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Christchurch's mayor has rejected claims that the city's devastated eastern suburbs are being ignored in the recovery effort.
Bob Parker told ONE News that any perception that he is not concerned about the east side is wrong.
"No one is walking around going 'oh, we won't go to that area because it's a lower socio-economic area' - is that [suggestion] even reasonable?," Parker said.
"If someone is even suggesting that of me I would resign from my job right now."
But disaster recovery expert Doctor Regan Potangaroa of Unitec School of Architecture said he believes some suburbs are missing out.
"Aranui and the other suburbs out here in the east have been forgotten," he said.
Potangaroa has worked in 17 international disasters, and said he is concerned about the lack of communication and monitoring in eastern Christchurch.
"The mayor should come out and talk to the people out here - there's a lot of anger and a lot of resentment and he needs to be seen down here on the marae and in the suburbs," he said.
Chief executive of Nga Hau E Wha Marae, Norm Dewes, agrees.
"If I was to stay silent I would be condoning the behaviour of the mayor, and saying that I'm very pleased with his performance, and frankly I'm not," he said.
However, Parker is not apologising for how he has handled the recovery effort.
"If me doing my job is not being recognised, simply because I haven't been to visit them, then I think their priorities need adjusting, not mine," Parker said.
But eastsiders question how their concerns can be heard if no-one comes to see them.
"All we ask for is a fair go and for the council to consider that we are part of Christchurch, that we pay rates and we may not be rich and have friends like some of the other suburbs, but we are part of the city, " Nga Hau e Wha Chairman Pete Mason said.
Toilets
But there has been some relief for residents in the eastern suburbs with the delivery of more chemical toilets, and news that the city's water is now safe to drink without boiling.
Two thousand chemical toilets were distributed to residents, who missed out on the initial delivery, this morning.
The toilet delivery came in time to replace some of the portaloos that have not withstood the heavy winds over the past few days.
Around 35,000 chemical toilets have been handed out so far and more than 2000 portaloos still line the streets - it is expected portaloos will be needed for at least six months.
While getting chemical toilets might seem like little to celebrate, residents were happy to trade in their portaloos.
"[It's] better than freezing your butt off going out to the portaloo," Dallington resident Liz Blanc said.
Resident Andre Steel said the chemical toilets are welcome.
"You don't have to worry too much about plastic bags or long drop holes," he said.
People are still being urged to limit flushing across the city with the waste water system under pressure.
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