Chch earthquake 7 years on

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has today (Thurs.) told Cantabrians the Government and rest of New Zealand will continue to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with them as the region remembers its earthquake victims seven years on and continues its post-disaster rebuild.

Ardern gave an address at a civic service in Christchurch commemorating the seventh anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake.

The 45-minute service at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial Oi Manawa on the banks of the Avon River attracted a large crowd of several hundred.

It took 11 minutes to read out the names of the 185 people who lost their lives in the earthquake disaster and who are remembered on the Memorial Wall.

Ardern said that no matter what, they will never be forgotten and "we will keep their dreams alive".

A minute's silence was held at 12.51pm, the time the magnitude-6.3 tremor struck seven years ago.

Chairman of the Quake Families Trust Tim Elms, whose daughter Teresa McLean died in the CTV building collapse, helped welcome guests on behalf of the city.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern chats with Tim Elms whose daughter Teresa McLean died in the February 22, 2011 quake after earthquake anniversary service. Photo / Kurt Bayer