Concept designs for a new National Erebus Memorial have now been submitted to Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, says Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Bernadette Cavanagh.

The six designs are available on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website. 

"Six anonymous design teams selected in December were asked to submit concept designs," Ms Cavanagh says.

"The designers were provided with comments from the families of the Erebus victims and given the opportunity to talk to some family members in this phase of the process.

"Feedback from the families on the designs will be presented to the National Erebus Memorial Design Panel when they meet in March to evaluate the designs. The Panel will be recommending the finalist to the Prime Minister.

"It’s a significant milestone and provides a real sense of the progress of this project."

Ms Cavanagh is also pleased to announce that two Erebus family members (yet to be selected) will be joining the Design Panel in March.

The 40th anniversary of the Erebus accident will be marked in November this year, with a Memorial planned to be established in early 2020. Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage is leading the project.