Police officers and staff in Christchurch, who have been called the heroes of the February 2011 earthquake, have been honored today for their actions including a daring crane rescue.
A police officer inspects a damaged building on Barbadoes street. The brick facade has collapsed, and the building is cordoned off with police tape.
A police officer directing traffic on the intersection of Worcester and Montreal Streets shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. People can be seen on either side of the street, attempting to exit town and make their way home.
A police officer stands guard over a cordoned-off section of Williams Street in Kaiapoi.
A police officer stands guard over a cordoned-off section of Williams Street in Kaiapoi.
A photograph of a cordon on the corner of Cashel Street and Rolleston Avenue. Tape has been draped across traffic cones and a police officer is standing guard.
A police officer stepping over camera equipment in front of the damaged Repertory Theatre building.
The first police officer at the scene of the collapsed and burning CTV building has recounted harrowing details of his efforts in the hours after the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
A graffiti-style advertisement for the NZ Police on the side of a building on Colombo Street, showing a police officer comforting a frightened woman. Text reads "You too can do something extraordinary. Become a cop".
A graffiti-style recruitment advertisement for the NZ Police, depicting police officer Nao Yoshimizu comforting the grieving relative of an earthquake victim. The image has been further graffitied to hide the officer's uniform, and the original advertisement text ("You too can do something extraordinary. Become a cop.") altered to read "You too can do something ordinary. Become a human".
A police officer and soldier talk with a demolition contractor on Victoria Street. Tape has been placed across the street to create a temporary cordon. In the distance, a pile of rubble from a demolished building can be seen.
A photograph of a member of the New Zealand Army talking to a police officer on the corner of Colombo and Wordsworth Street. In the background there is a block of earthquake-damaged shops. Sections of the shops' walls have collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the road and footpath.
A photograph of a graffiti-style mural promoting careers in the New Zealand Police. The mural depicts a police officer pulling a woman from the rubble, and is captioned, "You too can do something extraordinary. Become a cop".
Workers and a police officer stand next to the damaged Knox Church at the intersection of Victoria Street and Bealey Avenue.
A police officer and two soldiers inspects a property on Avonside Drive. The awning above the door has collapsed, taking some of the brick wall with it. It still lies on the front steps of the house.
A photograph of workers searching for survivors in the collapsed stores along Manchester Street shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. An excavator can be seen helping to remove rubble from the site.
A photograph of workers searching for survivors in the collapsed stores along Manchester Street shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. An excavator can be seen helping to remove rubble from the site.
A photograph of workers searching for survivors in the collapsed stores along Manchester Street shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. An excavator can be seen helping to remove rubble from the site.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Safe distance. A police officer patrols Colombo Street in Sydenham, by the devastated Ascot Electronics Service Centre".
A police officer giving assistance to members of the public while guarding the CBD cordon. A couple of other people are looking into the city cordon.
Workers and a police officer stand next to diggers and a Road Closed sign at the intersection of Victoria Street and Bealey Avenue, seen from Papanui Road.
A video of a press conference with Mayor Bob Parker, Roger Sutton (CEO of Orion), Superintendent Dave Cliff (Christchurch Police), and Chief Fire Officer Dan Coward. The speakers talk about the work that is being done to bring power back to Christchurch residents, and to assess the safety of buildings in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of a Hutt City Emergency Response team member talking to a police officer on Victoria Street as a group of workers watch on.
A police officer talks to the driver of a NZ Post truck at a cordon across Tuam Street. Military personnel stand nearby. The photographer comments, "this was taken shortly after the 4th September earthquake. Police allowed us free access past the cordon and simply advised us to watch out for falling masonry. The access situation was much different after the February aftershock".
AIRCDRE Howse, CDRE Wayne Burroughs and AVM Peter Stockwell at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
It's been a year since the police announced new measures to get more women into the force. One of those measures was a reality tv show, "Women In Blue", that followed seven female police officers on the job. Among them was Constable Bridget Suckling, who specialises in disaster victim identification. She juggles major operations such as Pike River and the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes with her work on the Auckland Search and rescue squad.She talks to Katy Gosset about why she joined the police and the impact of "Women in Blue".
Members of the public speaking with police officers on the corner of Durham Street and Armagh Street in the aftermath of the 22 February earthquake. On the right the timber section of the historic Provincial Council Chambers can be seen, including the clock tower which has collapsed onto the road. Armagh Street leading into the city has been cordoned off by red tape.
A member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Search and Rescue Team, talking to a New Zealand Police Officer in Latimer Square. In the background is a wire fence with Search and Rescue Team equipment tied to it. After the 22 February 2011 earthquake, emergency service agencies set up their headquarters in Latimer Square.
A member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Search and Rescue Team, talking to a New Zealand Police Officer in Latimer Square. In the background is a wire fence with Search and Rescue Team equipment tied to it. After the 22 February 2011 earthquake, emergency service agencies set up their headquarters in Latimer Square.
A scanned copy of a black and white photograph depicting a line of police officers at a protest against the Springbok Tour in 1981. The photograph was taken on the National Day of Shame, 22 July 1981.