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Christchurch will once again come to a standstill on February 22, as its residents mark the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that tore their city apart.
The 2011 quake killed 185 people, many of them in the collapsed Canterbury TV building, injuring many others and destroying homes and buildings.
The Christchurch City Council is planning a civic memorial service on Friday, February 22, to mark the day.
The memorial service will be in Latimer Square from midday, with a minute's silence at 12.51pm - the time the quake struck.
The service will be co-hosted by the Anglican ChristChurch Cathedral, which remains displaced due to extreme quake damage to the city's iconic cathedral.
Mayor Bob Parker says two years on, the effect of the disaster is still being felt in the daily lives of all Cantabrians.
"The commemorative service will be a time where we can gather as a community to remember our community's strength and kindness in the days following the earthquake and to take heart in our city's future," Mr Parker said.
He says the city and its residents have come a long way in two years.
"Christchurch has risen to the challenge and, while remedial work is still progressing, Christchurch still has much to offer and we are looking forward to a positive future as we re-invent our world-class city."
Rebuilding the city is forecast to cost $30 billion.
Acknowledgements: NZN