Christchurch - Beyond the Cordon - New Zealand Police

The Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 was one of the worst natural disasters in New Zealand’s history. The quake devastated New Zealand’s second biggest city and caused significant damage to infrastructure both within Christchurch itself and its immediate surrounds. After declining several quake books — none of which felt right — Hachette NZ was approached by the Canterbury District Police to produce a high-quality book of colour photography taken by Police forensic photographers, documenting the response to the earthquake. All royalties from the book are being donated to the Christchurch Family Help Trust. The 208-page, book is chock full of stunning, evocative photographs shot by police photographers. They were primarily taken throughout the rescue operation and they were pretty much the only photographers allowed to remain and work inside the cordoned area of the CBD. They had long-term access to all the major rescue sites and have literally hundreds of stunning images documenting the rescue effort, the work of emergency services personnel from both New Zealand and around the world, as well the devastating upheaval the cityscape. The photos will be accompanied by captions and brief comments from the photographers, documenting their personal responses to ‘Operation Earthquake’. As well there will be a foreword by high-profile Canterbury District Police Superintendent Dave Cliff and two poems by Gary McCormick. This is the book that feels right. This will be the definitive work of the Christchurch disaster.