John MacDonald: 46 years and we still can't get the Erebus memorial decision right

It’s taken 46 years and we’ve still managed to stuff up the decision as to where to have a memorial for the 257 people who died in the Mt Erebus air disaster. 

It was 46 years ago today when the Air NZ DC-10, flight TE901, ploughed into the side of Mt Erebus.  

And, yes, nice job making the memorial announcement in time for the anniversary, but Cracroft Reserve in Christchurch is not where it should be. In fact, it shouldn’t be in Christchurch full-stop. It should be in Auckland.  

I’m not the only one who thinks so. I’ll get to that.   

But I will never forget the night of the Erebus crash – if you were around at the time, you probably won’t either. I was 11-and-a-half, and I remember being allowed to stay up late and listen to the 10 o’clock news on the radio.  

I went off to bed afterwards knowing it wasn’t good. And it seemed that everyone knew someone who was either on that plane or knew someone who lost someone close to them on that plane. A mate of dad’s lost his wife.  

Simone Bennett was one of those people affected directly. She lost her father. He was one of the 257 people on board who died – 237 passengers and 20 crew.  

She is furious that the memorial is going to be built in Christchurch. She says she’s furious and disgusted because she lives in Auckland and she can’t believe the memorial is going to be so far away. 

I get that and good on her for calling out the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, because it feels to me like they have just given up on Auckland and gone for the next best location. 

You’ll probably remember the stoush when they wanted to build the memorial at Dove Meyer Robinson Park in Parnell, in Auckland. But there was major push-back on that one.  

The anti-brigade claimed that it would “change the tone of the gardens”. They eventually got their way when the cyclone went through Auckland and made the site at the gardens in Parnell unsafe to build on. 

After that, 50 different sites in the greater Auckland area were looked at but none were considered suitable. Hence, it ending up in Christchurch.  

Not everyone is unhappy with the decision though. Andrew McKeen is president of the Airline Pilots' Association. He’s not only thrilled it’s finally going to happen, he also thinks Christchurch is a good spot for it.  

He’s saying: “Christchurch serves as New Zealand's gateway to Antarctica and was the intended stopover point for TE901's return to Auckland."  

Which it was. I remember someone telling me once about all the airport staff waiting for the plane to land in Christchurch 46 years ago tonight. I get the connection to Antarctica with the Antarctic programme being based in Christchurch. 

But the Air New Zealand headquarters is in Auckland and that’s where the memorial should be. The majority of family members live there too.  

And I’m conscious that there could be someone reading this right now who was affected by Erebus in the most direct way and who may very well think Christchurch is a good choice.  

But I don’t. Simone Bennett, who I mentioned earlier, doesn’t either. But what about you? 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from Newstalk Z'B.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's taken forty six years. So forty six years and
Will still managed to stuff up the decision as to
where to have a memorial for the two hundred and
fifty seven people who died in the Mount Erebus air disaster.
It was forty six years ago today. Mazing ah when
that in New Zealand DC ten flight t E nine

(00:34):
zero one plowed into the side of Mount Erebus And yeah,
nice job making the announcement and time for the anniversary.
But in my mind Craigcroft Reserve and christ Church is
not what it should be. In fact, it shouldn't be
in christ Church full stop. Craigcroft Reserve in cashmeors of

(00:54):
preferred site, but somewhere on the banks of the Avon
River has also been held as an alternative option. I
gather if I had to choose between those two, I'd
go with somewhere by the river because that would be
way more visible more than Craigcroft Reserve. But I'm not
a fan of either because christ Church is not where
it should be. It should be in Auckland and I'm

(01:16):
not the only one who thinks so I'll tell you
who that is in a second. But I'll never forget
the night of the Arab's crash. If you were around
at the time, he probably won't either. I was eleven
and a half and I remember being allowed to stay
up late and listen to the ten o'clock news on
the radio. That was a big deal on its own,

(01:36):
and I went off to bed afterwards knowing that it
wasn't good. And it seemed that everyone knew someone who
was either on the plane or knew someone who lost
someone close to them on that plane. Found the mate
of dad's he lost his wife, and Simone Bennett was
another one of those people affected directly. She lost her

(01:59):
father forty six years ago today. He was one of
the two hundred and fifty seven people on board who
died two hundred and thirty seven passions and twenty crew.
And she is furious that the memorial is going to
be built in christ Church. She says she's furious and
disgusted because she lives in Auckland and she can't believe

(02:19):
that it's going to be so far away from where
she is. And I get that, I get it and
good honor for calling out the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Good honor because it feels to me they've just given
up on Auckland and gone for the next best location.
You'll probably remember the Stausch when they wanted to build
the memorial at dove Bya Robinson Park and Parnell in Auckland,

(02:41):
you know, But there was major pushback on that one
the anti brigade. They claimed all that would change the
tone of the gardens. They eventually got their way when
the cyclone went through Auckland and made the site at
the Gardens and Parnell unsafe to build on apparently. And
then after that fifty different sites in the greater Auckland
area were looked at, but none were considered suitable, hence

(03:05):
it ending up in christ Now, not everyone is unhappy
with the decision. Andrew McKean, he's president of the Airline
Pilots Association, is not only thrilled that the memorial is
finally going to happen, he also thinks christ Church is
actually a good spot. He's saying today quote christ Church
serves as New Zealand's gateway to Antarctica and was the

(03:28):
intended stop over point for Te nine zero one's return
to Auckland, which was I remember someone telling me once
about all the airport staff waiting for the plane to
land in christ Church forty six years ago. Tonight. I
kept on waiting and as we know, it never showed up.
And look, I get the connection to Antarctica, with the
Antarctic program being based here, but this is what it

(03:51):
comes down to. The Air New Zealand headquarters is in Auckland.
The majority of family members lived there too, and that's
where it should be. And look, I'm conscious that there
could be someone listening to this right now who was
affected by Erebus in the most direct way, losing someone
on the plane, and I'm conscious that they may very
well think christ Church is actually a good choice, but

(04:11):
I don't.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
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