Antarctic Memorial to Flight TE901
In late 1979 a six-foot timber cross was erected during a ceremony,
around 3km from the crash site, as a memorial to those who lost
their lives. Over time this was damaged by wind, and was replaced
on 30 January 1987 with a stainless steel cross. The stainless
steel memorial cross is located on a rock outcrop (167? 33' 43"E,
77? 26' 38"S; elevation 810 m (2660 feet).This site where the cross
is situated is not part of the protected area, but is proposed as
an Historic Monument.
An area on the lower slopes of Mount Erebus, above Lewis Bay on
the north side of Ross Island, was originally declared a tomb in
Recommendation XI-3 (1981) after notification by New Zealand that
257 people of several nationalities lost their lives when the DC-10
aircraft in which they were travelling crashed at this site on 28
November 1979.
In spite of the determined and courageous actions of the New
Zealand and United States Antarctic expeditions the bodies of some
of those who died could not be recovered.
Crew Memorial at Auckland Airport
Located to the side of Tom Pearce Drive at Auckland
Airport is a memorial to the crew of flight TE 901.
"In memory of the DC 10 Crew of Flight TE 901, who lost their lives on the slopes of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica - 28 November 1979"
"This garden is your special place"
Waikumete Cemetery Public Memorial
Following the tragic Air New Zealand flight to Antartica in 1979,
the bodies of the unidentified passengers were buried at Waikumete
in a mass grave containing some 16 caskets. The site, which is
adjacent to the main entrance on Great North Road is marked by a
memorial listing the names of the unidentified victims and those
who were not recovered from the crash scene. Attractive gardens now
surround the site.
St Matthews in the City Church
Six days after the crash, on 4 December 1979, St Matthews in the
City Church held a Memorial Service for the victims of the
accident. Hundreds gathered at the Church to pay their respects to
the 257 people who lost their lives. A memorial stain glass window
was installed and dedicated to the 257 people, just before the 10
year Anniversary.
The memorial plaque reads:
"These windows were dedicated on 19 November 1989 by the Govenor
General of New Zealand, the Most Reverend Sir Paul Reeves GCMG,
GCVO.
"They commemorate a memorial service held at Saint Matthew's on 4 December 1979, honoring the 257 passengers and crew of Air New Zealand Flight 901 to Antarctica, who died six days earlier on the side of Mt Erebus.
"This plaque was donated by the Collins family in memory of a beloved husband, father and friend - Thomas James Collins, Captain of the DC10 in aircraft."
Memorial at St Stephen's Church
On Thursday November 27, 1980, a stain glass memorial window at St
Stephens Anglican Church in Stanmore Bay, Whangaparoa, was
installed as a tribute to the victims aboard Flight 901. The window
was dedicated at a special one year anniversary service on 30
November 1980 by the Primate of New Zealand Archbishop Paul Reeves,
where the lives of eight Whangaparoa locals were remembered,
including local Reverend Peter Tanton.
The Memorial window was created by Stain Glass artist Mr Jo
Shroff, and features Mt Erebus with a cross in the centre of the
window.
For more information visit the
NZALPA Erebus website
