Prince attends NZ quake memorial

Prince tells crowd of tens of thousands to ‘be strong’ at memorial service for victims of last month’s earthquake in New Zealand Prince William has urged the people of Christchurch to “be strong” as he addressed a crowd of tens of thousands at a memorial service for victims of last month’s earthquake in New Zealand. William said he was conveying his own message, as well as one from his grandmother, and told the crowd on Friday they were an “inspiration to all people”. “My grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love. Here, today, we love, and we grieve. “We honour the lives and memories of all those who did not survive the earthquake – New Zealanders, and those from many countries around the world who came to this city as visitors, or to make it their home. “Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families, wherever they may be.” The prince told the crowd it was hard for them to “grasp the degree of admiration – indeed, awe”, with which they were regarded by the rest of the world. He also told the people they could appreciate more than anyone else the “full horror” of what was unfolding in Japan. “Courage and understated determination have always been the hallmark of New Zealanders, of Cantabrians,” he said. “These things the world has long known. But to see them so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months has been humbling. “Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people. I count myself enormously privileged to be here to tell you that. In the last two days, I have heard tales of great tragedy – but also of extraordinary bravery and selfless courage. “Throughout, one phrase unites them all. With the Queen’s heartfelt good wishes, and those of the Prince of Wales and other members of my family, I say it to you now: Kia kaha – be strong.” The prince’s address was greeted with applause from the crowd, some of whom were sporting T-shirts reading Kia kaha . William, who donned a Korowai – a traditional Maori feathered cloak – had earlier been welcomed by Henare Rakiihia Tau, from the Ngai Tuahuriri sub-tribe, who told William to “nibble at the apple and be fruitful”. The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, spoke of the difficulty for people to understand why the quake had hit the city. But in a rousing speech, he said: “It seems to me that those lives that have been lost have to be given real meaning in this city as it goes forward. We have to reach into our hearts and our spirits and our self belief and build a safer city so this thing can never happen again. “We will rise, we will rebuild the city based on strength and optimism. We will have a city that again will be the most beautiful place on earth, that you and I could hope to live in.” New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, said those who lost their lives in the quake, which left more than 160 people dead, from other countries would be remembered by New Zealanders as they remembered their own. He said: “We are conscious that we are united in our loss with families from more than 20 countries whose fate it was to have a loved one far, far from home when the earthquake struck. “We will remember your loved ones as we remember our own.” Of all those who died in the quake, he said, “they are the faces of a Christchurch that will never be as it was again”. “The earthquake of February 22, 2011, has altered forever the lives of those who live here, no words or deeds can change that. “So today we remember Christchurch as it was and we treasure the memory.” Key also paid tribute to Japan’s “desperate plight”, adding: “For the people of Christchurch who have lived through two large earthquakes and many thousands of aftershocks these images of Japan bring flooding back the raw emotion and pain that accompanies such an event.” Prince William is due in Australia on Saturday, where he will visit regions affected by the floods, including locations in Queensland followed by a visit to north-west Victoria. Prince William New Zealand Monarchy Natural disasters and extreme weather guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 18, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.