The Police Commissioner says keeping extra officers in Christchurch following the earthquakes in the city is costing the police $250,000 a week.
Peter Marshall told MPs at Parliament's Law and Order Select Committee on Wednesday that 120 extra officers are stationed in Christchurch.
Police are constantly assessing how long the staff will remain there, he said, and every time there is another series of quakes it sets that process back a bit.
Mr Marshall says the costs are being managed within police baseline funding.
