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Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is back on the city's streets this morning warning that the city needs to maintain its unity over coming days.
He said he was confident no stone had been left unturned in the city, and that everyone was accounted for and being cared for, including the elderly who may be living alone.
"We're neighbours, people in the streets have been responding to our calls - they didn't need us to tell them to do that. People are smart, caring and compassionate. They understand that we can't be everywhere.
"At 4.35 on Saturday morning we all experienced the same thing. We all became one at that's the way the city is working."
But Parker acknowledged that unity may start to break down in the next few days.
"These are the hardest days, this is the toughest time. The adrenalin is gone, the tiredness is in, and you want your life to get back to normal. In some parts of the city it feels like nothing has happened.
"In other parts of the city there's a sense of absolute devastation, a sense of hopelessness and a sense of depression will start to move in."
Funds available
Parker told TVNZ there are plenty of funds available to deal with the catastrophe, which is already being tagged a billion-dollar quake.
"Our focus is the people," he said. "It's with lives and jobs, getting people's lives back on track and getting things fixed as quickly as we can. The government has said they will stand right behind us.
"Money isn't a problem. It's the least of our problems. We also have a fund that's been set up from donations by businesses - I've had incredible offers there, two to three million dollars from businesses, so far. We will use that money to help people who have no other means of getting help."
Over the weekend, John Key had warned that some uninsured Cantabrians will be left out of pocket after yesterday's earthquake. But Parker said the city would find a way to help those people.
"It's a difficult situation, but we are working on a human level. We can't make value judgments. We have to find ways to help people," he said.
"Of course there are complexities when people don't have insurance, but people have to have a roof over their head and we have a responsibility to do that."
He said exhaustion is now an issue for the service people and volunteers, with many having worked all weekend, so a new phase of support is about to start.
"We've got a lot of very, very tired people. We have some of the police and fire brigade people taking a few days off while support crews are coming in from other parts of the country. We have the army in now too and that's really timely."
He said a lot of the volunteers haven't slept.
"It's a tough situation so what's happening now, and what's needed, is essentially a change of shift."
Parker revealed that many of the workers dealing with the city's problems have had their own to deal with.
House split in half in aftershock
"One of our police officers was working on Saturday and was relieved his house had escaped damage in the first shake - then a 5 point something quake hit yesterday and his house was split in half."
Of the 360 water pipes fractured in the quake, around 100 are now fixed, but Parker said people need to make sure they boil water even if they think their area isn't too badly affected.
"We have had some gastro-enteritis already. There is a problem with water and wastewater mixing. Everyone should boil water before drinking it. You have to use hand disinfectants too."
The mayor told Breakfast that people would be wondering when their problems would be fixed, particularly in the east of the city where damage is significant.
He asked that people be patient.
"They'll be wondering where's the water, and we understand that. And that's the tough part about this. But we've got water on everywhere bar about 60 streets in the city and those 60 streets will be seeing a focus today from our crews and our support people going down there.
"We are still working through the infrastructure around the city."
He said it will change the face of the Christchurch both physically and emotionally.
He said some of the most significant buildings in Christchurch had already been strengthened but some of the "less valued" buildings will go.
Parker dismissed comparisons being made between him and former New York major Rudi Giuliani, who presided over the city during the September 11 terror attack.
"Frankly I'm embarrassed by that. I'm the guy who happens to be in this chair at this time. This is what I'm paid to do and if someone else is in the chair, I am sure they would do the same job. Let's think about the 400,000 heroes in this city - the people who are helping their neighbours and putting up with extraordinary conditions.
"I am just happy to be alive. As I keep saying to people, everybody in this city lost something, we're just lucky we didn't lose someone, and that is the miracle."
What's the most amazing tale of survival you have heard of or experienced in this quake? Email online@tvnz.co.nz with an image if possible.
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