More than 300 Australian police officers flew into Christchurch three days after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed an estimated 182 people and largely destroyed the city's central business district on February 22.
They were sworn in with New Zealand policing powers, and since then have been working alongside New Zealand officers enforcing law and order and helping Christchurch people.
This week they return home.
At the Bishopdale Community Centre, Police Commissioner Howard Broad promised to return the favour if it was needed.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much. Please go back sure in the knowledge that if you require our assistance, it will be freely given as part of the debt we owe you for what you have done," he said .
Each officer was presented with a piece of pounamu (greenstone), regarded by Maori as a treasure of great spiritual value, and a poroporoaki (Maori farewell ceremony) was performed.
The Australian police were now part of New Zealand's history, Police Association president Greg O'Connor said.
Mr O'Connor told the Australians they were now part of the new normal in Canterbury.
Australian Federal Police Superintendent Gavin Ryan said it had been "truly humbling" and an "absolute privilege" to work alongside New Zealanders.
Meanwhile, Cantabrians are facing redundancies and the demolition of their homes.
Almost 100 employees, including waiting and service personnel and chambermaids, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Christchurch would lose their jobs on Friday, Radio New Zealand reported.
The hotel owner said it guaranteed a month's wages after the quake and the workers had also been paid an additional notice period and redundancy pay.
The building will need to be demolished but the owners planned to rebuild in Christchurch.
As many as 10,000 houses in Christchurch may have to be demolished and thousands of residents permanently relocated.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said a decision about which Christchurch suburbs would be rebuilt would not be made until he had received a geotechnical report.
Several suburbs sustained significant damage after last month's earthquake and Mr Brownlee said it was an exercise that could not be rushed.
Civil Defence plans to create "safe corridors" to buildings within Christchurch's quake-ravaged central business district.
The corridors were still in the planning stage and the specific routes would be revealed later this week, controller Steve Brazier told a media briefing yesterday.
"It will ease congestion which is pretty terrible," he said.
Controlled access to some of the red zone via the corridors would start from Monday, he said.
Civil Defence has also formed a group to visit buildings in the area and ensure as many as possible are secured.
A moratorium on demolishing buildings in the CBD has been extended until Friday.
On Monday some business owners picketed Civil Defence headquarters and then forced their way through the central city cordon before being removed by police.
However, tensions appear to be easing between some Christchurch business owners and Civil Defence bosses.
The business owners have been angered about a lack of information and access to their properties, inside the red zone cordon which has been in place since the quake struck.
Today Sydenham businesses owners, with green or yellow placards on their buildings were given controlled access for three hours to retrieve essential items.
