About

After the major earthquakes we've had and the ongoing aftershocks, our community is starting to get to the end of its tether!

• Do you want to draw a line in the liquefaction?  
• Do you want to start rebuilding your home, our city and build up that great community spirit again?

If yes, then this event is for you, your family, friends, school, college, university & work colleagues to come together and be strong for Christchurch.

Ok, the largest group hug might sound somehow daft, or vaguely childish. But that's the beauty of the Guinness World Records: what you think you're going to experience invariably turns into something very different. This will be a symbolic event for Canterbury, something very special – home pride, national identity, call it what you will – we hope it will be a moving and wonderful event.

The Christchurch Group Hug is an event that will not only bring Christchurch people together but will get that community spirit back!! Something we need... something Christchurch needs!!  

Oh - and also break a world record in the process…

 The World Record Attempt requires that people register - please see one of our volunteer marshalls at any of the entry points into the Botanic Gardens, from 2pm on the day.

Key times:

• Bus or walk if you can
• Onsite registrations from 2:00 pm: to be part of the Guinness World Record attempt (please arrive before 2.45pm)
• 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm: performance by a leading Christchurch Pipe Band, Archery Lawn, Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• 3:15 pm: Music concludes, move to hug route
• 3:30 pm sharp: Christchurch Group Hug attempt on the Guinness World Records for the Largest Group Hug (cued by pipe band)
• This is a zero-waste event, please take out what you bring in

This event is organised by Andrew Male, with support from C96FM, the CPIT Broadcasting School radio station. Thanks to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Contrary to a published article, this event is not being held around the Red Zone. The Celebrating Sumner Festival, also on September 4, features a complementary Group Hug event but unfortunately this does not count towards the World Record attempt.