Christchurch quake: Thursday Feb 24

Published: 12:56AM Thursday February 24, 2011 Source: ONE News

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  A rescue worker searchs for signs of life in the rubble of CTV building in Christchurch - Source: Reuters

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  • Grim task as bodies recovered (3:37)

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  • Photogallery: Chch quake Feb 22, 2011(100 photos)

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  • Quake toll at 98 - 6pm Feb 24 (12:49)
  • VIDEO: Recovery workers at the CTV site Feb 24 (1:26)
  • CD Minister John Carter confirms 71 people dead 5.30am Feb 24 ()

Live coverage on TV One resumes with Breakfast at 6:00am NZT. Also available on live stream.
Send information and pics to news@tvnz.co.nz or call 0800 886397.
Official missing people hotline: 0800 RED CROSS, 0800 733 276. Overseas: +64 7 850 2199 

3:05am Quake toll rises to 102 , police say.

2:53am In an official release, Beijing says 20 Chinese students are among those thought to be trapped in the quake rubble.
"With respect to the reports of trapped Chinese students there, we are very concerned and our embassy in New Zealand is quickly checking the situation," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters on Thursday.
"We have urged the New Zealand side to rescue the Chinese students there," Ma said in reports on Chinese China Central Television.

2:29am Quake victims will be honoured during round two of Super Rugby, SANZAR says. It announced this morning that all games will observe a minute's silence before kick-off and players will wear black and red arm-bands to acknowledge those affected in Christchurch.
"Flags at all of the stadiums hosting Super Rugby games this weekend will be flown at half-mast while broadcast partners across the three countries will also show their support during games by promoting the Red Cross website where people can donate to the appeal." SANZAR said.
During the first game of the round on Friday evening between the Highlanders and Chiefs at Carisbrook in Dunedin, the Salvation Army will hold a food collection before the game and the Red Cross will also take up a collection.

1:50am Council says three-quarters of homes in Christchurch now have power and 40% have water. Also, fuel is now in constant supply and there is no need for panic buying.

1:16am Five aftershocks measuring over 3 on the Richter scale have been felt in the last two hours.

12:05am Twelve streets behind Redcliffs Primary School have been evacuated with residents cleared out after cliffs in the area were deemed to be unstable. The Redcliffs suburb is on the way to Sumner.
The army helped police with the evacuation, which started about 10pm.
Police said residents left willingly and have gone to welfare centres at Cowes Stadium and Pioneer Stadium.

11:33pm The City Council has released detailed information on current road and bridge closures .

10:49pm ANZ says its Canterbury Earthquake Appeal has raised nearly $500,000 since Tuesday. Go here for details on how to donate.

10:36pm Canterbury District Health Board says an Australian Army field community medical centre will be set up at Cowel Stadium tomorrow. 
Its a 75 bed hospital and will be utilised over the coming days. The field hospital arrived in a number of shipping containers and will be staffed by Australian clinicians including six emergency department doctors, 13 nurses, general surgery staff, orthopaedic staff, general trauma, anaesthetists and support staff. 

9.53pm recap
-  police have released the names of four people killed in the quake. They are Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40, Jaime Robert McDowell Gilbert, 22, Jayden Harris, eight-months-old and Baxtor Gowland, five-months-old. All are from Christchurch.
- 98 bodies are in the temporary mortuary.
- 226 people are missing.
- 75% of city expected to have power back tonight.
- petrol retailers say plenty of petrol deliveries coming into city now.
- superintendent Dave Cliff says it remains a rescue operation.
- Estimate of people trapped in CTV building between 60 and 120.
- Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says Lyttelton is heavily devastated.
- Gerry Brownlee is appointed Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.
- no one has been rescued from the rubble today.

9.33pm: The Civil Aviation Authority is extending the restricted air space requirement over central Christchurch to allow enable urban search and rescue teams to more effectively use listening equipment and other technical tools to detect signs of life.

9.19pm: Soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa says she is deeply saddened by the earthquake and its aftermath in Christchurch.

"Just two weeks ago I performed in a charity concert in Christchurch to help raise funds for the Christchurch Symphony and Southern Opera for shortfalls caused by the September crisis. That night was a celebration and now those same people have to start all over again.

"From a distance it's difficult to understand the anguish, terror and anxiety that the people of Canterbury are experiencing. All I can do is pray that people will have the strength and resilience to see this new crisis through and that it never happens again."

She said she would encourage people at her Perth concert tomorrow night to contribute to the Red Cross Christchurch earthquake appeal.

9:06pm: Trade Me has set up a lost and found pets section on its website.

8.44pm: The Crusaders have ruled out moving next week's round three Super Rugby match against NSW to the Sydney Football Stadium. 

8.38pm: Farmers in Canterbury are rallying around to support people in the city. Federated Farmers board member John Hartnell says farmers in all areas, except for Banks Peninsula, have coped well.

He says they are now turning their attention to those in the city.

8.34pm: Police are appealing for understanding from families as they work to identify bodies.

"We know it's an agonising wait for families desperate to find out about their loved-ones, but there is a legal requirement for this work to be completed to standards set by the Coroner," police disaster victim identification (DVI) commander Mike Wright said.

8.27pm: Power issues with the Christchurch phone network are continuing, Telecom says. The company had set up about 60 generators at network sites without power. Eastern parts of the city weres particularly affected, it said.

About 10,000 calls were made from 260 free payphones in and around the city yesterday, and free WiFi was also available at Telecom Riccarton Mall, Cafe Zero and the Westpac Centre in Addington.
 
8.23pm: There is concern motorists are ignoring pleas to stay off the roads in Christchurch.

8.18pm: The 26-storey Grand Chancellor Hotel building has been deemed too structurally unsound to go in and shore the building up. The cordon has been extended in case it falls. Engineers are keeping a close watch.

8.14pm: Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have signed a condolence book for quake victims at the NZ High Commission in Canberra.

7.51pm: Police have provided details of the victim identification processes they have to go through to correctly identify the deceased. This process takes some time.

7.47pm: 2Degrees is finding it challenging to restore its coverage to Christchurch CBD as it can't access sites on buildings which have been heavily damaged. It says it is considering deploying one of its mobile cell sites.

7.45pm: Murray Wood, managing director of Canterbury TV, talked about shifting the business just a day before he died in the building's collapse in Tuesday's devastating earthquake, his business partner at CTV, Nick Smith, said.

7.26pm: Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee says Orion has been given permission to do some overhead wiring which should see everyone back with power by the end of next week.

7.23pm: ANZ expects the rebuild of Christchurch to take at least five years and the cost to reach at least $12 billion and take at least 0.5% off the first quarter GDP.

ANZ's Khoon Goh says this will mean the government returns to surplus much slower than expected and a small credit downgrade is likely.

7.11pm: Normal service for kerbside collections will continue tomorrow. The kerbside collection will be for red rubbish and green organics bins and will be a rubbish only collection. There will be no recycling collection anywhere in the city next week.

7.01pm: Vodafone says its reception in Christchurch is nearly back to normal, but 14 sites are still down. There's coverage to most of the city with only a few black spots in the east and some call congestion in the Christchurch CBD area. Vodafone's still asking customers limit mobile data usage like Facebook, Twitter, picture messaging and email.

6.56pm: Another 500 tourists are expected to reach Wellington in the next hour after being evacuated from Christchurch by ship. They will gather at temporary accommodation centres around the Capital.

6.55pm: Fresh water is now available at Cowles Stadium car park. Residents are reminded to take their own containers and to keep boiling water.

6.47pm: An Australian TV presenter has apologised for an offensive tweet while covering the quake.

6:45pm: Between 16 and 22 people are thought to be trapped in the Christchurch Cathedral. They are believed to be dead.

6.42pm: Lyttelton Port of Christchurch will start handling fuel and essential supplies on Saturday.

6.35pm: Education Minister Anne Tolley says while Christchurch City schools and early childhood education centres remain closed until further notice, some schools in Selwyn and Waimakariri may be able to open after the weekend, following the devastating earthquake. The ministry's website will have updated information.

6.33pm: St John says some of its stations were destroyed and many St John staff are operating out of a carpark in the city centre.

Ambulance workloads were not high but every job took a lot longer than normal because it was difficult to move around the city, St John chief executive Jaimes Wood said.

6.30pm: Police say 23 bodies have been pulled from the CTV site today. Superintendent Dave Cliff says that takes the total number of bodies recovered from the scene to 47. He says unfortunately they expect to recover more bodies in the days to come.

6.28pm: The Ministry of Social Development says the welfare centre at the Rolleston centre is NOT open tonight. It will open tomorrow.

6.27pm: Superintendent Dave Cliff has released the names of four people killed in the devastating earthquake on Tuesday.

They are:

Joseph Tehau Pohio, aged 40 of Christchurch.
Jaime Robert McDowell Gilbert, aged 22 of Christchurch
Jayden Harris, eight months old of Christchurch
Baxtor Gowland, five month old of Christchurch.

6.17pm: Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says search teams are still in resuce mode. "It is not beyond the realms of possibility that we will find people who are still alive," he said.

6.11pm: Coroner Sue Johnson says it make take some time to identify and release the bodies. She says they are being taken well care of.  She says people need to inform the Red Cross of details such as scars, tattoos, clothing, jewellery, watches, and where to obtain dental records.

6.07pm: Superintendent Dave Cliff  says there are now 98 bodies in the temporary morgue. The majorty of the 98 dead, he said, are expected to be in the list of the 228 missing. Grave fears are being held for the rest of the missing. One of the deceased was a five month old baby boy.

6.04pm: Foreign minister Murray McCully has been speaking to his counterparts in a number of other countries to warn them it's highly likely some of their citizens have been killed.

Foreign consular staff in Christchurch were today given briefings from police and taken inside the cordon around the CBD. McCully says authorities are working very closely with the countries involved to keep them up to date.

6.03pm: Federated Farmers is reminding people not to resort to panic buying which would only lead to stations running out of fuel before fresh deliveries arrive. Petrol retailers Caltex, BP, Shell and Mobil say there are plenty of trucks bringing regular petrol and diesel deliveries into the region and people should not worry they will run out.

5.58pm: A new welfare centre will open at the  Rolleston Community Centre from 6pm today with the capacity to take 1000 people.

5.48pm: John Key says there are now 92 registered fatalities, but that is expected to rise further. Key said there are grave concerns for around another 200 people. "We are very fearful tonight that the death toll could be much greater than ever of us have ever feared." The 200 missing, Key said, are people where "there's every reason to believe they should have returned home that night".

5.46pm: The New Zealand Transport Agency hopes to re-open the Lyttelton Tunnel in the next two days.

5.31pm: NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell are attending a prayer service for the people of Christchurch in Sydney.

5.09pm recap
- police have delayed releasing a list of missing people and confirmed victims.
- Superintendent Dave Cliff says it remains a rescue operation.
- but hopes of finding survivors fading, particularly at CTV building.
- Estimate of people trapped in CTV building between 60 and 120.
- Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says Lyttelton is heavily devastated.
- Gerry Brownlee is appointed Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery.
- 76 bodies are in a temporary morgue, but that number is expected to rise considerably.
- the list of missing stands at 238.
- no one has been rescued the rubble of the ruined city since yesterday.
- BP now able to replenish stocks.
- 75% of city expected to have power back tonight.
- hospitals coping well.
- the city has been divided into grids where search and rescue personnel are working.
 
5.05pm: Suggestions Christchurch city should be moved, or the financial district shifted to a more stable area, are absurd, Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button said. "Where would you move it to? The whole of Canterbury (province) is shaking," Button told Reuters.

5.02pm: A free-to-call service to take non-emergency queries from the public has been set up to ease pressure on emergency phone numbers in Christchurch. The number is 0800 96 0133.

4.54pm: King's Education has published a list of missing students and staff on its website. Forty-six people from the school are missing, according to the list. Another 34 are listed as "status unknown". The school was located on the third floor of the collapsed CTV building.  The school says it has had difficulty tracing all students because its records were destroyed in the quake. 

4.45pm: A website set up by the New Zealand Law Society as a contact point for lawyers offering assistance has been overwhelmed by the response. The website co-ordinates information about legal services, provides a directory of assistance offered by lawyers to the public, and provides documents and property-related information.

4.43pm: Tertiary education minister Steven Joyce has expressed grave concern for the staff and students of Kings Education, which was located on the third floor of the collapsed CTV building. Joyce says he has spoken with Kings Education director John Ryder to offer any support the government can give.

4.38pm: Orion says it aims to have power restored to 75% of Christchurch by the end of the day, but it could take some weeks to restore power to the remaining 25%.

4.35pm: Rugby New Zealand 2011 Chief Executive Martin Snedden says the staging of world cup matches, in September and October, is way down the list of priorities.  He won't discuss possible replacement venues for Canterbury's earthquake-damaged AMI Stadium.  

4.29pm: Police have told a meeting of quake victims' relatives in Christchurch that it could be a month before bodies recovered from the debris could be released to the families.

4.26pm: Australian military aircraft will be evacuating people from Christchurch. Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland says most Aussies will be encouraged to leave on commercial flights, but some will return on the military

4.20pm: The EQC says that as at 1.30pm, it has received 7000 claims from Tuesday's quake, but it expects the final tally to exceed the 150,000 claims it received from the September quake.

4.16pm: Fonterra is installing five large milk vats filled with fresh water around Christchurch. Chief executive Andrew Ferrier says the vats will be installed in locations around the city as recommended by Civil Defence.

4.15pm: BP Oil New Zealand says its Lyttelton oil terminal has now re-opened following a thorough safety inspection, and that will significantly assist BP to replenish its stocks in the Canterbury region. 

4.07pm: Housing New Zealand has set up a help line and website to help find accommodation for people. If you have accommodation you can offer, or you are looking for help with accommodation you can contact Housing New Zealand at contact 0800 HELP 00 or on its website .

3.49pm: Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says $20,000 has been given to the student volunteer army. Bennett said it would go towards equipment like wheelbarrows and shovels.

3.46pm: St John says its teams are continuing to respond to heart problems, chest pains, breathing problems and traumatic injuries (brain injuries, chest and limb injuries, and crush injuries).

3.40pm: The government of Mexico has expressed "its profound dismay" regarding the earthquake and said it is ready and willing to "support the Government and people of New Zealand at this difficult time."

3.32pm: The release of the names of missing people for whom police have serious concerns following the Christchurch earthquake has been delayed. Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff will provide an update on progress with the lists at a media briefing at 6pm.

3.26pm: Work and income staff are continuing to make contact with elderly people living alone in Christchurch, with over 10,000 calls made so far.

3.19pm: Click here for information on how to donate.

3.16pm: President of the Association of Counsellors, Jonathan Loan, says many people are still shell-shocked and running on adrenalin. He says people's emotional wellbeing is likely to change over the coming days, weeks, and even months. Counsellors can be sought through health services, iwi and runanga, or by phoning the Association of Counsellors national office on on 07 834 0220.

3.15pm: The Blind Foundation is asking people in Christchurch to check on blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted people in their communities. It has more than 1200 members on record in the Canterbury region, and says these people may need help getting around and accessing essential services. If you know someone who needs urgent assistance or advice, call the Foundation on 0800 24 33 33.

3.10pm: John Key isn't ruling out Christchurch as a host of the Rugby World Cup. He said while AMI stadium has liquefaction, there is not substantial damage. He says it is more a question of whether enough accommodation is available.

3.09pm: There are reports that there is no petrol left in Kaikoura, Ward or Cheviot. Shell Waikuku employee Amber Chilpott says her station is one of only three stations still with fuel from Christchurch to Kaikoura. But queues are about 40 cars long.

3.07pm: Credit rating companies say there is no immediate need to change the credit ratings of insurers because of the Christchurch earthquake but Moody's Investors Service said ratings pressure may develop over time on the banking sector.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has stopped short of putting a figure on the insurance cost of the quake, saying only that the unprecedented event will cost more than the September earthquake. Yesterday, JP Morgan estimated the cost of the earthquake at $NZ16 billion. 

3.05pm: Christchurch welfare centres do not need any more donations of food, bedding or other goods.

The four welfare centres at Pioneer Recreation Sports Centre, Burnside High School, Cowles Stadium, and Rangiora Baptist Church, say they are now fully stocked.

3.01pm: The Auckland Council is donating $1.5 million dollars to the Canterbury earthquake relief effort. It's also asking Aucklanders to follow that lead and dig deep for the people of Christchurch.

2.59pm: The Prime Minister is meeting with business leaders in Christchurch this afternoon to discuss the economic impact of the quake. John Key says there's no doubt the impact on businesses will be substantial.
and says there's still no indication of when the CBD is likely to be up and running.

2.51pm: Another, more sophisticated Christchurch earthquake charity email scam is operating, says the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. This email scam is designed to look like it is from the Red Cross and directs people to a fake phishing website where you are asked for credit card details. More information here.

2.49pm: There are now 300 international search and rescue personnel in Christchurch, from four different countries.

Further support from the United States and the United Kingdom are due to arrive tonight and tomorrow, boosting numbers by 130. A field hospital from Australia is on its way and will arrive this afternoon.
It will provide an additional 75 beds

2.44pm: For a full list of water stations, go to www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz

2.43pm: The Lyttelton Tunnel is allowing emergency vehicles through, but it's still closed to the public.

2.38pm: A plan to send a robot into Greymouth's Pike River Coal mine again has been put on hold, and will instead be redeployed to Christchurch.

New Zealand Mines Rescue manager Trevor Watts today said a Western Australian team, who were on their way to Greymouth to support the robot operation, had been redirected to Christchurch. The group had specialist camera equipment which could help the quake rescue effort, he said.

2.34pm: John Key says the government is working on a financial package for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake. Cabinet will be discussing the issue on Monday.

He said the package would be different from the one created after the September earthquake as central Christchurch could be out of action for a "considerable period of time".
 
2.30pm: An advance team of what will eventually be a 55 strong search and rescue team is scheduled to arrive in Christchurch from the UK at 4pm. The team is bringing 11 tonnes of equipment.

2.24pm: Ninety-one Australians have flown home from Christchurch on an Australian Air force plane, and 26 Singapore citizens have been flown home by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. 116 Singapore Army personnel who happened to be in New Zealand for an exercise are helping out in Christchurch, mainly manning the cordons in the CBD.

2.21pm: Canterbury students left school-less are finding new temporary classrooms. Queenstown Civil Defence controller James Hadley says the council is canvassing schools in the district to make room for as many Canterbury students as possible affected by the quake.

2.17pm: Health workers are helping to move more than 200 rest home residents to safer accommodation. Around 20 properties which are home to people with disabilities are uninhabitable, and a number of rest home residents require hospital level care. Many are being taken home by family members, and others are being moved by the Air Force to facilities around the South Island.

2.15pm: Wayne Mapp said Lyttelton was "heavily devastated". A thoudand Lyttelton residents were fed by the Navy last night.  Army engineers will be setting up two water points,  including water purification, at Lyttelton and New Brighton later today.

2.08pm: Four bodies were recovered from the CTV building overnight, Cliff said.

2.06pm: Dave Cliff says it is not possible to identify some of the bodies because they have been "so severely injured".  He says it is still possible that there are people buried alive under rubble but sites with bodies, but no signs of life are being left while rescuers focus on buildings that do have positive signs of life.

1.47pm: The New Zealand Law Society has set up a website to co-ordinate information relevant to the provision of legal services following the Christchurch earthquake. The website, at  provides news and information received by the Law Society

1.38pm: A list of people who are missing and likely to have been caught up in the incident will be released at 4pm today. Cliff said at this stage there are 238 people on the missing persons list. "But many of those people may have simply left town, so again if you've left town please ring the Red Cross number," he said.

1.30pm To recap
- Superintendent Dave Cliff says it remains a rescue operation
- a list of people who are missing and likely to have been caught up in the incident will be released at around 4pm.
- the looting factor is "absolutely minimal"
- Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says Lyttelton is heavily devastated
- Gerry Brownlee is appointed Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
- Names of some victims to be released at some time today
- Bob Hamilton from Civil Defence has been appointed national controller for the response operation.
- David Meates from the District Health Board says 164 quake victims have been admitted to hospital with a range of conditions
- no charge for doctor and pharmacy visits to ensure people are accessing services
- concern about the elderly

1.26pm: Victim identification is relying on DNA and fingerprints because some bodies have been "so severely injured". Cliff says there have been instances overseas when distraught relatives have made mistaken visual identification.

1.23pm: There could be up to 120 bodies in the CTV building. Cliff says the numbers have varied wildly.

1.22pm: Fatalities are expected where buses and cars have been crushed.

1.19pm: The looting factor is "absolutely minimal".

1.18pm: Red stickered properties can't be occupied due to safety reasons.

1.16pm: The city has been gridded and teams have been applied to search sections using sniffer dogs, acoustic testing and cameras placed within the rubble to look for any sign of life.

1.13pm: Superintendent Dave Cliff says it remains a rescue operation. There could be people alive but there is no chance for survival at the CTV site.

1.08pm: Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says Lyttelton is heavily devastated. People have taken an "unbelievably heavy knock" and emotions are stretched. The only supermarket is closed and there is no operational petrol station. The need is to get in the fundamentals to human life, Mapp says.

1.05pm: 76 in the morgue at the moment, more to come.

1.00pm: Police Minister Judith Collins has described scenes of utter devastation. "I've never seen anything like it." Collins said the rescuers are all "working brilliantly" together - often people whose own homes have been totalled. The minister praised the personal courage of rescuers and said the military reaction has been "absolutely fantastic".

12.57pm: 161 St John frontline medical staff have been sent from other regions to assist in Christchurch. St John have deployed 12 mass casualty incident vehicles and 10 support vehicles including four wheel drives and trailers. Wellington Free Ambulance has also deployed 18 staff and eight rescue vehicles.

12.51pm: Chief Coroner Neil MacLean says contingency plans are in place to ensure the coronial system can cope with the death toll.

12.50pm: Housing New Zealand is contacting its most at-risk tenants in Christchurch to see if they're ok. Housing Minister Phil Heatley says a log is being kept of calls from tenants reporting minor damage.

12.49pm: Inland Revenue's Christchurch office was damaged in the quake but Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says staff are making sure people are not being harassed for payments and are getting the payments they need.

12.41pm: The Palms Shopping Centre in Shirley remains closed. There is no public access to all centre facilities including the ATM machines and car parks.

12.36pm: Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood says it's been a difficult few days after one staff member died and three others were trapped in their Christchurch office. Of the three survivors, two staff were injured and one suffered minor injuries, Hywood said.

12.33pm: Vodafone's network is largely operational with only 14 sites down, mostly due to lack of power. At least two have physical damage which will take some time to restore. Generators are keeping sites working.

12.29pm: Messages of support and condolence are pouring in from across the world, including Pope Benedict XVI,  US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Queen Elizabeth II.

12.24pm: US President Barack Obama called Prime Minister John key and they talked for about five minutes about the disaster in Christchurch. The President reiterated that the US stood ready to provide further help, should New Zealand need it.

12.22pm: EMI Music NZ is auctioning off various music items through Trade Me. All money raised will be donated to the Christchurch Earthquake Relief.

12.19pm: Auckland Mayor Len Brown tweeted that the "AKL Council voted $1.5m for Chch plus ongoing staff support for the coming year."

12.17pm: Saturday's trial between the Warriors and Manly will be dedicated to Christchurch. North Harbour Stadium has announced all profits from the match will be donated to the Red Cross appeal for Christchurch.

12.12pm: A benefit concert is to be held at the ASB Showgrounds, in Greenlane, Auckland  tomorrow. All proceeds to go to Christchurch. More deatils on Facebook : 

12.07pm: An Australian Army Field 75 bed hospital is due to arrive this afternoon.

12.06pm: Orion chief executive Roger Sutton says they aim to have 75% back of power restored by tonight. He said it is a "much, much larger event" than September and they are dealing with a lot more damage. Damage to the underground network damage is "very, very severe". As well as liquefaction, damage has been caused by big boulders coming down and taking out substations.

12.00 noon: Glen Coburn from St John Ambulance said the service is coping quite well with the current workload. St John is getting assistance from other areas and has over 40 ambulances operating, as well as 20 support vehicles and helicopters.

11.52am: Health officials are making sure the city has sustainable staffing levels in place and they are working with different health boards across the country. A number of intensive care patients have already been transferred. The neo-natal unit is full.

11.49am: There are concerns about the vulnerable in society, particularly the aged some of whom have been moved to other residential care facilities. Meates said more may have to be moved depending on capacity around the country. He said it is important for people to continue to talk about their experience. "Talking about their experience is an important part of remaining resilient over the next few days and weeks".

11.45pm: Doctor and pharmacy charges have been wiped to ensure people are accessing services. Meates says it is important the public doesn't sit back and wait.

11.39am: David Meates from the Canterbury District Health Board says 164 quake victims have been admitted to hospital with a range of conditions from crush and spinal injuries to broken bones. He says 60% of primary care facilities are now up and running but it remains a pressure point.

11.35am: Bob Hamilton from Civil Defence has been appointed national controller for the response operation. He says the response will be co-ordinated "from one place, by one organisation, against one plan to provide absolute assurance to the public taht all resources are marshalled and put into effect for the people of Christchurch.

11.27am: "If you've got a bike this is a day you should use it," Bob Parker says, urging residents to stay off the roads if possible.

11.20am: Names of some victims will be released at some time today. Police are going through the process of identifying victims and notifying next of kin. They are still working on the missing persons list.

11.15am: Gerry Brownlee is appointed Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery. Prime Minister John Key says Brownlee's other portfolios are being reallocated to other ministers. Maurice Williamson will be associate earthquake minister. 

11.00am To recap
- Air NZ continues its low cost air fares to and from Christchurch
- many people are choosing to leave the city
- body bags are being brought onto the CTV building site
- Teams have begun assessing the state of local houses and the welfare of occupants
- several members of the media, especially from Japan, were arrested last night for trying to break in and interview patients.
- Air Vice Marshall Peter Stockwell said the defence force is providing extensive logistical and personnel support.
- All 22 people missing in the Cathedral are believed to be dead.
- Australia pours in more people. High Commissioner Paul O'Sullivan said "when family is in trouble you do what you can to help."
- cash donations are the best way to support people

11.06am: The Association of Counsellors has expressed sympathy for those affected by the earthquake. "NZAC acknowledges the high level of grief and trauma being experienced by the citizens of Christchurch and their families. It is heartening to see the support evident in the community," president Jonathan Loan said. NZAC counsellors can be contacted through private practices and various agencies.

11.01am: A number of supermarkets are still closed in Christchurch because of earthquake damage, including fire damage, ceilings that have fallen in and one badly damaged carpark.

11.00am: Trade Me is opening its website to advertisements for free offers of accommodation. It also has a place to list lost and found pets, travel offers in and out of Christchurch and volunteer labour.

10.55am: Body bags are being brought onto the CTV building site.

10.55am: No one has been found alive at the Holy Cross Chapel in Chancery Lane.

10.52am: An Irish citizen and a British man are among the victims of the New Zealand earthquake, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin says.

10.48am: The SPCA says hundreds of animals have been displaced by the quake. The after hours emergency service is in full operation. For emergencies from 9-4 phone 03-349-7057, extension 201 or 205. Outside normal operating hours, call 03-366-3886. Or visit spca.canterbury.org.nz for advice.

10:45am: The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is stressing that cash donations are the best way to support people affected by the quake.

10.44am: The New Zealand Contractors' Federation is helping co-ordinate civil contractors who can assist with the relief operation. The Wellington-based centre will liaise between organisations or individuals requiring assistance and contractors with the capacity and resources to undertake clean up and construction work.

10.34am: Hundreds of people, including tourists, are choosing to get out of Christchurch.

10.32am: Telecom is collecting analogue landline phones from around the country to distribute to people in Christchurch. The 'old fashioned' corded analogue phones plug straight into a jack-point and don't require mains power. People can drop spare analogue phones in to any Telecom store during retail opening hours.

10.30am: Telecom is still "significantly affected" by ongoing power issues in areas of the city and physical disruption caused by the quake. It says its focus remains on restoring and maintaining mobile cell sites in the CBD. Operational central city cell sites have been connected to generators to keep them running.

10.21am: Australian High Commissioner Paul O'Sullivan said "when family is in trouble you do what you can to help." Australia has provided 140 search and rescue personnel and a 25 member medical team is coming in tonight. O'Sullivan said 300 Australian police are coming tomorrow. He said on any given day there could be as many as 8000 Australians in Christchurch and he is urging people who haven't heard from relatives or friends to let authorities know.

10:15am: The Defence Force still has resources in reserve and is preparing for the long haul. Stockwell said they have the territorial forces to call on and are still keeping an eye on their overseas contingents.

10:10am: The Defence Force has flown over 100 people out of the city in addition to those who have left on commercial flights. Stockwell said they have flown in a lot of equipment such as generators and transformers.

10.09am: Stockwell said the Defence Force is providing logistical support and food and the naval presence is particularly valuable with over 700 meals given to Lyttelton residents yesterday. And Stockwell said defence personnel are helping with the security cordon around the CBD as well as in the suburbs. Military vehicles have then capacity to get down roads which are impassable to other vehciles. The force is also helping out health authorities with the temporary morgue.

10:02am: All 22 people missing in the Cathedral are believed to be dead.

10.00am: Air Vice Marshall Peter Stockwell said the defence force is providing extensive support in Christchurch. He said as well as vessels off shore there are 80 land vehicles supporting the effort from. "This is the largest operation we've been involved in in New Zealand." The Defence Force is working under the direction of the civil authorities and Stockwell said they have limited powers under the state of emergency.

9:56am Teams will begin assessing the state of Christchurch residents' houses and their welfare needs this morning. "Operation Suburb" will send 40 teams of four, consisting of building officials, engineers and welfare officers into the suburbs of Brighton; Dallington; Avonside; Wainoni; Avondale; Parklands; Queenspark; St Martins; Opawa and Lyttelton. The teams will conduct assessments of residents' properties.

9.51am The Canterbury District Health Board says several members of the media were arrested last night for trying to break in and interview patients. A large number of those trying to get in were Japanese media.

9.46am: Parker said it is up to individuals to make their own call about whether to leave the city which would be "entirely understandable". He said if people choose to leave that will also help to take pressure off some systems. But he said if people leave, it is vital to let others know what they are doing. "If we find a structure that's damaged we want to know what has happened to the people inside." He is urging people in these circumstances to leave a note on the door.

9.40am: Bob Parker says it's still hard to get a clear picture but about 60% of the central business district has been covered in terms of rescue efforts. He said the first job is to save lives and then it is to repair infrastructure alongside a parallel process of getting temporary distribution mechanisms set up. He said officials are also determining what they can get from other centres and how to get it to Christchurch quickly. Private distribution chains are eager to offer their services, Parker says.

9.30am: A live rescue effort has been confirmed at the Holy Cross Chapel in Chancery Lane, off Cathedral Square.

9.22am: The dollar extended its loss, hitting a new two-month low as the latest shake compounds the billions of dollars of damage caused in the September quake.

9.20am: Health authorities are looking for signs of disease with water supplies still largely unavailable. Medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey says the damage to infrastructure is worse than after the September earthquake. Residents should boil water for at least 3 minutes before drinking.

9.17am: Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe has extended its $50 one way airfares from/to Christchurch anywhere on the Air New Zealand domestic network through until midnight Sunday February 27. He says the airline has almost 2000 staff in Christchurch and they haven't been able to contact them all. He said workers are worn out and it is tough to sustain the service.

9.12am: By 4.00am there had been at least 34 aftershocks greater than magnitude 4 and three aftershocks above magnitude 5. GNS Science advises that there may be more magnitude 5 or greater aftershocks in the next few days.

9.00am To recap
- Rescuers are still focused are searching for survivors
- John Key says the government will hold a Canterbury earthquake recovery committee meeting today
- a grid search is being carried out and has been extended beyond the main damage in the CBD
- USAR teams from Singapore, Taiwan and Japan are on the ground and helping out
- food and water supplies are reaching the city
- eftpos and credit card facilities are operating
- prisoners are being moved from Rolleston Prison to make room for emergency services personnel

9.00am: Health authorities are looking for signs of disease with water suppies still largely unavailable. Medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey says the damage to infrastructure is worse than after the September earthquake. Residents should boil water for at least 3 minutes before drinking.

8.59am: Orion chief executive Roger Sutton says as fast as his staff fix one problem they find another and he can't give a timeframe for when power will be completely restored. He said damage involves stretched cables, damaged transformers and poles that have sunk into the ground.

8.55am: Eftpos and credit card facilities up and running.

8.47am: Corrections chief executive Ray Smith says prisoners are being moved from Rolleston Prison to Christchurch Men's Prison so they can free up beds to accommodate emergency services personnel. He said the prison is fully functional with water and sewerage systems operating normally, as well as the kitchen.

8.39am: USAR member Jim Stuart-Black reports they have located a survivor trapped in a building in the CBD. 

8.27am: Contact Energy chief executive David Baldwin says the company is working to restore gas supplies to Christchurch. He said the area near the airport has been tested and relivened but there is a lot of damage near the CBD and it will take time to repair. He said they have fitters coming in from around the country and Australia and they are trying to get free bottled gas to people - especially those without electricity.

8.15am: Officials are confident vital supplies such as food and water are reaching the city. Key said they are getting huge support from businesses eager to do all they can and an enormous amount of food has been offered by the Food Council. He said everyone is keen to do all they can to help.

8.00am: Key says there is an enormous number of people on the ground and they are concentrating on restoring critical services such as water supply and power. He said if necessary they will do a temporary patch up while knowing there will need to be a long term fix. Key said they are working to ensure there are adequate fuel supplies but people need to stay off the roads, especially around the CBD. He said yesterday he witnessed long traffic jams and vehicles banked up at petrol stations blocking emergency vehicles.

7.47am: Brown says they are now prioritising the internal search process of other buildings which have collapsed. He said the focus has been on large buildings of several storeys where there is potentially people still trapped. Rescuers believe it might be slightly easier and less risky to get into smaller buildings. Brown says in buildings where six or seven floors have collapsed it takes more time and effort to do a safe search.

7.46am: Mitchell Brown who is heading the Urban Search and Rescue operation says international teams are now established in Latimer Square and are carrying out a grid search.

7.39am: Key believes NZ has the numbers right in terms of rescue personnel. He says this is a major event and there is a distinct difference between manpower capacity and skilled rescue teams. "It's bit of a club around the world where everyone helps out."

7.35am: The government will hold a Canterbury earthquake recovery committee meeting today.

7.33am: Key says next of kin will be told first of deaths , then police are expected to start to release names. He said it is more complicated to provide details about international fatalities.

7.31am: Key says we can't underestimate the severity of the situation but just because the dogs and sound equipment haven't detected any survivors that doesnt mean there are not people trapped and alive. He says police are doing everything they can to provide information but the number one focus is to get people out.

7.30am: Prime Minister John Key says the country can cope financially with this event and we effectively already have a levy through EQC. He said the economy can withstand this hit but a lot of the kitty covered through insurance levies will be consumded by this earthquake. He said the Crown balance sheet has the capacity to make payments.

7.30am To recap
- 71 confirmed dead
- number of missing unknown
- police taking over missing persons list
- Lyttelton Port operations are suspended
- Four welfare centres are open - Burnside High School, Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre, Carl Stadium and Rangiora Baptist Church.
- nobody rescued overnight
- residents should boil water
- power restored to 60% of city
- schools all closed
- PM says NZ economy can withstand economic impact
- people should stay off roads

7.20am: Gibson says there has been an increase in the number of domestic incidents since the earthquake as the strain begins to show and living conditions and continual aftershocks get on the nerves. He is urging people to walk away before police have to intervene.

7.15am: Parker says the Grand Chancellor will eventually have to be demolished, but may come down on its own accord. He said if it comes down it will create a massive shockwave. And he said if the city's largest structure does come down it will damage buildings a couple of blocks away.

7.08am: Civil Defence is asking people to minimise loading on the phone network by using text messaging to check if friends and family are okay.

7.05am: Lyttelton Port operations are suspended while a full engineering assessment is completed. Some wharves have sustained serious damage.

6.55am: Four welfare centres are open - Burnside High School, Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre, Carl Stadium and Rangiora Baptist Church. Parker says people should take some bedding and their own sanitary needs.

6.50am: Mayor Bob Parker says the quadrant by quadrant searching will extend the search are today with 40 teams making a major push into suburban areas. He said water remains crucial and extra tankers will be bringing in supplies. He reminds residents to take their own containers and boil all drinking water using whatever resources are available. Portaloos are being brought into the city today but Parker says residents need to band together and think together to create their own toilets.

6.45am: Most Cantabrians accept they can't go past the cordon. Police are urging people to stay away. Gibson says police know business owners are keen to get in, but he said police will look after them. He said engineers and building inspectors need to check buildings to make sure they are safe before owners can return. He said there could be as many as 100 buildings to check.

6.40am: Gibson says police are working on the missing list with the Red Cross. He says it is vital all names go on the list but there is a lot of confusion. "We don't mind duplication, we'll work through the names line by line."

6.37am: Gibson says rescuers remain hopeful but the situation at the CTV building is grim. "We will continue brick by brick to get the people out."

6.35am: Superintendent Russell Gibson says there have been no more survivors found overnight. He says some bodies have been found.

6.24am: Reports that 300 people are missing remain speculation. Carter said police are in charge of collating the list and want to be sure there are no double ups before announcing a definitive number.

6.23am: Lyttelton Tunnel remains closed but major highways are open with minor damage. The  rail link betweeen Picton and Christchurch is now open.

6.15am: Power has been restored to 60% of the city but is out in much of the eastern area. Residents are being urged to take care when re-entering their homes, preferably get an electrician to check the power supply and only turn on one appliance at a time.

6.12am: Water and waste water are still significant issues and 80% of the city is without reticulation. Fonterra is deploying 34 tanks with 20 000 litres capacities to supply 14 water supply sites across the city 80% of main trunk sewers are damaged.   

6.10am: 431 patients have been through the emergency department at Christchurch Hopspital, 164 seriously injured. Between 1500-2000 have been through other medical facilities with minor injuries.

6.05am:  Carter confirms 71 people dead in morgues, officials are aware of other bodies but haven't got a number.

6.00am: Carter says with extra USAR teams from Singapore, Taiwan and Japan now deployed they have the capacity to do grid searches across the city.  Until now teams have concnetrated on buildings where they knew a large number of people were trapped.

5.30am: Civil Defence Minister John Carter is due to give a media conference at 6am.

5.28am: More tourists have flown from Christchurch to Wellington today. Five air force flights have transported evacuees.

5.23am: Police made one arrest overnight for a breach of the cordon.

5.15am: Prime Minister John Key flew back to Wellington from Christchurch late last night and is due to hold his first earthquake media briefing at 7.30am today before going into another emergency cabinet meeting.

5.12am: The number of confirmed dead remains at 75 with about 300 people missing. Nearly 200 police have been working through the night, manning cordons and patrolling the streets.

5.04am: The number of doctors' clinics open in Christchurch is expected to double today. About 30% were open yesterday and 60% percent are hoped to be open today.
Canterbury residents with urgent medical needs can visit a GP free of charge until tonight, but are urged to call first.

5.01am Specialised search and rescue teams from all over the world are descending on Christchurch. Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said 63 people would arrive today from Japan and the UK, along with 80 from the US. Teams already here include 87 search and rescue workers from Singapore, 24 from Taiwan and nearly 400 from Australia.

4.58am: The Kerbside wheelie bin collection in Christchurch will continue as normal today.

4.53am: There have been 13 aftershocks recorded in the Christchurch area today.

4.46am: At this stage, Countdown supermarkets in Avonhead, Hornby, Kaiapoi, Northwood, Rangiora, Ashburton, Northlands, and Church Corner are expected to be open today.New World stores in Ashburton, Bishopdale, Fendalton, Halswell, Lincoln, Northwood, Rangiora, and Rolleston will also open as will  Pak'nSave supermarkets in Hornby and Northlands.
All Four Square stores are open, with the exception of Lyttelton.

4.36am: Civil Defence Minister John Carter is asking people to donate money, rather than goods.

4.34am: Staff at the Toi Poneke processing centre in Wellington are asking for no more drop-offs.

4.31am: Civil Defence minister John Carter will head to Christchurch today. Earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee arrived back in the country last night after cutting short a trip to the Middle East.

4.29am: Australia has donated $5 million to the earthquake relief effort.

4.03am: Fuel is being transported to Christchurch through the port at Timaru. State Highway One is open for supplies to reach the city. 

4.01am: Sufficient supplies of food and fuel are reaching the city following the earthquake, Canterburys Civil Defence Group Controller, Ken Taylor, said.

3.57am: Christchurch City Council says it will increase the percentage of mains water availability today.

3.53am: People with moderate injuries should go to Princess Margaret, St Georges or Southern Cross Hospitals, the city council said.

3.48am: Student volunteers who will work under the guidance of Civil Defence today should take equipment (shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves, raincoats, sunblock, drink bottles) with them, organisers have said. About 500 student volunteers will meet at the University of Canterbury Students' Association on Ilam Rd at 9am ahead of being transported by bus to locations .

3.45am: CTV building recap: Urban Search and Rescue teams and the Fire Service resumed work at the collapsed CTV building last night some hours after safety risks forced the temporary suspension of rescue efforts. Police received advice from USAR yesterday that the damage caused to the building meant the likelihood of any survivors was low. Search and rescue operations continued until 1.30pm when teams had to pull out due to safety risks with the Grand Chancellor Hotel, police said. Later in the evening teams were able to resume work on the site. The work is a recovery operation as more survivors are not expected.

3.42am: Welfare Centres are currently open at Burnside High School, Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre, Cowles Stadium and Rangiora Baptist Church. People are advised to bring their own water containers, bedding, personal medicine and sanitary products.

3.28am: A contingent of search and rescue workers from Singapore and Japan will be arriving in Christchurch today. There will be 320 search and rescue workers deployed in the city today.

3.26am: Wainoni Bridge, Gayhurst Bridge and Avonside Dr/Swanns Rd Bridge are open, the city council says. Further work is ongoing to open more bridges.

3.14am: On-site free-standing water tanks will be replenished at the following sites later today: Shirley Intermediate; Phillipstown School; Lyttelton School; South Brighton Primary School; Wainoni Primary School; Heaton Intermediate; Paparoa Street School;Chisnallwood Intermediate; Heathcote Valley School; Waltham School. Residents are reminded to bring their own water containers.

2.58am: Pope Benedict XVI has offered his condolences to the earthquake victims. "At this time my thoughts turn especially to the people that are being severely tested by this tragedy," he said. "Let us ask God to relieve their suffering and to support all who are involved in the rescue operations. I also ask you to join me in praying for all who have lost their lives."

2.47am:Relatives in Japan and South Korea say they fear the worst for 25 students missing from a Christchurch language school. Police say they have abandoned hope of finding more survivors at King's Education College, which was housed in the CTV building.

2.40am:Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said: "After all that has happened here in Christchurch and with so many lives affected by this event, we have decided it would not be appropriate to play a game of rugby against the Hurricanes on Saturday."

2.35am: The cancelled match between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes will be declared a draw with the two franchises getting two points each.

2.28am: The Crusaders have decided to withdraw from their Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

2.17am: Police say there has been a rise in the number of domestic callouts in Canterbury since the earthquake. Supt Russell Gibson said "the stress and trauma of Tuesday's earthquake is understandably taking its toll" but said family violence was not acceptable in any circumstances. Help, advice and information is available on 0800 1 REFUGE.

2.03am: University of Canterbury Students' Association has organised a working party for today. About 500 student volunteers will meet at the UCSA carpark on Ilam Rd at 9am ahead of being transported by bus to locations where help is needed under the guidance of Civil Defence.

1.56am: Around 60 Australians who were caught in the quake have been flown to Brisbane. The first Australian Defence Force evacuation flight arrived at Brisbane Airport last night.
Another plane is carrying 40 more passengers to Victoria, while four commercial flights are also transferring stranded Australians home.

1.55am: The 26-storey Hotel Grand Chancellor building is still standing. There have been fears it is in grave danger of collapsing.

1.35am: Three fire applicances and one aerial applicance are at the CTV building. There is a fire in the debris. Search and rescue workers were on standy, the Fire Service said.

1.23am: Rescue missions are continuing at various sites in the city after the fire service confirmed last night that other buildings have people trapped inside.  Those buildings are the PGC building, Christchurch Cathedral, The Press building, Smith City carpark, St Asaph/Colombo, and 92-95 Cashel Street.

1.01am: A firefighting team has moved into the collapsed CTV building to put out a fire in the basement. Diggers are clearing rubble at the back of the collapsed building. Search and Rescue workers have been deployed elsewhere and there is no sign of them returning, Civil Defence told ONE News. They are working in areas "where there is more hope", a Civil Defence spokesman said.

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