Police response

At PNHQ the International Service Group (ISG) and Operations Group swung quickly into action.

The immediate concern for the ISG was the safety and well-being of staff throughout the Pacific region.

The group also focussed on supporting Superintendent Ross Ardern, Liaison Officer for the South and West Pacific. Ross, who is based in Apia, took up his new role only four weeks ago after finishing a stint as Chief of Police of Niue.

Among other roles Ross has had the heartbreaking job of liaising with the relatives of the New Zealand victims.

Constable Alf Sawyer and Asko and Sergeant Colin Howard and Zena search debris on Saleapaga beach for victims. Photo: John Selkirk, The Dominion Post

Shortly after the earthquake struck, and reports of the extent of the devastation in Samoa gradually began to emerge, senior operations managers started to make preparations, in the event New Zealand Police received a request for aid.

When that request came just hours later, an initial support team consisting of two Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) officers, two radio technicians and Assistant Commissioner Auckland Metro, Steve Shortland left for Samoa.

The radio technicians would supply a portable radio communications system for the temporary operation base on the southeast coast of Upolo, and the DVI’s and Steve would make an assessment of the issues faced and the extent of support required.

This first team was supplemented a couple of days later by 12 additional staff from the Specialist Search Group and four victim recovery dogs and their handlers.

The dogs required special vet checks and additional immunisation before they left. Two of the dogs, Ice and Jess, and their handlers, Sergeants Alistair Sim and Shane Salmond, have already seen overseas service when they went to assist with victim recovery in the aftermath of the fires in Victoria last February.

Auckland city has the largest population of Samoan people in the world and New Zealand has very close connections with the people of the Pacific.

Many New Zealand Police employees have close family and family in Samoa and Tonga and have been deeply affected by this event.

One staff member reported eight members of her family lost.

Staff support and welfare became an immediate concern, with the Police Association offering staff and members support. Fundraising to support disaster victims was planned.