A Christchurch earthquake survivor explains what today's memorial service means to her and her fractured city.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has told tens of thousands of mourners at this afternoon's National Memorial Service for the victims of February 22's deadly earthquake that the city will rise up and move forward.

Prime Minister John Key has spoken of the lasting legacy of Christchurch's devastating earthquake at this afternoon's National Memorial Service for the victims of the quake.

Read other people's live reactions to the moving National Memorial Service for the Christchurch quake victims.

Prince William has spoken to tens of thousands of mourners at today's memorial service for Christchurch's earthquake victims in Hagley Park, 24 days after the quake devastated the city.

Betty Irene Dickson, 82, died after the earthquake caused a brick wall to collapse on top of Wick's Fish in Worchester Street, where she was shopping.

Lesley Jane Thomson, 55, was in the CTV building to see an osteopath when the earthquake hit.

Joan Dorothy Weild, 76, died when the facade of 603 Colombo Street collapsed during the earthquake.

Patrick John Coupe, 46, was in the Pyne Gould Corporation building when it collapsed.

Saki Yokota, from Japan, studied at the Toyama College of Foreign Languages before arriving in New Zealand on a study trip to the King's Education language school.

Xiling 'Vivi' Han, 25, died when the CTV building collapsed in the earthquake.

Jane-Marie Alberts, 44, worked for Marac and was in the Pyne Gould Corporation building when it collapsed.

Marina Arai, 19, of Japan, was on a study trip to the King's Education language school in the CTV building with other students from the Toyama College of Foreign Languages.

Stephen Robert Wright, 46, worked in the CTV building as a marketing manager for Canterbury Television.

Chang Lai, from China, was a student at the King's Education language school in the CTV building.

Japanese student Miki Hayasaka, 37, was studying at King's Education in the CTV building to broaden her job prospects as a nurse.

Adrienne Isobel Lindsay, 54, was from Christchurch.

Yoko Suzuki, of Japan, was a student at the King's Education language school in the CTV building and was there when the earthquake struck.

Emi Murakami, 19, from Japan, was studying at the King's Education language school in the CTV building when the earthquake struck.

Former Oamaru man Blair James O'Connor was working as an accountant in the Perpetual Trust office on the first floor of the Pyne Gould Corporation building when the earthquake struck.

Yurika Uchihira, 19, was a student from the Toyama College of Foreign Languages, who was also a fencing coach at a Japanese elementary school.

Linda Isobel Arnold, 57, was driving along Colombo Street when the earthquake struck.

Wanju Li, 44, from China was also known as Julia.

De Li, 18, from China was known as Luca in New Zealand.

Kyoko Kawahata, 20, from Japan had only been in New Zealand one day when the earthquake struck on February 22, 2011.

Yumiko Hata, 29, who came from the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka, was a student of the King's Education language school in the CTV building.