A Nation Pauses

Much of New Zealand came to a standstill this afternoon to remember the victims of the Christchurch earthquake exactly a week after the deadly event. New Zealanders, including those in offices, supermarkets, courts and emergency workers, stopped in their tracks to remember the victims of the quake that struck at 12.51pm on February 22. The death toll has risen to 155 and may reach 240. On the forecourt of Christchurch Art Gallery, Prime Minister John Key, his wife Bronagh, Opposition Leader Phil Goff and Mayor Bob Parker stood shoulder-to-shoulder with international search and rescue staff, emergency services, members of the Defence Force, and staff and volunteers from the Emergency Operations Centre. The brief and moving service was held in front of a small pile of bricks and concrete, representating key sites within the CBD. A lone brick from the cathedral and a single New Zealand fern lay among the rubble. A stirring waita ended the silence, reducing many of those present to tears. There was also two minutes' silence at Christchurch airport where flags were lowered around the airport grounds. And a vigil service attended by hundreds was held on the steps of parliament at 12.30pm, before the two minutes' silence was observed at 12.51pm. The vigil service was attended by the Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, church and faith representatives, parliamentarians and members of the Diplomatic Corps along with members of the public. At the close of the vigil observance, the bells of the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul rang for 10 minutes. Two minutes of silence was also observed at Wellington's Civic Square where Wellington Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon spoke on behalf of Wellington City Council. Russell Wood from the New Zealand Fire Service, who leads the rescue operation, said it was an emotional time for many of the teams. "They've been out there non-stop, doing real hard graft. For some it's been a while since they've had that tangible award of bringing out a live person." Cathedrals around the country also observed two minutes' silence. A service to express support for the people of Christchurch and Canterbury was held in Auckland's Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Parnell where Mayor Len Brown gave a message on behalf of the people of Auckland. Another service was held at Auckland's Victoria Park , where the national anthem was sung. Services were also held in churches in Napier and Taranaki, at the cenotaph in Taupo and at the Rotorua Civic centre, where condolence books were available to sign. Catholic Cathedrals in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin rang their bells before the two-minute silence. Hamiltonians gathered at Garden Place to hold a vigil for Christchurch and 200 red and black balloons were released to honour the victims. 

Australia's parliament pauses

Australian politicians also paused to remember those affected by the Christchurch earthquake, standing for two minutes' silence. Parliament's lower house convened early at 10.51am (12.51pm NZT) as a special mark of respect to the 154 victims and those who remain missing. "In a few moments, it will be one week since Christchurch was struck by the latest earthquake," lower house speaker Harry Jenkins said. "As a mark of our support for, and our solidarity with, the people of New Zealand, I ask all members to stand in their places and observe two minutes' silence." Australian politicians were later to be asked to sign a condolence book, while a condolence motion was also due to be carried.

 Christchurch residents urged to stay home

Earlier today, Christchurch residents were urged by Mayor Bob Parker not to head into the central city to observe the silence, but do it from their homes. "We're in traffic chaos to be honest, and our roads are in really bad condition and they're still lifelines," said Parker. "The two minutes' silence at 12.51 is really about whatever you're doing, wherever you are ... that we all stand together as one." Parker said the two minutes silence would be "perhaps the most poignant two minutes of our lives". "Half a million people around this city - can you imagine the power of that emotion, right across Christchurch," he said. "We've lost people, more casualties to be reported. We've lost iconic buildings."