Previous deployments

Phuket "We began work that night, setting up 'country' desks within the crisis centre and began receiving calls from our respective countries. On 28 December, I was able to visit the temporary mortuary sites established in Phuket and Khao Lak. Having seen the numbers and state of deceased victims, I believed it was necessary to have a Disaster Victim Identification team travel to New Zealand to assist in identification." Bangkok-based NZ Police Liaison officer, Mike Bush who was on the ground when the tsunami struck on 26 December 2004.

Officers surrounded by a sterilising mist at Wat Yan Yao mortuary.

The New Zealand police were first deployed offshore in 1964 to Cyprus and since then, they have worked in several countries worldwide in an operational and mentoring capacity.

Cyprus (1964- 67)

Following a request from United Nations, New Zealand furnished a volunteer force of 20 police officers for peace-keeping duties in Cyprus. The unit was stationed in Limassol, where it acted as liaison between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot police and aided with investigations.

Antarctica (1979 - 80)

Operation Overdue was the New Zealand Police response to the Air New Zealand TE901 crash on Mt Erebus on 28 November 1979. A police team was deployed to Antarctica to recover the bodies of all passengers and crew. The Disaster Victim Identification operation continued at Auckland mortuary until February 1980.

Namibia (1989-90)

New Zealand military engineers and members of New Zealand Police were deployed as part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG).

Timor-Leste (1999-2001)

The United Nations requested that New Zealand Police be available for the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET). NZ Police initially contributed eight personnel for a 6 month period, which was later followed by the deployment of two further contingents.

Phuket, Thailand (2005 - 2006)

Over one hundred New Zealand Police officers were deployed to Phuket, in rotations of varying size, to support the process of identifying victims of the Asian tsunami.

Related article

• Operation Phuket 100 days on - Community Edition magazine