Public memorial services to mark the events of last February 22 are taking place throughout the country today.

It's a year to the day that a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Christchurch, taking 185 lives.

Today's first public event is being held in Latimer Square this morning next to the site of the CTV building, which collapsed last February killing 115 people.

At midday the main memorial service will be held in North Hagley Park.

The service will begin with a conch being blown, include readings and music before the names of the 185 victims are read out.

There'll be two minutes of silence at 12.51pm and the service will end with 185 Monarch butterflies being released into the air.

A special seating area for the families of those who died has been set up for the memorial service.

Mark Maynard lost his wife Kelly in the PGC building collapse.

He's taking his two daughters, Molly and Matilda to the service and says they appear to be coping well.

"The girls seem to understand that Kelly's in heaven and they know it's a special day," he says.

"It's funny how they take it but they seem in good spirits about things, they don't seem to be too fazed by it al but it's just a matter of me doing the right job for them in the future really."

"It's just not about us, you watch TV and people have lost limbs and arms and that, it must be hard for them to go through the day again, people with houses, it will be hard work getting hit three or four times with that liquefaction but I think everyone's got to get behind and help out to get through things."

Organiser Richard Stokes says it will be an opportunity for people to come together and remember in a respectful way.

"There'll be many thousands there no doubt and we're lucky we're on North Hagley Park, we've got a large area so we can cope with a massive crowd if we have to and we're certainly prepared for that."

That service will be followed by the Christchurch Earthquake Awards to recognise the heroes of the quake.

The majority of St John staff will be at the Latimer Square memorial, and St John South Island general manager David Thomas says that place has a special significance for them.

"We had a strong representation there on the day, both at the triage centre and supporting members of the community and allied services working on the CTV site and the surrounding buildings."

Mr Thomas says his staff, like most of Christchurch, will have mixed emotions about the day.

Politicians will also be out in force at today's memorials.

The Prime Minister says today is a day for reflection and to support the families of those killed, the injured, and the heroes who helped people in the hours following the devastating quake.

John Key will be accompanied by a number of ministers as he attends services and speaks to survivors.

Labour leader David Shearer attended the memorial for the unfound and unidentified last night and will be at a number of services today, along with his Christchurch-based MPs.

Representatives from other political parties are also expected to be attend services.

The head of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will spend today with his family.

Roger Sutton has been a figurehead in the recovery from February 22 and says it's a time to reflect and look forward.

"I want to spend time with my family remembering the terribleness that's occurred here but I guess also trying to make all feel that we are actually moving on."

There are also a number of local memorials around the city today.

An assortment of 185 freshly painted white chairs have also been set out on a freshly laid lawn at the site of the fallen Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in Christchurch as a poignant reminder of those who died.

Each chair is different - some wooden, some metal, some cane.

Some have been donated by families of the victims, including a favourite armchair and a beach chair with drink holder.

Another silent tribute will be a 'river of flowers', where people throughout the day can drop a flower from a number of designated sites into the Avon River.

There will be a 'hope tree' at each site where people can write and leave a message of hope.

Dropping flowers into a river symbolises letting go and the tree of hope represents looking to the future.

Avonside resident Jacqui Wilkinson says Cancern has organised a more localised event at Dallington Bridge for red-zoners in the area.

"It gives me a chance to do something local in the area because next year we're not going to be there, it's a chance to say goodbye."

The first official memorial event for the February earthquake was carried out last night in Avonhead.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker opened the site at Avonhead Park Cemetery where the ashes of four unidentified earthquake victims have been interred.

Christchurch Bishop Victoria Matthews, who spoke at the event, says it was an opportunity to remember those who are celebrated, loved, and full of laughter.

"So we gather tonight, not because of death but because of life and love."

The site was opened to families last night and opens to the public today

Photo: Getty Images