Christchurch Central Police Station facts for kids

The Christchurch Central Police Station was once the main building for the police in the Canterbury area of New Zealand. For a short time, it was the tallest building in Christchurch. Sadly, it was badly damaged during the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Because of the damage, the building was taken down using a special method called implosion on May 31, 2015.

Where Was the Police Station Located?

The Christchurch Central Police Station was in a city block surrounded by four streets: Cambridge Terrace, Hereford Street, Montreal Street, and Cashel Street. From this building, the police managed the entire Canterbury Police District. This area is very large, stretching from the Conway River in the north to the Waitaki River in the south. The Main Divide mountains formed the western edge of their district.

A Brief History of the Building

This tall, 15-storey building was designed in 1968 by the New Zealand Ministry of Works. It was built for the New Zealand Police. The station officially opened in 1973. It stood about 52 meters (171 feet) high, making it the tallest building in Christchurch at that time. However, it only held this title for one year! The University of Canterbury's library building became taller the very next year.

Why Was the Building Demolished?

Even after the big earthquake in 2011, police officers continued to work in the building. But they were worried about how safe and stable it was. In December 2011, the police announced they would move to new temporary offices. The company that owned the building, Ngai Tahu, decided in April 2014 that the building needed to be taken down. In November 2014, they announced it would be demolished by implosion.

What is an Implosion?

An implosion is a special way to demolish a building. Instead of pulling it down, explosives are carefully placed inside the building. When the explosives go off, the building collapses inwards on itself. This method is very controlled and helps to keep the surrounding area safe.

The implosion of the police station was planned for Saturday, May 30, 2015. However, there was a big event, the Christchurch Marathon, happening the next day. The marathon route was going to pass right by where the building was. To avoid any problems with the marathon, the implosion was moved to 5 PM on Sunday, May 31, 2015.