Vigils and Events- info from CCC

Aaron Campbell - Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Board

Summary
- PM announced 2 minutes silence on Friday
- March for Love Sat 10am 15,000 expected North Hagley
- Vigil Sunday 5-7pm 20,000 expected North Hagley
FREE public transport 7am-2pm Sat, 2pm onwards Sun

--Details--
The Prime Minister has announced a two-minute national silence on Friday to mark one week since the terrorist attack.
· We can confirm that the vigil previously planned for Thursday night will now be on Sunday 24 March from 5pm – 7pm in North Hagley Park. Significant numbers are expected – potentially more than 20,000.
· This vigil is being organised by members of the public, but Council is working with them to provide support with traffic management, crowd control, services onsite and event promotion.

· There is also a ‘March for Love’ planned for Saturday and organised by the students who were involved in the climate change march on Friday. It is expected to start at 10am in North Hagley and people will walk along Rolleston Ave. Again, Council is working with the event organisers to provide support. Around 15,000 people may attend this event. Our events and transport teams are working on traffic management plans to support this event, and other activity in Rolleston Avenue in coming days. These plans are considering the needs of local businesses and other stakeholders, people wishing to visit the area and media.

· Environment Canterbury has announced this afternoon that it will provide free public transport for anyone wishing to attend two community-led gatherings arranged for this weekend.

· For the March for Love on Saturday all public transport, including the Diamond Harbour ferry, will be free between 7am and 2pm. For Sunday’s event, all public transport will be free from 2pm onwards. The services will run to their usual weekend timetables.

· We are encouraging people to lay flowers and pay their respects on Rolleston Ave along the Botanic Gardens frontage. We have signage in place asking motorists to slow down, and also asking cyclists to dismount and walk their bikes through the area alongside the tributes.