When Supercars roared into Christchurch, it was about much more than fast cars and big crowds.
For the city, the event delivered an economic lift and an opportunity to showcase Christchurch to national and international visitors.
It is also gave Police an opportunity to support a major international sporting event while building trust and confidence with the community.
The event was a first for Christchurch - and the South Island - and the biggest ever held at Ruapuna Raceway. It was part two of a New Zealand double header, Taupō having hosted the first leg the previous weekend.
For Operation Commander Superintendent Lane Todd, it also carried personal significance.
“I’m a huge Supercars fan, so being involved in this event was pretty special right from day one,” Lane says. “We got to work with some great people involved in delivering the event, which was a bonus too.”
For Lane, the focus was on supporting event organisers to create a safe experience for the estimated 65,000 people who attended across last weekend.
“It was a great opportunity to build trust and confidence by working alongside the Supercars event team and our other partners,” he said.
“From the planning phase through to race weekend, everyone was focused on the same goal – delivering a safe, well managed environment where fans could enjoy the event and people could move around the city safely.”
Delivering an event of this scale relied heavily on strong coordination and shared planning across agencies. “One of the main considerations was working closely with Supercars management, Christchurch City Council and key partners, ensuring we were all aligned and working together,” Lane says.
A significant part of that responsibility sat with road policing teams, whose role extended well beyond the race circuit.
“Road policing played a critical role in making sure people could get to and from the event safely, managing congestion around the venue, and continuing safely on to other destinations across the city and the region.
“That visibility and reassurance on our roads made a real difference to the overall experience.”
It was a busy weekend for Senior Sergeant Richard Carolan and his Road Policing team.
For Lane, the weekend offered a valuable leadership and development opportunity. “It was an opportunity to work alongside our frontline teams and provide coaching for leaders in key roles,” he says.
“Close partnerships and very good planning by Senior Sergeant John Daunton made a big difference across the whole weekend.”
Those efforts were reflected in the results in the operation surrounding the event. Across the three days, four motorists were processed for excess breath alcohol and Police were pleased with how smoothly the event ran.
Among the many positive moments, one personal highlight stood out .
“Getting a photo with a Peter Brock-built VP Commodore that he raced in the mid 1990s was a real highlight,” he says. “It was awesome to see they’re still racing this class of cars.”
Reflecting on the weekend overall, Lane pointed to the people and the atmosphere.
“It’s always great working with our frontline and positively engaging with our communities.
“It was an amazing event that Police were pleased to support, and we’re looking forward to being involved again next year.”
Supercars fan Superintendent Lane Todd admires the Brock-built Commodore.