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Official missing people hotline: 0800 RED CROSS, 0800 733 276. Overseas: 64 7 850 2199
9:00pm RECAP
- Confirmed death toll at 160
- Gale winds threatening search operations
- Family of missing and deceased toured the worst affected sites in
the CBD today
- Red Cross emergency grants available from tomorrow
- Beaches remain off limits
- Free bus services from tomorrow
8:55pm Canterbury District Health Board has set up a website where messages of support can be posted for health workers involved in the response to the Christchurch Earthquake.
8:43pm A leading national heritage group is
urging Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to seek advice
before deciding whether or not to demolish damaged heritage
buildings.
ICOMOS New Zealand agrees that safety must take priority before
heritage.
"But we should carefully assess the state of the heritage
buildings, before making fast decisions to demolish them" says
ICOMOS chair, Kevin Jones.
8:37pm The Royal New Zealand SPCA is concerned about reports of scams being run to take advantage of New Zealand's generosity. They are asking anyone who is concerned about the legitimacy of an appeal in support of the SPCA to contact the national office for clarification. Details on how to donate directly to the Canterbury SPCA's Pet Emergency Earthquake Fund can be found at www.spcacanterbury.org.nz .
8:29pm Calls to Women's Refuge in Christchurch are increasing. Women's Refuge CEO Heather Henare says they are dealing with an extra 25 women per day. Two of the five refuge safe houses in Christchurch are open and are delivering full services.
8:23pm USAR teams may be in a position to go inside the Cathedral spire tonight and start searching.
8:12pm Tattooists from all over the country are holding a fundraising day, titled Inked for Christchurch, this Sunday March 6. Seventeen studios around New Zealand are offering tattoos from as little as a $60 minimum donation for pre-drawn designs. All tattooists are working free of charge so every cent raised will be donated. Studios participating are based in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Waihi, Stratford, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Hastings, Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch.
7:49pm TVONE's Fair Go says the SPCA has been so overwhelmed with reports of lost and found animals that it has had to shut down its tracking service.
7:38pm Education Minister Anne Tolley says 43
schools in Christchurch City have now asked for support to re-open
as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Education will work with the school board, Civil
Defence, and other relevant authorities to determine when the
schools can open. Schools are required to undertake a structural
engineering report before re-opening.
Parents should go to the
Ministry website or contact their school for
updates on re-opening.
7:13pm TV personality Jason Gunn and his wife
Janine are encouraging New Zealanders to adopt a Christchurch
family. It is an idea that started after the first quake, and has
expanded. Jason Gunn says it is a targeted way of donating.
6:47pm
Kiwis are being invited to enjoy a cold beer to
show solidarity with Christchurch this Friday. The NZ Brewers Guild
is coordinating a series of charity auctions/raffles and drinks
around the country designed to raise money. They are happening this
Friday March 4 from 5pm at House on Hood, Hamilton; Bar Edward,
Wellington; The Freehouse, Nelson; The Old Bank, Blenheim.
6:26pm
Relatives looking for injured family members at
Christchurch Hospital should go to the Great Escape Café in
the main foyer where a relative centre has been set up and there
are social workers and police available.
6:10pm USAR teams have made it to the tenth floor of the Hotel Grand Chancellor; no casualties have been located in the operation so far.
6:06pm Residents from 60 homes in Sumner were evacuated at 10.30am this morning due to rockfall.
5:43pm Supt Dave Cliff says the confirmed death toll has risen to 160 this afternoon. The families of those still missing went on a tour of the CBD sites where USAR teams are working today.
5:38pm Civil Defence Controller Steve Brazier says five journalists have had their accreditation revoked for breaching the cordon.
5:30pm The Red Cross has announced details of
its emergency grants.
From tomorrow, people living in their homes without power or water
or sewerage, or people forced to leave their home because of damage
or because they have no water or power or sewerage can apply for a
grant of $500 for single people (per household) or $1,000 for
couples and families (per household).
Bereavement grants of $10,000 are available for the next of kin of
confirmed deceased.
People from overseas affected by the earthquake are eligible to
apply for these grants.
5:01pm The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the
Blind (RNZFB) is asking all its blind, partially sighted and
deafblind members who have relocated as a result of the
Christchurch earthquake, to please contact the RNZFB immediately on
0800 24 33 33 if they have not done so already.
4:38pm
The Red Cross will make an announcement on
emergency grants at 5.00pm today.
4:17pm Beaurepaires is offering free puncture repairs on passenger and emergency vehicles involved in the relief efforts. Beaurepaires have stores at Blenheim Rd, Carmen Rd, Radcliffe Rd, Sandyford St or Wairakei Rd.
3:42pm Orion has confirmed that 87% of
customers now have power restored. 25,000 customers remain to be
reconnected, with around 16,600 of these customers in the
Brighton/Dallington area. Contractors are now working in areas
where there is very significant earthquake damage to the power
system. See a map of affected areas
here .
3:16pm
There are now 1700 NZ Defence Force personnel from
all services including reserves working in Christchurch, supported
by 128 Singapore Armed Forces personnel.
The forces are continuing to provide security on the CBD cordon as
well as assisting Fulton Hogan with cleaning up of sections and
streets in Avonside.
NZ Army Engineers are assisting with strengthening work in Mt
Pleasant and Sumner.
2.50pm A total of 156 Christchurch evacuees have
relocated to Hamilton.
2.28pm The University of Otago has accepted 50
students from Canterbury and Lincoln universities, a number of them
have already started classes in Dunedin. The scheme sees Canterbury
students attend Otago for a single semester of study, before
returning to Canterbury. The papers they pass at Otago will
contribute to their University of Canterbury qualification.
2.13pm
Canon companies in the Oceania region has today
pledged $80,000 to the New Zealand Prime Minister's Christchurch
Earthquake Appeal.
1.57pm Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds said the nationwide response to Telecom's campaign for analogue landline phones has been incredible, with more than 5,000 phones being distributed in Christchurch and more on the way.
1.40pm The Red Cross appeal has raised $11.6 million to date.
1.29pm The University of Canterbury is offering
study abroad options at the University of Adelaide for this
semester for up to 500 selected University of Canterbury
undergraduate students. The University of Adelaide has made the
offer as part of an existing relationship it has with the
University of Canterbury. Adelaide is a sister city of
Christchurch.
12.54pm The upcoming Inter Dominion Pacing and
Trotting Championships have been transferred from Addington Raceway
to Alexandra Park in Auckland as a result of the Christchurch
quake.
12.28pm It is expected the full cost of ACC claims from the Christchurch earthquake will be $370 million. ACC Minister Nick Smith said it was not an immediate cost, as much of it will be paid in care, rehabilitation and income compensation for decades to come.
12.10pm The Society of Earthquake Engineers says older buildings, like those built before 1976, do not have to be strengthened to the same level as ones which meet the current building code.
12.06pm Farmers from as far away as Palmerston North and Matamata have now joined the effort in clearing silt from Christchurch's streets.
11.49am A temporary French consular office has been set up in Christchurch. It is open from 10am til 6pm every day at the Sudima Hotel on Memorial Avenue, next to the airport. A daily situation update for members of the French community will be held at 6pm.
11.36am The Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House in Cathedral Square will be closed indefinitely. All staff and visitors were safely evacuated after the event but the building has been deemed unsafe. Many of the terrestrial animals such as kiwi, tuatara and geckos have been transferred to other wildlife centres. Many of the fish were released to the wild.
11.32am The Student Army will help deliver masks to residents. There are "millions" of masks on the way to Christchurch, Mayor Bob Parker said.
11.25am The following Summer in the Suburbs community events have been cancelled: Culture Galore, Sunday March 12, Heathcote River Day, Sunday, March 13, Thompson Park Skate Jam, Sunday March 26.
11.20am The support structure in the cathedral is "all but complete", Russell Wood of the NZ Fire Service said. Search teams will enter the spire when the stability was in place, Wood added.
11.15am Search and rescue workers have reached the tenth floor of the Hotel Grand Chancellor. No bodies had been found up to that point, Russell Wood of the NZ Fire Service said.
11.11am The last recorded aftershock was at 7.22am and was 3.5 magnitude, 10km north of Lyttelton.
11.04am More than $3 million will be donated to the earthquake relief effort by Fonterra.
10:52am Steven Brazier National Civil Defence Controller said he is conscious that people in the eastern suburbs are suffering. "We have not abandoned you, we are thinking about you all the time." He said one of the problems is that some people aren't contacting them. "If you think there are people who have slipped through the cracks, go the extra mile and check they are okay."
10:45am 159 people are now confirmed to have lost their lives.
10:42am: Supt Dave Cliff has named three more
victims of the Christchurch earthquake. They are: Jayden
Andrews-Howland, 15, of Aranui.
Paul Clarence Dunlop, 67, of the Rolleston/Selwyn area.
Stephen Andrew Cochrane, 43, of Bromley.
10.38am: Orion CEO Roger Sutton said there are
still 27,000 people without power in Christchurch, most of them in
the eastern suburbs. Power is now being supplied to around 2000
people from back-up generators, and people are still being urged to
conserve their power.
10.30am: More than 100 people are believed to have self-evacuated from Christchurch to Waikato. Around 39 people have registered at Work and Income in Hamilton, and around 89 are believed to be staying on marae in Morrinsville, Huntly and Ngaruawahia.
10.20am: Work was halted briefly at the PGC building early this morning so that construction workers and rescue workers could perform a karakia and bless the site. A karakia and blessing was performed by rigger Tawera Tamakehu followed by a minute's silence. Police, fire and USAR personnel all took part in the ceremony.
9.24am: People are again being warned to avoid all beaches between the Waimakariri River and Lyttelton Harbour because they are contaminated with untreated sewage. People could become very ill, says Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury Dr Ramon Pink.
The affected beaches include: Spencer Beach, Waimairi Beach, North Beach, New Brighton Beach, South Brighton Beach, Christchurch Estuary, Sumner and Scarborough becahes, Taylor's Mistake Beach, all beaches in Lyttelton Harbour.
9.22am: Care of the elderly is becoming a priority, says Canterbury District Health Board. More than 300 people in Aged Residential Care facilities have been transferred either out of Christchurch to other regions, from Invercargill to Auckland, or to undamaged facilities within Christchurch. "This is not what we would ever do in ideal circumstances, but these circumstances are far from ideal," said CEO David Meates.
8:45am ONE News has news updates at 10am and 11am, along with live coverage of the Civil Defence briefing at 10:30am. A special ONE News/Close Up bulletin will run from 4pm to 7.30pm, then tonight at 10:30pm. Live streams of Breakfast, Good Morning (regular programme with earthquake coverage); CD Briefing; and Midday continue.
8:35am RECAP
- Confirmed death toll 155 but more bodies recovered
overnight
- More aftershocks - 4.6 at 10.42pm, 3.5 at 7.22am
- Gales forecast- dust worry, fire ban
- Five quake-related arrests overnight
- Beaches off limits
- Free bus services from tomorrrow
8:33am The
Student Volunteer Army has helped
clean up more than 860 properties, but still have three times that
number on their "to do" list. Team leader Sam Johnson says they
have 1200 registered volunteers. They will not be removing silt
today though because of the wind, but will perform other
tasks.
8:30am
Telecommunications engineers will turn their focus
to Christchurch's CBD today. Chorus' Ed Beattie says cables are
under stress, and if they don't do something soon, it'll be tough
to get the CBD up and running again. People are still being advised
to text instead of calling from their cell phones.
7:59am Many people from Christchurch have headed to Dunedin, either permanently or temporarily, where a "Christchurch Embassy" has been set up as a first port of call. It was organised by Dunedin mayor Dave Cull at the railway station. The number is 0800 888 078.
7:53am Tim Hunter Chief Executive of Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism says one good thing is that only four of the 1900 motels in Christchurch aren't operating.
7:03am Gibson says more bodies were found overnight. The temporary mortuary has around 180 experts in there identifying people.
7:02am Gibson says all of the staff are wearing
masks and glasses because of the wind. "It's quite nasty."
7:01am Gibson says the policy on the cordoned area
in the CBD is "safety first". He said if there is some kind of
service the community desperately needs they are taking some people
in there. For others "you're just going to have to wait".
6:54am Supt Russell Gibson said there were several looters overnight including jewellery thieves. They have been arrested and are in custody.
6:46am From tomorrow there will a free bus service running for a fortnight. Bealey Ave will have a temporary terminal and the other one will be near the Christchurch hospital.
6:45am: Mayor Bob Parker says the dust from the wind is likely to prove hazardous today. All workers outside will wear masks today. There is also a risk of flying debris.
6:41am: Further warning stay away from beaches - surf clubs not operating plus stormwater and waste going into the ocean.
6.30am: Aftershocks overnight were a 3.6 at 10.12pm and 4.6 at 10.42pm. A quake in Wellington last night also made the capital's residents nervous.
5.59am: Two men were caught trying to break in to a quake-damaged bar, outside the CBD, overnight. A person who got through the CBD cordon was also arrested.
5.43am: There have been 22 cases of gastroenteritis since the Christchurch earthquake. The Canterbury District Health Board said that number is expected to rise.
5.41am: Applications are flooding in for the Government's support package for Christchurch businesses and workers. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said more than 10,000 people are now receiving assistance.
5.38am: An independent commission will meet today to discuss distributing the money raised in the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. To date, $10.4 million has been raised. More than $22 million has been raised across all appeals.
5.33am: A second team of Queensland firefighters and paramedics is heading to Christchurch. The 16-strong team will assist in search and recovery and provide medical support. There is already a 70-strong Queensland taskforce on the ground.
5.25am: Environment Canterbury is starting limited Metro bus and ferry services in greater Christchurch from tomorrow. The services will be free for two weeks. Limited services will be offered for northern routes and for western/southern routes between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week.
5.19am: The last recorded aftershock was at 10.42pm and was 4.6 magnitude at a depth of 5km, 10km west of Lyttelton.
TO RECAP 5AM
- The confirmed death toll is 155 but could rise to 240
- The Chief Coroner says another 12 names of the dead are to be
released today
- Search teams are methodically making their way through
quake-damaged buildings in the CBD. They have managed to get inside
the Hotel Grand Chancellor, but only up to the fifth floor because
of a damaged staircase.
- Nineteen schools hoping to re-open in the next couple of
days
- More than $22 million has been raised in earthquake appeals. The
New Zealand Red Cross appeal has topped $10 million.
- Finance Minister Bill English is refusing to rule out slashing
back some programmes as the government grapples with the
potentially $20 billion rebuild.
- with NewsTalk ZB
Updates from Tuesday here .
Are you in Christchurch? Send us your information and pics to news@tvnz.co.nz or call 0800 886397.
Quake appeals have been launched. Find out more here.
Leave your messages on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentroyalcourtier said on 2011-03-14 @ 21:33 NZDT: Report abusive post
The whole focus of this debate is wrong. There is no reason for any of these buildings to be demolished. It is not a case of which should be saved, but which should be demolished. There are few which cannot be saved. What people are missing is that if a building is demolished unnecessarily, and illegally, there won't be any insurance. Only the city can approve demolition - civil defence cannot do so.
Adam Chc said on 2011-03-09 @ 14:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a small business based near the epicentre in Christchurch we are strugeling to survive and simply can not afford a day off. I also do not think I or my staff are reasdy for a day of mourning yet. I am surprised the govenment would even consider this, it shows how out of touch they are to the impact this is having on business and staff.
annej said on 2011-03-08 @ 15:09 NZDT: Report abusive post
I must congratulate Bob Parker for his leadership and his caring nature to all people in Christchurch and his unfaultering continual contact with his people, a fine leader and the restoration of Christchurch should go through him and the council and not left to those who do not care about the uniqueness of Christchurch, sack Brownlee, send him back where he come from.
annej said on 2011-03-08 @ 15:04 NZDT: Report abusive post
At a time when the suffering is entering an unacceptable time frame of two weeks, John Key throws the baby out with the bath water and states that the government will buy the land off people who have suffered so much,this is akin to pulling the rug from underneath those who are stressed,do not know their fate and have lost loved ones, more thought and empathy is needed from central govt and to deal with the bulk of the people and not just the business sector.Thoughts and prayers to all.
Huatoki said on 2011-03-08 @ 13:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
As with every issue he's dealt with, Brownlee crashes in with an ill-advised and inflammatory attitude, then scuttles behind his officials and is unavailable for comment. Christchurch needs unifying, reassuring and competent leadership and Brownlee consistently fails on all three counts. We need resources, not divisiveness. If the minister cannot deliver them quickly and efficiently, he needs to go. We deserve better.