They came in their thousands, the family, friends and loved ones of those killed in the Christchurch quake, to be told that "grief is the price we pay for love".
Prince William's beautiful, simple words, echoed across Hagley Park today as the country stopped to remember the terrible devastation brought by the quake which struck at 12.51pm on February 22.
People came sporting red and black, ignoring the terrible carnage that still impacts on everyday life, to mark the loss of at least 182 lives.
Four more quake victims were named this evening. They are; Mary Louise Anne Bantillo Amantillo, 23, of the Philippines, Ian Foldesi, 64, of Christchurch, Linlin Xu, 26, of China, Naon Yu, 21, of South Korea.
It brings the total number of names released to 146. Police expect the final death toll to be 182.
The crowd gave rescue workers attending a rousing standing ovation before the service started and talked among themselves about their own experiences.
The ceremony officially began with a Maori warrior blowing on a conch shell, stirring the crowd to attention.
Prince William, wearing a korowai given to him by Ngai Tahu especially for the service, was joined by other dignitaries including Prime Minister John Key and his wife, Bronagh, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Governor-General Anand Satyanand and his wife, Susan, Mayor Bob Parker and his wife, Jo Nicholls-Parker, and Labour leader Phil Goff.
However, the ceremony was firmly all about the people of Christchurch.
Read more... http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4784542/Christchurch-earthquake-memorial-Grief-the-price-we-pay-for-love
