FLORAL TRIBUTES: Wreaths at the Mt Erebus memorial in Antarctica. Photo supplied: Richard Waugh.

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

AIR New Zealand is taking five next of kin of those lost in the Erebus tragedy to Antarctica for Saturday’s 30th anniversary commemorations.

Representatives will attend services at Mt Erebus and Scott Base, and families can leave messages in a capsule next to the memorial cross at Mt Erebus.

Three of the people will represent the families of passengers, and one for the cabin crew and flight crew respectively.

Also travelling to Antarctica will be the Very Reverend Peter Beck, of Christchurch Cathedral, who will officiate at services, Air NZ’s general manager of airline operations and chief pilot Captain David Morgan, as well as two representatives of TVNZ to broadcast and document on video the ceremonies so they can be shared with the families of all those lost.

Air NZ will also hold services in Auckland and Christchurch to mark both the 30th anniversary of Erebus, and the first anniversary of the A320 accident in Perpignan off the French coast, on November 28.

A memorial service will be held in the courtyard at Air New Zealand’s head office at 185 Fanshawe Street, opposite Victoria Park, at 11am. It is expected to feature videos from Antarctica and Perpignan, where commemorations will also take place.

A memorial service will also be held at the Erebus Garden at Waikumete Cemetery on Great North Road, Glen Eden, West Auckland. It starts at 3.30pm.

The remains of more than 60 of the 257 people who lost their lives in the disaster are cared for there.

Most of them are buried in a mass grave marked by a special memorial, which features names of unidentified passengers.

It is surrounded by attractive gardens, including a cherry tree which was planted by the Japanese Bereaved Erebus Family Society.

Meanwhile, a service at Number 1 Hangar at Air NZ’s technical operations base near Christchurch Airport gets under way at 11am on Saturday.