Remarkable Red Zone scenes captured by NZ Police photographers

Canterbury Museum in collaboration with the New Zealand Police, proudly presents Beyond the Cordon – the Red Zones through the eyes of the New Zealand Police Photographers.

Museum Director Anthony Wright says the exhibition features remarkable imagery of devastation, rescue and recovery following the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, the largest emergency response ever seen in New Zealand, including some images which have never before been on public display.

“This is a powerful and emotionally significant exhibition that highlights the Police Photographers’ daunting task of visually documenting the rescue and recovery effort that followed during the aftermath of the 22 February 2011 earthquake,” he says.

“Imagine what the photographers had to endure - smouldering rubble, shards of glass and concrete, horrific scenes from the victim recovery operations, ongoing aftershocks – they saw and endured it all behind the Red Zone cordon, and now we get to see some of these images through their eyes. It’s a remarkable, emotional, thought-provoking exhibition.”

Canterbury Police Acting District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor says the exhibition captures a unique perspective on this significant event in New Zealand history.

“Our Police photographers were an integral part of the emergency response, but also found themselves in a privileged position to be able to capture these remarkable images," he says.

"This exhibition is a great opportunity for the work of Police photographers to gain wider recognition, and also to present in pictures the story of the outstanding emergency services response to the quake."

Supported by Canon New Zealand, Beyond the Cordon features many photographs that were published in the book ‘Christchurch 22.2 Beyond the Cordon’ by Hachette New Zealand Ltd in 2011. The royalties from this publication go to The Family Help Trust, a registered not-for-profit organisation, which assists at-risk families in Christchurch.

Beyond the Cordon is on now at Canterbury Museum until 3 August 2014. Entry is free; donations are appreciated.

For more information, see www.canterburymuseum.com

ENDS

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