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Harolds Fabric Store is open for business despite being damaged in the earthquake -
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The cost of the Canterbury quake could top $4 billion according to the latest Treasury estimate.
Treasury head John Whitehead told ONE News that the figure is still an estimate but the price of the damage is definitely going to be higher than the $2 billion figure previously estimated.
Treasury also predicts a .5% drop in GDP in the initial months but, by the middle of next year, the quake could lead to growth in GDP - with construction needs in the region and the flow-on effect.
The Earthquake Commission (EQC), which deals only with claims from house owners, not businesses, said yesterday it had received 21,000 claims and expected that figure to climb to at least 100,000.
"We are rapidly increasing numbers of lines and call centre staff and expect that the problem will ease over the next few days," commission chief executive Ian Simpson said.
The government announced a wage subsidy of $350 gross a week for workers in businesses that have fewer than 20 employers and that haven't been able to open because of the quake.
Civil Defence advised people in the Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn districts to be prepared for aftershocks for the next few weeks - there have been 300 since Saturday morning's quake.
There were fears for the city centrepiece, Christchurch Cathedral, where cracks were found, prompting the renewal of a cordon around it.
Civil Defence said two historic buildings in Manchester Street were not demolished yesterday, despite earlier advice. The former New Zealand Express Co Ltd building will be demolished, but dismantling it may take several weeks.
State of emergency
The State of Emergency in Christchurch has been extended for another seven days after the strongest aftershock since Saturday's 7.1 magnitude quake caused new damage, cut power and sent people running into city streets.
The 5.1 magnitude aftershock at 7.49am was centred near Lyttelton and forced the Lyttelton Tunnel to be closed for safety checks. The tunnel has since been re-opened.
The 5.1 aftershock at a depth of six kilometres followed a 4.1 quake at 7.42 am, and came after another swarm of aftershocks overnight.
"It did take out quite a lot of power," Orion chief executive Roger Sutton told TV ONE's Breakfast.
Sutton said the power supply is designed to go off for safety reasons when earthquakes occur.
He said if people have damage to buildings after any aftershocks, they should turn power off at the mains. People should not use lifts because of the risk of power cuts.
ONE News reporter Ruth Wynn-Williams spoke to TV ONE's Breakfast shortly after the 7.49am aftershock and said it had "jolted the living daylights" out of her.
She described the aftershock as very sharp and very sudden.
"That certainly gave everyone a bit of a fright," she said.
Inner city residents were evacuated once again, including those at the Civil Defence headquarters.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said it was a "very mean, very sharp and very frightening earthquake".
And as emergency crews checked for fresh damage, Parker called for calm.
"The big message we need to get out to the city is if we can stay calm in the face of this adversity, make sure your family's okay. Don't go out, stay home, keep near the radio."
PM visits quake-hit Kaiapoi district
This morning Prime Minister John Key visited the Kaiapoi district, north of Christchurch, to view the damage caused by Saturday's quake.
Key, accompanied by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, Civil Defence Minister John Carter, Agriculture Minister David Carter and newly appointed Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, was taken through the hardest-hit areas of the town, where houses had been entirely ripped from their foundations.
"It shows you how well the building code works in New Zealand as they had been picked up, ripped apart and yet the structure has survived enough that people could escape," Key said after viewing one house.
Key spoke with Andrew Blackwell, the fifth-generation owner of Kaiapoi's historic Blackwell's Department Store, which crumbled in the quake.
"It's been in operation since 1871, so it's been around a long time, but it hasn't survived this earthquake," Key said.
Key stopped to speak to local residents about their experiences in the quake and hear how they were coping in the aftermath.
Leanne Lloyd, 46, told Key her power was back on, but that she was still without water and sewerage services.
"We've got the portaloos, but you don't want to be in there in an aftershock - in and out as quick as you can," Lloyd told a laughing Key.
After leaving Kaiapoi, the politicians headed west to Kirwee and were then to travel south to the quake's epicentre in Selwyn.
Key, who cancelled his trip to Europe yesterday, is planning more visits to the earthquake-torn region.
"At this stage it would be my intention to come back on Saturday, although that's very much a work in progress at the moment, and then I'll return next week," he said yesterday.
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