Special legislation for memorial to be fast-tracked today

Parliament will today introduce and pass legislation to allow a one-off provincial holiday in Canterbury so people can attend a memorial service for those killed in the Christchurch earthquake.

A spokesman for deputy leader of the house Simon Power said the Government would seek leave to introduce and pass the legislation when Parliament sits at 2pm.

The holiday would cover areas that already observe Canterbury Anniversary Day.

The service will be held at North Hagley Park in Christchurch on March 18. The memorial will start at 12.45pm, with two minutes' silence to be observed from 12.51pm, the time the deadly magnitude 6.3 quake struck on February 22.

- NZPA