Defence Force ceremony to mark 857 days service
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman have paid tribute to
members of the New Zealand Defence Force for their dedicated service to Christchurch on the eve of their longest ever
domestic deployment.
“Tomorrow afternoon around 120 members of the Army, Navy and Air Force will be thanked in person by Prime Minister John
Key for their duty to Christchurch,” Mr Brownlee says.
“They will be officially dismissed from duty at 2pm in Worcester Boulevard, and I’d urge members of the public to come
along and thank Defence Force members for their service to our city.
“While tomorrow will bring to a close the service of hundreds of soldiers who have manned the cordon around
Christchurch’s battered central city for the past 857 days, it is also an opportunity to thank members of the Navy who
helped bring supplies to the city when we most needed them, and the Air Force, who played a significant role ferrying
people and goods in the immediate aftermath of the quakes.
“This is a physical and psychological milestone of great significance, with the official cordon now gone and large parts
of the city which have for so long only been viewed at a distance open to the public.”
The original CBD cordon was 387 hectares.
Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says the New Zealand Defence Force deserves appreciation for its longest ever
domestic deployment.
“Along with Police, Fire and Ambulance staff, the Defence Force were able to respond to the immediate needs of those
worst affected in the days following the February quake, and this has been followed by keeping the extremely dangerous
central city area locked down to all but those who have needed to be in there.
“Working on two month rotations and shifts of 12 hours a day, five days a week, has been a challenging task.
“Initially manned by the Regular Force, soldiers from our Reserve Forces took over the cordon, allowing their colleagues
to return to their normal duties.
“I acknowledge the impact their service has had on their families. I also acknowledge the employers of our Reserve
Forces who made it possible for some members to return several times to the city to help.”
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) has worked with the Christchurch City Council, SCIRT, the Fire
Service, Police and a variety of other agencies and services to ensure the streets are safe for public use and the
necessary infrastructure repaired.
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