Latest updates: Christchurch earthquake | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Tracking today's events as they happen on Day Five of the Christchurch earthquake disaster.

6.29pm
Bus services for Christchurch will resume tomorrow after being disrupted again yesterday with the large after shocks.

The Bus Exchange will open at 6am and services will run to a normal weekday timetable.

The two bus routes still out of action are the 51 New Brighton to Tower Junction and 480 bus to Kainga.

5.05pm
Rock falls have forced the closure of Sumner Rd,, Lyttelton,  from Oxford St to the Summit Rd. Access is for essential traffic only.

4.25pm
Christchurch City Council is to give a month's grace to residents due to pay their rates by next week.

The rating area, which includes many of the most badly affected properties in this week's earthquake, will have received their invoices approximately three weeks ago and are due to pay their bills by September 15.

However, the council is extending the due date for these people to October 15.

It is also considering other relief for property owners.

For further information, please refer to the council website, email info@ccc.govt.nz or contact the Christchurch City Council call centre on 941 8999.

3.40pm
Scaffolding company Instant Access is looking for help transporting scaffold supplies and staff to Christchurch from Auckland and Wellington. If you can assist, email Jacqui here.

3.33pm
Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga is offering free counselling support, funded by the Government.

Counselling is available at the Christchurch office (Level 5, CTV Building, 249 Madras St) on both an appointment and walk-in basis. Counsellors will also be available at the Emergency Welfare Centres on a walk-in basis.

For appointments or telephone support, ring Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga on 03 366 8804 or 0800 RELATE (0800 735 283).

3.29pm
Canterbury residents whose cars have been damaged by the quake are being told to contact their vehicle insurance company company, not the Earthquake Commission.

The Commission covers damage to your home and contents - but not your vehicle.

AA Insurance says it's had only a slight increase in claims due to the quake, but believes a large number of vehicles has been damaged - it's just that people haven't contacted them yet.

Most of the claims it has received so far are for very minor damage from falling bricks, or dents and scratches.

3.21pm
Canterbury has been hit by another aftershock measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale.

The quake struck 5km out of Christchurch at 3pm and had a focal depth of 11km.

Canterbury has received 270 aftershocks or magnitude 3 or above so far since Saturday's earthquake, according to GNS Science.

However, GNS seismologist Brian Ferris said people would have felt about 150 of those aftershocks.

3.19pm
A visit to the outlying areas of Christchurch has reinforced to Prime Minister John Key the severity of Saturday's earthquake.

Mr Key, along with other government ministers, were taken to the hard-hit rural areas outside Christchurch, including Kaiapoi and Selwyn, where they were shown houses which had crumbled or been ripped from their foundations, as well as extensive damage to farms.

Speaking to the media outside a devastated church in Hororata, 56km west of Christchurch, Mr Key said the extent of the destruction throughout the region was clear.

"We always knew things were bad, but I think it shows you how big the rebuild job will be and also what the aftershocks are doing."

3.16pm
A strong smell of sulphur spreading across Christchurch's eastern suburbs is unlikely to be gas, Civil Defence says.

New Brighton resident David Shone told WeatherWatch that people noticed the smell after Saturday's devastating 7.1 magnitude quake, saying it smelt similar to Rotorua.

The smell was today investigated by the Fire Service and Environment Canterbury's hazardous substance team.

"At this point, there is no indication that the smell should be of concern to residents. It does not appear to be a gas leak," Canterbury Civil Defence emergency management group said.

3.12pm
Another large after shock has hit Canterbury, this time measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale.

The quake struck at 2.49pm, about 30km south-east of Darfield. It had a focal depth of 9km.

The quake has been reported as "strongly felt" in Christchurch, according to GNS Science.

2.59pm
Care for elderly Christchurch residents affected by the earthquake will be provided at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The District Health Board is setting up a special respite ward.

2.46pm
All power has been restored to people who lost supply due to the 7.49am aftershock this morning, says Orion.
The focus was now on getting power to all customers by the end of this week, a spokesman said.
"We estimate that the number without power is now down to several hundred", he said.
Anyone without power now should call 03-3639898.

2.40pm
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is hoping to bring some relief from the stress of the aftershocks for Christchurch residents by playing a free show at the Town Hall next week.
"Many among the orchestra have family and friends caught up in the devastating consequences of the earthquake. This is our way of showing our support for the Christchurch community," NZSO chief executive Peter Walls said. (NZPA)

2.30pm
A nice follow-up to the story that did the rounds on the weekend about the Christchurch dairy owner who refused to take money for milk and batteries on the morning of the big quake.

2.15pm
Reports of sulphur smells in parts of Christchurch don't appear to be a gas leak, says Environment Canterbury (EC). These have been investigated by the Fire Service and Environment Canterbury's Hazardous Substance team. There's no indication that the smell should be of concern to residents, an EC spokeswoman said.

1.58pm Another aftershock measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale hit Canterbury at 1.41pm. It was centred 20km south-west of Darfield at a depth of 5km, GeoNet reported.

1.54pm
The Mayoral Fund has been amalgamated into the New Zealand Red Cross' appeal for donations. Canterbury mayors and Red Cross CEO John Ware have pledged that 100 per cent of all donations will go to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal and be spent on people affected by the earthquake. To make a donation, go to the New Zealand Red Cross.

1.52pm
Actress Milla Jovovich (The 5th Element, Resident Evil) has joined the list of celebs who have tweeted that her prayers are with the people of Christchurch at this time.

1.45pm
All 678 buildings in the central business district have now been checked by Civil Defence staff, with 69 per cent being assessed as safe. Others have been rated safe for limited access and unsafe.
In Kaiapoi, 22 buildings have been declared unsafe to enter and some have been demolished.

1.34pm
There's a new potential hazard in Avonside. Contractors have told Newstalk ZB power poles have sunk lower into the ground meaning power lines are hanging lower than normal. They're worried high vehicles driving along the road may hit them.

1.25pm
Canterbury Museum may re-open to the public next week after an examination found no structural damage. However the museum, which opened in 1870, will be re-assessed following today's aftershocks. Earthquake strengthening was carried out on the building in the 1990s. At this stage only minimal damage has occurred to the collections.

12.40pm
No "substantial" damage had been inflicted by the hefty aftershocks that hit the Christchurch area this morning, according to the region's Civil Defence director. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 5.4 were recorded steadily though the morning, stretching the already frazzled nerves of residents and relief workers. Civil Defence Director, John Hamilton said today many aftershocks have occurred since the magnitude 7.1 earthquake at 4.35am on Saturday and are expected to continue for the next week or more. Some inspected buildings will require re-assessment but an initial check showed no major damage caused today.

12.10pm
A strong smell of sulphur has been noticed in Christchurch's eastern suburbs since Saturday's earthquake, according to WeatherWatch. New Brighton resident David Shone told WeatherWatch that several people were noting the smell, saying that it was reminiscent of Rotorua. (NZPA)

11.55am
The Christchurch Star, a sister paper for the New Zealand Herald, is compiling "stories of the quake" for citizens to tell their tales of coping in an earthquake-stricken city. To tell your story email Philippa Williams. The Star website is right up-to-date with the latest local news from the scene of the disaster, such as this story about a Linwood family's experience in a temporary welfare shelter.

11.50am
The Lyttelton Tunnel has reopened. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) closed the tunnel after this morning's big magnitude 5.1 aftershock. The tunnel has now been thoroughly checked and NZTA Canterbury manager Peter Connors said while there is superficial damage, it's safe to use.

11.25am
Canterbury University has decided to delay its progressive recall of staff by 24 hours to allow confirmation of building status. The university was badly damaged during Saturday's 7.1 quake.

11.14am
The Government has set aside $2.4 million for trauma counselling for Christchurch earthquake victims, Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett said today. She says 34 counsellors from across New Zealand would head to the quake-stricken city today.

11.12am
The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended a further seven days. Civil Defence were due to lift the state at midday today, but they have decided the city is not yet safe.

11.05am
Civil Defence is warning people in Christchurch not to use elevators.

10.50am
If the rugby test in Hong Kong between the All Blacks and the Wallabies later this year really is in doubt, why not stage it in New Zealand with all proceeds (incl TV rights) going to Christchurch quake victims? someone has suggested this morning. Good call!

10.40am
Passenger rail services in Canterbury have been delayed ahead of railway line checks this morning. KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said trains were stopped after this morning's aftershocks. The Picton-bound TranzCoastal service, which had left Christchurch before the aftershock, stopped just north of Rangiora and again some minutes later by a further aftershock. It has been cleared to move but will be late arriving in Picton. The Greymouth-bound TranzAlpine was scheduled to leave Christchurch at 8.15am but passengers have been put on buses.
Mr Ramshaw said freight services are unlikely to be affected.

10.34am
(Yet) another aftershock has hit Canterbury, this time 10km south-east of Christchurch. The quake struck at 9.39am, measured 4.0 on the Richter scale and had a focal depth of 8km.

10.32am
Telecom NZ has made 13 wi-fi hotspots free around Christchurch.

10.30am
If you want the total picture on nzherald's comprehensive earthquake coverage since early Saturday morning, visit our Christchurch Earthquake special feature.

10.25am
Christchurch Hospital has cancelled all outpatient clinic appointments today because it says people are not keen on leaving their homes after this morning's aftershocks. Hospital staff say they are trying to contact affected patients and the situation would be reviewed later today. (NZPA)

10.16am
Thoughts to our colleagues in the newsroom of the Christchurch Press who have been evacuated and are setting up a make-shift newsroom.

10.15am
This natural disaster has seen social networking site Twitter come of age in this country as a medium for relaying vital information with immediacy. One user has compiled a page of First Tweets after the Earthquake. "It's all about sharing."

10.01am
Another aftershock measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale has hit Canterbury. The quake struck at 9.37am, 20km south-east of Darfield and had a focal depth of 15km.

10am
Cellphone users in Canterbury should try to avoid sending video or images, says Telecom's Mark Watts. There have been a few minor glitches with cell towers switching to battery back-up power following larger aftershocks, but no major outages since the weekend.

"It isn't having any significant effect on the network," he said, but warned that people should "stick to voice and text, keep it brief and keep it reasonable."

Payphones in the area are still free for mobile, local and national calls, he said.

9.56am
Here's nzherald's compilation of Emergency Contacts.

9.50am
The Lyttelton Tunnel has been closed so safety checks can be carried out following this morning's magnitude 5.1 aftershock. It is likely to be later this morning before an initial assessment of any damage is available, says New Zealand Transport Agency's Canterbury manager Peter Connors. He said a detour to Lyttelton - through Sumner and Evans Pass - is open.

9.45am
Radio station Plains FM has been evacuated, and will remain closed until they get the all clear. "Some regularly scheduled programmes may not air today."

9.40am
An open source online map has been set up to help Cantabrians find help nearest to them. The Google map was set up by Dave Knight and features everything from water supplies to portaloos and road closures.
Mr Knight has appealed to the people of Canterbury to add information to the map. So far the map has had over 6000 views.

One user called Susan posted the message: "The more people who can participate and collaborate, the better the flow of information back to ultimately Civil Defence. And all within a web browser editing environment, awesome."

9.26am
Another big aftershock, measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale, has hit near Rolleston. The quake struck at 9.01am and had a focal depth of 9km, according to the GNS website.

9.25am
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker describes the most recent quake (5.1 at 7.50am) as a devastatingly vicious blow. Mr Parker says people should avoid travelling and stay home with family. He says many traffic lights are out and there are some road blocks. He says the Civil Defence headquarters in the city had to be evacuated, while the building's structure is checked. Staff have been given time to call and make sure their families are OK.

9.05am
Tweet from singer Natasha Bedingfield (Unwritten, Say It Again), in London: "Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Christchurch New Zealand. My whanau. Heard about the earthquake. Stay strong." Bedingfield has NZ-born parents.

9.02am
WORTH A LOOK: This dynamic map by Paul Nicholls shows the locations and intensity of all the aftershocks in Canterbury since Saturday's first earthquake.

8.50am
Queen Elizabeth II has been in contact with Prime Minister John Key to pass on her support for quake-stricken Cantabrians. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen has today asked the New Zealand Prime Minister to send her good wishes to those affected by and helping with the aftermath of Saturday's earthquake in Christchurch."

8.45am
Another aftershock has rattled Canterbury only 600 metres west of where this morning's 5.1 hit. The magnitude 3.8 quake hit at 8.15am and had a focal depth of 9km. Meanwhile GNS shaking map of this morning's large 5.1 aftershock has attracted over 200 reports since it went live about 30 minutes ago. The 5.1 aftershock has been reported as "slightly damaging" by 28 people.

8.30am
To meet spiritual needs, the Rev Bosco Peters has a blog, Liturgy. In it he notes, "St John's Church, Hororata, near the epicentre of the earthquake, is perhaps the worst-damaged church building. In the central city, St John the Baptist, Latimer Square, has had damage to its bell tower. St Luke's in the City has lost brick from a number of its window peaks. Other churches further out have also been affected. The Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals appear to have survived extremely well. Christ's College has come through very well - past work strengthening the buildings has been remarkably successful. The chapel appears unscathed."

8.19am
A large aftershock has rocked Christchurch this morning, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale. The quake struck at 7.49am and had a shallow depth of 6km. It struck 10km north-west of Diamond Harbour and was widely felt through-out Christchurch.

8.10am
Prime Minister John Key and a delegation of senior ministers are touring around some of the earthquake's worst-hit areas of rural Canterbury this morning. Several vehicles carrying the ministers are being followed by a convoy of about a dozen media vehicles, which left from Christchurch about 6.30 this morning and has travelled firstly to the township of Kaiapoi, where residential streets are cracked and covered in mud and silt.

8.05am
Organisers of the Christchurch Writers Festival have cancelled the show due to Saturday's massive earthquake. All tickets for the festival, due to be held at the Christchurch Town Hall from tomorrow to Sunday, would be refunded, says Book Festival Trust chairman Brian Phillips.

7.55am
The region was rocked by a further five aftershocks in the early hours of this morning, the largest of which was 4.6 on the Richter scale at 12.41am. It was followed by a 3.7 quake at 3.47am, a 4.5 at 3.59am, another 3.7 at 6.09am and a 3.5 just fifteen minutes later. All the quakes had an epicentre within 30km of Darfield and had a focal depth of 15km or less.

7.40am
Here's a reminder of a couple of photo galleries focusing on the earthquake. One on Flickr and this collection.

7.25am
The Earthquake Commission says the first team of overseas assessors arrived last night from Australia, reports Newstalk ZB. Spokesman Lance Dixon says around 20 of them will begin inspecting buildings in Christchurch today. He says the team on the ground will build up as the week goes on to around 120 people.

7.00am
So what's happening re schools today?

Education Minister Anne Tolley says because of the aftershocks, all schools and early childhood centres in Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri districts would be closed for the rest of the week. However last night Civil Defence said some Christchurch schools may open by tomorrow. Boards of Trustees must consider the safety of the schools when deciding whether to reopen. It looks like the situation is quite fluid.