Christchurch marks second anniversary of deadly quake
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People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, close to the area where115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. -- PHOTO: AP
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People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, close to the area where115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. -- PHOTO: AP
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People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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A house covered with graffiti stands abandoned in an earthquake-damaged neighbourhood that has been zoned uninhabitable in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 23, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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Mr Phil Thompson stands in his earthquake-damaged house as he poses for photos in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 23, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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Tourists linger at a security fence near Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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Christmas decorations remain on security fencing around Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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An excavator climbs the rubble of demolished buildings in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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A tourist photographs the demolition of a building in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 16, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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A tourist photographs demolition work outside a derelict hotel in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 16, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, close to the area where115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. -- PHOTO: AP
People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, close to the area where115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. -- PHOTO: AP
People pay their respects during a memorial service on the second anniversary of a deadly earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
A house covered with graffiti stands abandoned in an earthquake-damaged neighbourhood that has been zoned uninhabitable in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 23, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
Mr Phil Thompson stands in his earthquake-damaged house as he poses for photos in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 23, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
Tourists linger at a security fence near Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
Christmas decorations remain on security fencing around Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
An excavator climbs the rubble of demolished buildings in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 22, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
A tourist photographs the demolition of a building in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 16, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
A tourist photographs demolition work outside a derelict hotel in downtown Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 16, 2013. Christchurch on Friday, Feb 22, 2013, marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) - The New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday marked the second anniversary of an earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed 185 people.
Several hundred people gathered for a memorial service in Latimer Square, near where 115 died when a six-story office building collapsed during the magnitude-6.1 quake. Others placed flowers in road cones or tossed them into the Avon River to commemorate those who died.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister John Key focused on rebuilding efforts.
He said he understands there's frustration at the time it's taking to get homes rebuilt, but that in a few years, Christchurch will be "one of the best and most livable cities in the world."
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