Up to $70,000 of Civil Defence equipment has been stolen in Christchurch, including tool boxes and generators.
A member of the public alerted the Christchurch City Council that the civil defence facility in Sockburn had been broken into on Sunday.
Civil Defence and Emergency Management spokesperson Murray Sinclair said 20 generators, several large tool boxes and more than 500 blankets were taken.
He said some of the items were donated from overseas following the February 2011 earthquake and were essential in a disaster situation.
The police are investigating.