The New Zealand Police

Holding the thin blue line.

David Neighbours

When Christchurch was hit by its second catastrophic earthquake in six months, at 12:51 on 22 February 2011, the New Zealand Police responded as quickly as they could. Off-duty officers who could go to work and join their on-duty colleagues did so. Police officers from other parts of Canterbury and New Zealand were sent to Christchurch to help. They had to secure the streets of Christchurch to ensure the unimpeded operation of the other emergency services such as fire engines and ambulances. They set up cordons and checkpoints, then had to systematically search and evacuate every building and every trapped vehicle within the central city.

Credit: Neil Macbeth. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/135070

Both Police and Fire Service took control of the site of the Canterbury Television building, which had collapsed completely. Despite having little or no specific training in this field, they were heavily involved in rescue efforts until the site was handed over to Urban Search and Rescue. Miscommunication between USAR and the Police and Fire meant recovery operations at the CTV Building did not go as smoothly as they might have if the coordination of decision-making and resources had been better. However, the severe collapse of the building presented a chaotic and harrowing situation, and improvised rescue attempts were crucial in a tense environment when quick responses were paramount in order to save lives.

As well as working alongside the Fire Service, Saint John’s Ambulance and USAR, the Police also worked closely with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) - the Army, Navy and Air Force – to ensure an emergency response that was as effective and efficient as possible. They were also joined by police officers sent over from other countries, most notably three hundred from Australia. The Christchurch Central Police Station, once the tallest building in the city, continued to be used despite it being damaged and its stability compromised in the earthquake. However, out of concern for the safety of its staff, the building was vacated in 2014 and demolished by implosion in 2015. The Police moved to a new central city station on Lichfield Street.

The Police were rightly honoured for the part they played in the emergency response and were called the “heroes” of the earthquake. This page contains information and material related to the Police and their actions following the earthquakes.

Credit: Neil Macbeth. Source: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/object/135336

Resources:

• Fairfax Video, September 2010 (16) - This video shows how the Police and the Army worked together in Christchurch to keep the city safe after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. It includes an interview with Senior Sergeant Phillip Dean, Captain Mark Rutledge, Lance Corporal Aaron Tuhi, Lieutenant Dennis Petre, and Second Lieutenant David Pedrosa-Durie. It also includes footage of the New Zealand Military preparing meals at Burnham Camp.
• Fairfax Video, September 2010 (27) - This video shows members of the Police and Army guarding cordons in the Christchurch central city after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The video also includes footage of a helicopter flying over the central city.
• Police Urge People To Stay Off Central City Roads | RNZ - This report is about a request from the Police for people to stay away from dangerous central Christchurch roads, and their confirmation that the death toll from the earthquake has reached 145.
• Australian police formally farewelled from Christchurch | RNZ - This report is about the three hundred Australian police who travelled across the Tasman to support their New Zealand counterparts in the response to the Christchurch earthquakes.
• Extra police provide reassurance on Christchurch streets | RNZ - This report is about the 75 police officers who have travelled from across the country to bolster the local contingent in Christchurch, following the earthquake on 22 February 2011.
• Police in Canterbury are honoured | RNZ - This report is about the honouring of Police officers and staff in Christchurch, who were called the heroes of the earthquake on 22 February 2011. Their actions included a daring crane rescue.
• Police air their frustrations at inquiry into CTV response | RNZ - This report is about the first police officer at the scene of the collapsed and burning CTV building. He recounted harrowing details of his efforts in the hours after the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
• Christchurch Press 30 October 2012: Section A, Page 4 | “Police ‘not trained’ for CTV building collapse." - This report was about how the Police officers who worked at the site of the collapsed CTV Building felt unprepared for the challenges they faced, and did the best they could to rescue people from the ruins.
• Christchurch Press 31 October 2012: Section A, Page 3 | “Official halted debris clearing." "'We wish we had saved more people'." - The first of these reports is about a USAR official who blocked demolition crews from dismantling parts of the collapsed CTV Building, and possibly saving lives, because of health and safety concerns. The second report is about Sergeant Michael Brooklands, who was initially in charge at the CTV site, who said that rescuers were “haunted” wondering if they could have saved more lives.
• Fairfax Video, December 2012 (10) - This video shows a tour of the new central Christchurch police station. The video includes interviews with Riwai Grace, Fire Communications Shift Manager at the New Zealand Fire Service, and Superintendent Gary Knowles, Canterbury Area Commander for the New Zealand Police. Knowles gives The Press a tour of the new training area, cafeteria, courtyard, firearm simulator room, prosecution area, interview rooms, and cell blocks.
• Christchurch Press 25 February 2014: Section A, Page 1 | “Police probe CTV collapse.” - This report is about the Police hiring engineers to help them in their investigation of the collapse of the CTV Building. For more on this topic, visit the Police Investigation page.
• “Post-traumatic stress symptoms in police staff 12-18 months after the Canterbury Earthquakes.” - This paper is about the psychological effects of the Christchurch earthquakes on the Police staff who were involved in the emergency response.

General Searches:

To search the CEISMIC collection for information and resources on the Christchurch earthquakes and the New Zealand Police, get started with one of the links below.

• To explore Radio New Zealand’s reports on Police operations after the earthquakes in Christchurch, click here.
• To explore newspaper reports in The Press and The Star on the Police response to the earthquakes, and especially the collapse of the CTV Building, click here.
• To explore videos showing the Police in action after the earthquakes, click here.