A memorial service was held in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens today to remember those who died or were seriously injured during the earthquake five years ago. It was a very sad service. Flowers were the symbol of remembrance and caring. Many people threw flowers into the Avon River and once again, there were flowers in the top of road cones.
Although the central city is still under construction, an office block opened this month for government workers like those in the Department of Internal Affairs. The government is planning to move 1,000 workers into the central city this year. This will make a big difference. The only workers in the central city have been construction workers, shop assistants in the small container city (the Restart Mall) and a few people working in the cafes which opened recently. However, many more buildings will be open in another year. There is progress.
To listen to more about the earthquake anniversary, go to February 21 2015 and February 22 2014.
Vocabulary
• memorial (adj, n) – a time, place or an object to remember those who died
• remembrance (n) – from the verb to remember
• symbol (n) – a sign
• under construction – an idiom to mean construction is happening right now
• Restart Mall – shops in colourful shipping containers