air New Zealand TE109 in 1979. November 28, 1979 was the darkest day in New Zealand aviation history when a sightseeing flight slammed into Mt Erebus on Ross Island, Antarctica, killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. His remains were recovered from the site and interred with those of his wife, who had died in June the year before. After 45 years, the Hydmans' grave was finally unveiled with a headstone on Saturday, with a military presence to recognise Thomas' service. Thomas' son, Gary, 67, said he "hadn't been one for memorials" in the past. "But I've probably changed my mind a little bit." He said he now realised such a tragic loss as Erebus affected New Zealand as a nation. Two police officers who were in Operation Overdue recovering remains from the icy landscape, Stuart Leighton and Peter Younger, were also at today's memorial. Thomas was the last person that was located in the wreckage, at the tail end of what was left of the plane. The Defence Force was represented at the service by Captain Julie Simpkins, Commanding Officer of the HMNZS Philomel RNZN. 'It's important we recognise and acknowledge our veterans," she told 1News. "This an opportunity for us to do that.'
