3 Sep 2014

Experts pick quake memorial shortlist

8:29 pm on 3 September 2014

Hundreds of ideas submitted for a Canterbury earthquake memorial are to be narrowed down to a shortlist.

The remains of a toppled building in central Christchurch.

The remains of a toppled building in central Christchurch. Photo: RNZ

A total of 339 formal submissions have been accepted for consideration to Ideas to Remember - half from New Zealand, and half from 37 other countries.

The director of the Christchurch Central Development Unit, Warwick Isaacs, said an evaluation panel comprising five external experts and one representative of the bereaved families would shortlist the design ideas.

Mr Isaacs said the shortlist will be finalised in late October, with a public display early next year.

He said the memorial should be ready for the fifth anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake in 2016.

The Memorial is to be located on the banks of the Avon River between Montreal Street and Rhododendron Island.

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