Most of the Australian urban search and rescue teams in Christchurch will return home on Wednesday, just over three weeks after the 6.3-magnitude quake.
A leaving ceremony was held for the 72-strong Australian taskforce at their base camp in the central city on Tuesday, attended by most of the team and two Australian fire and rescue commissioners.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker thanked the men and women for their work, saying he had been inspired by their attitudes, ethics and goodwill.
New South Wales Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins says firefighters from the very first taskforce, which arrived the day after the earthquake, told him they weren't prepared for the level of destruction, and were very emotional.
"It's like it happened on our doorstep," he said. "New Zealanders (and) Australians are very close in many, many ways and they didn't like this happening to their mates."
The Australian firefighters have dedicated a park bench made from wreckage from the Christchurch Cathedral, as a tribute to New Zealand emergency services.
New Zealand Fire Region Commander Rob Saunders says it also stands as an enduring reminder of the Australians' service and skill.
Most of the team leave on Wednesday morning. The Queensland firefighters depart on Thursday.
