The New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA) today welcomed the announcement of the preferred site of Cracroft Reserve in Christchurch for the National Erebus Memorial.

NZALPA President Andrew McKeen, a 787 pilot, said that after more than four and a half decades of waiting, a national place of remembrance would finally be established to honour the 237 passengers and 20 crew who died in New Zealand’s worst aviation disaster.

“Christchurch serves as New Zealand’s gateway to Antarctica and was the intended stopover point for TE901’s return to Auckland.” President McKeen said.

“Since the tragedy many of our members have retired or passed on. Others still remember the turbulent months that followed that day in 1979 and the efforts NZALPA made to defend the professional reputations of their colleagues from unfair conjecture and blame.”

"As the Prime Minister remarked at the Erebus 40th Anniversary ‘…the Royal Commission Report convincingly clears Captain Collins and First Officer Cassin of any suggestion that negligence on their part had, in any way, contributed to the disaster. That is unchallenged’ “

“We will now have a permanent national memorial. Erebus will forever be remembered by our industry and especially our members,” said President McKeen.

Note: 

NZALPA maintains a living archive, and a resource for New Zealanders, at www.erebus.co.nz .

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