When the earth shook

At 12.02am on Monday 14 November nature put on a brutal display of power.

‘It was a pretty amazing response’

The dust was still rising from the mountains as Sergeant Matt Boyce, OC Kaikoura, and his team took leave of their families and made their way to work.

The first chopper in

The first helicopter landed in Kaikoura shortly after 9am.

From isolation to order

“For the first few days Kaikoura felt like a small Pacific island, cut off from the rest of New Zealand,” says Superintendent Chris Scahill, National Manager Response and Operations and Police’s first forward commander in the town.

Answering the calls for help

Between midnight and 7am on 14 November, Police received 1402 emergency calls, nearly ten times the number received the same time the previous week. Non-emergency calls were up from 224 to 1045.

‘We care and we will keep them safe’

In some cases, a Police welfare check was the first contact in days for residents in rural or inaccessible areas.

Iwi partners reach out

Iwi/Maori liaison officers were in the thick of the welfare operation at Takahanga Marae.

Race against time for IT crews

Police’s radio communications survived the earthquake – but with widespread power cuts it was a race against time to reach remote radio sites before their back-up batteries died.

Hunt for a safer summer

Legendary Kiwi poet Sam Hunt teamed up with Police and a group of talented schoolchildren to launch the campaign for safer roads this summer.

Never give up

Recent recruit Constable Emmy Garnons-Williams didn’t let anything stop her achieving her goal of joining Police.

Haere ra to a good friend

Police lost a friend and champion with the death of esteemed rangatira Mita Mohi last month.

WNPH – a flagship for change

Staff in Eastern and Northland districts are looking forward to getting to grips with a ground-breaking approach to family harm coming their way in early 2017.

Christian values in action

When members of Police’s Christian Support Network (PCSN) went to Kawerau for their annual conference last month, they wanted to show the town some love.

Inside the STG

As policing environments elsewhere increasingly resemble combat zones, New Zealand Police remains routinely unarmed – to the surprise of many visitors.

On the world stage

Congratulations to two of our women who have been making a mark on world sport.

Thank-you, 23 years on

Sergeant Alan ‘AJ’ Johnston never forgot the morning he stopped a young woman jumping to her death in downtown Auckland – but he never expected to meet her, 23 years later.

Police mourn courageous Mike

Sergeant Mike Toon died displaying the courage and dedication characteristic of a police officer and a father, says his District Commander.

Teamwork halts speeder

A driver who sped past a camera car three times in an hour was disqualified after Road Policing, Police Infringement Bureau (PIB) and Prosecutions teamed up to ensure the offending brought more than just an infringement or three.

Mono gets her man

It was a great catch for a new dog team – a well-hidden fugitive, $10,000 cash and meth worth $23,000.

To Rio – and beyond

It’s a long way from Invercargill to Rio - but the tyranny of distance holds no fear for Police member and Paralympian Jess Hamill.

And finally…

It has been a challenging year in many ways and we make no apologies for running a picture of a police dog puppy with its paw on a Christmas present.

A tremendous job
By Commissioner Mike Bush

Kia ora. Over the past month, Police staff have worked hard to help communities damaged by the 14 November earthquake and aftershocks. My thanks to everyone involved, particularly those working to reassure people in the affected and surrounding areas.

Minister’s Word
A view from Police Minister Judith Collins

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you manage to get a good break and spend time with family and friends.