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? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.