Christchurch quake: latest info

LATEST: 11.55pm: Seventy-five per cent of earthquake-ravaged Christchurch now has power and 40 per cent has water but authorities are still warning people to conserve and boil it before drinking.

10.38pm: Emergency services tonight rushed to evacuate streets threatened by a possible cliff collapse in the suburb of Redcliffs.

9.48pm: Air space restrictions over Christchurch have been extended to help searchers detect signs of life in the central city.

9.24pm: Power remains off for more than 50,000 people, or about 25 per cent of customers.

About 50 per cent of the city has running water, and tankers are continuing to supply water at points through the city.

9.03pm: A man has been arrested for impersonating a building inspector and asking to see people's valuables in a bid to steal from them.

6.52pm: Police name four of the dead. All are from Christchurch.

They are Joseph Tehau Pohio, 40 Jamie Robert McDowell Gilbert, 22 Jayden Harris, nine months, Baxter Gowland, five months.

6.08pm: Police confirm 98 dead, 226 people missing.

5.54pm: Around 200 missing, feared dead, according to reports.

5.53pm: Reports that up to 60 quake victims may be foreigners.

5.48pm: The names of those killed in the earthquake expected to be released shortly.

4.51pm: Shell New Zealand to donate $1 million to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

3.39pm: The release of the names of missing people for whom Police have serious concerns has been delayed.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff will provide an update on progress with the lists at a media briefing at 6pm.

3.03pm: Following the cancellation of the Hurricanes and Canterbury Super Rugby match, Kiwis are being encouraged to wear red and black on Saturday.

Some workplaces - including Telecom, Vodafone, ASB Bank, 2degrees and TelstraClear - are encouraging staff to wear red and black clothing tomorrow.

2.48pm: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs warns more scam websites are emerging in the wake of the earthquake. The latest claims to be a donation site for the Red Cross.

2.23pm: More than $163,000 in Civil Defence Emergency Grants has been paid out to the people of Canterbury

1.35pm: The upcoming Ellerslie Flower Show has been cancelled. Tickets will be refunded by Ticketek.

1.31pm: Teams of foreign rescue workers continue to arrive in Christchurch.

The latest details on foreign assistance have just been released by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

From Australia: Two urban search and rescue teams totalling 142 personnel (72 NSW and 70 Queensland) and three dogs. A disaster medical assistance team comprising 23 emergency and surgical personnel.

From Japan: Urban search and rescue team of 67 personnel with three dogs arrived 4:00am today.

From Taiwan: An urban search and rescue team of 24 personnel with two dogs arrived 12midnight 23 February.

From Singapore: The first part of an urban search and rescue team totalling 55 personnel with four dogs has arrived. In addition, 116 Singaporean Defence Force Personnel who were already in New Zealand are now helping with the security cordon around the Christchurch CBD.

From the UK: Six Fire Service search and rescue experts have arrived. This is the advance party of an urban search and rescue team totalling 55 personnel.

Arriving today:

From Singapore: The remainder of its urban search and rescue team is expected to arrive later today. In addition, Singapore's two C130 aircraft carrying the second urban search and rescue team may also be available to transport people from Christchurch to Auckland if required.

From Australia: A field hospital providing 75 beds is due to arrive this afternoon.

Arriving tomorrow:

From the US: An urban search and rescue team of 80 personnel plus 40 tonnes of equipment is due to arrive at 1:00am 25 February.

From the UK: The main party of an urban search and rescue team totalling 55 personnel is due to arrive 10:30am on 25 February.

From Australia: 300 Australian police personnel will arrive 25 February to help with the security around the Christchurch CBD.

1.26pm: Between 16 and 22 bodies may be at Cathedral Square, according to a police officer who was on site.

1.24pm: Police say there could be between 60 and 120 people in the CTV building alone.

Police reiterated there was no chance of survival at CTV site, however the Japanses search and rescue team has been  assigned to the site because of the high number of Japanese students who were in the buidling.

1.20pm: Police say there are 238 people on the missing persons list but say many of these people will simply have left town.

1.17pm: Police have asked aircraft to stay as far away as possible from the Christchurch CBD.

Loud noises from aircraft have been interfering with rescue sensor equipment.

1.14pm: Police will start releasing names of people who have died in the quake from 4pm today.

Canterbury District Commander of Police, Dave Cliff, said there would not be a lot of names on the initial list as the identification process is complex. It involves fingerprints, DNA and dental records. Supt Cliff said police were reluctant to rely on visual identification of victims as that had proved disastrous and led to misidentification in similar situations overseas.

Supt Cliff was not aware of anyone being rescued today.

1.06pm: Police Minister Judith Collins said there were now 76 bodies in morgues set up across the city.

She said more victims were being brought in at regular intervals as bodies were being pulled "in ones and twos" from the rubble.

1.05pm: Police Minister Judith Collins said the CTV site was a scene of utter devastation.

"I have never seen anything like it."

She praised police and rescue teams for their bravery and efforts in finding people.

She also thanked the international search and rescue teams who were helping. "You really do know who your friends are at times like this."

12.44pm: Bodies of earthquake victims are being held at mortuaries at Christchurch hospital and Burnham Military Camp.

Chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean said no bodies have had to be transferred out of the region and contingency plans to cope with the heavy demand was working well.

"I am confident that in this time of immense grief and sorrow we can cope with whatever the death toll reaches.

"We are getting incredible support from police and other Government agencies, the military, funeral directors and pathologists, and are all pulling together to do what has to be done.

"Inevitably in these circumstances there may be some delays but we will do all we can to make sure bereaved families have their loved ones back as quickly as possible," Judge MacLean said.

12.30pm: Panic buying of fuel is continuing in Christchurch.

There are reports of cars queuing for up to a kilometre outside petrol stations and motorists abusing forecourt staff.

Oil companies are trucking fuel into Christchurch from Timaru, with supplies into Lyttelton disrupted as quake damage to the port and storage terminals is investigated.

Shell owners Greenstone insist that if calm is maintained there will be no supply problems, but panic buying was ''exacerbating''  the situation. There are reports off long queues outside stations, including one that had been closed since shortly after Tuesday's earthquake.

12.28pm: Police have begun to clamp down strongly on non-emergency personnel entering Christchurch's CBD.

Media have been threatened with arrest if they continue to enter the city.

12.25pm: US President Barack Obama has told John Key the US is ready to provide any further help needed in the recovery effort.

Key and Obama spoke on the phone for about five minutes just before midday in a conversation requested by the US leader.

"The President asked about ongoing aftershocks and reiterated that the United States stood ready to provide further help, should New Zealand need it," a spokesman for Key said.

A 75-strong specialist urban search and rescue team from the US is among more than 600 overseas emergency personnel helping search for survivors in the rubble and restore infrastructure.

12.24pm: Families clinging to hope have flooded the Papanui Police Station as the search for their missing relatives intensifies.

They came bearing photographs, details, contact numbers and the faint hope their friend, sister, brother, mother or father were still safe somehow, somewhere.

The station is the official family liaison centre and the first port of call for families trying to locate their loved ones.

12.21pm: The distribution of census forms have been delayed after the Christchurch earthquake.

The delivery of forms to the entire country have been suspended until midday Friday and Statistics New Zealand said a decision over its fate would be made tomorrow.

"Like everyone in New Zealand, our many staff in Christchurch and around the country are struggling to cope with yesterday’s tragedy," says 2011 census general manager Dr Carol Slappendel.

After the earthquake, between 200 and 300 staff were evacuated from the census processing station, which is located in Christchurch.

12.11pm: Two members of a Japanese media crew were arrested last night after trying to gain access to Christchurch Hospital.

A Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman said the two people were intercepted by security yesterday evening and arrested by police.

She said the numerous Japanese people lying injured in the hospital prompted the ''disappointing'' incident.

It was not clear how they tried to bypass security.

Health Board security and police are stationed at the hospital.

A police spokeswoman said three people were arrested throughout the city for breaching the cordon and overnight curfew, including one member of the foreign media.

Those arrested were later released, she said.

12.08pm: The Ministry of Health is sending extra tetanus vaccines down to Christchurch in case there is extra demand from earthquake casualties.

Ministry of Health manager of immunisation David Wansbrough says it is a precautionary measure, as there have currently been no specific requests for extra supplies of the vaccine.

He says tetanus boosters are often given to those with fresh wounds.

12pm:  Search and rescue teams have started pulling bodies out of the CTV building.

It could be 'weeks perhaps months' before power is fully restored in Christchurch, mayor Bob Parker says.

As of yesterday, power was restored to around 65 per cent of homes and Orion chief executive Roger Sutton said they hoped to have that up to 75 per cent by the end of today.

Mr Sutton said the most difficult areas to repair would be Brighton, Dallington, Summer and the CBD. The power in the CBD could not be reconnected until the damaged buildings were isolated which was a difficult task due to the rubble, he said.

Mr Parker said the damage was 'much greater' than following the first quake. Restoring the water supply and waste water systems would also take some time. All but five of the city's pumping stations were damaged.

11.36am: Auckland Council has voted in support of giving $1.5 million to Christchurch and ongoing staff support over the next year.

About 100 Auckland staff are already in Christchurch helping with earthquake relief. 

11:35: The Dalai Lama has expressed shock and sadness over the quake.

In a message from his home in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama said he had fond memories of visiting Christchurch in 1996.

"His Holiness expressed his deeply felt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the well-being of those who have been injured or lost their homes, with the hope that normal life is restored soon," the message said.

11.33am: Pyne Gould Corporation says the operation at its Christchurch headquarters ''has shifted from rescue to recovery''.

PGC chief executive Jeff Greenslade said in a statement: "Our thoughts are with our missing colleagues and their families. We have been praying that those who are trapped will be safely found, and while we haven’t given up all hope sadly the prognosis from the emergency services has worsened".

Of the 68 PGC employees who worked in the building, most were safe and well, with five injured, including two in a serious but stable condition.

The company said 14 employees remained unaccounted for and were believed to be in the building, which collapsed in Tuesday's earthquake.

11.26am: Police have arrived at Cressy Tce in Lyttelton telling residents to prepare for possible evacuation because of potential rockfalls.

11.21am: Police will start releasing names of fatalities today and will also release a missing persons list. 

Some reports have put the number missing at up to 300, but Key said this there was significant confusion around the accuracy of the lists.

Key said there may  be fatalities from quite a number of countries.

Key is returning to Christchurch this afternoon. He said the number of uninhabitable homes could be greater than the last quake which numbered 3000.

There have been $132,000 so far in emergency quake payments so far.

The Government is looking at a business assistance package that's broader and of "a slightly different nature" to the last quake package.

Key said US president Barack Obama had requested a phone conversation, which would occur shortly.

11.20am: John Key said Canterbury Earthquake Recovery minister Gerry Brownlee would drop all his other portfolios to focus on the quake.

11.02am: Free GP visits for earthquake victims have been extended until Sunday by the Canterbury District Health Board.

A board spokeswoman said the offer would include prescription medication, which would have the normal $3 fee waived.

The maternity and neonatal wards at Christchurch Hospital were still busy, and some neonatal babies were being transferred to other hospitals.

10.46am:  The Ministry of Civil Defence says the best way to help people affected by the quake is by cash donations.

Businesses wanting to offer expertise, and people wanting to volunteer, are asked to please wait and not send staff and resources, or go to Christchurch themselves. When local authorities have a clear idea of what is needed and are in a position to manage goods and volunteers they will advise publicly what is needed and where.

Donations can be made through:

* Mayoral relief fund at any BNZ branch: Account number 02-0800-084958-000
* Red Cross - visit: www.redcross.org.nz/donate
* Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Specify that your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’) 
* Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00 
* Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
* Any Westpac Bank branch:  Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
* Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
* Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000 
* Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00

10.30am: A British Urban Search and Rescue Team is preparing to leave for New Zealand, with 10 tonnes of rescue gear.

10.25am: Rescue workers are gathering at the destroyed Sumner RSA.

About 12 police officers are on the site, along with at least 10 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) workers and two rescue dogs.

Geonet Science representatives are also believed to be present.

The USAR team is not yet working on the site, but two trucks have arrived at the scene.

Officials would not comment on whether they were looking for people trapped in the building.

10.21am: Some of the Canterbury Television staff members who are believed to be missing in the CTV building are:
Samuel Gibb, Murray Wood, Andrew Bishop, Jo Giles, Matty Beaumont, Donna Manning.

10.19am: A search and rescue team is preparing to enter The Press building to recover a body trapped inside.

One person was killed in the building during Tuesday's quake.

The nearby Christchurch Cathedral is still considered too unsafe, a policeman at the scene said.

10.14am: Rescuers have failed to find anyone alive after reports of contact sparked a frantic search of an inner city chapel this morning.

9.50am Police Commissioner Howard Broad has defended the process of identifying victims of the Canterbury quake.

He said police looked for simple identifiers when a body was found, such as a wallet or phone on their person. For others forensic information, DNA and dental records, were taken and matched with the list of more than 300 people reported missing.

That took time and Mr Broad expected criticism over the process.

"We don't know who is under the rubble in these places where buildings have collapsed. We have been releasing the number of people we have certainly recovered."

Police were working to estimate how many dead might be trapped, he said.

"Now just imagine if we get this wrong, if we're sloppy, if we tell a family that their loved one is dead and we made a mistake. So we're not going to do that, we are going to work carefully, methodically and we're going to get it right. Unfortunately that means that this will take some time and we're going to experience some criticism for the amount of time that this takes.''

9.43am: A Christchurch police staff member is missing, presumed to be trapped in the collapsed CTV building.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the staffer had been due at an appointment in the CTV building at the time of the quake. She has not been located since and her car remains on the street near the destroyed building.

9.41am: Search teams are looking a person believed to have made contact from under the rubble of the Holy Cross Chapel.

Meanwhile, Civil Defence Minister John Carter said rescue teams were heading into the city's suburbs for the first time since the quake.

9.32am: Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says council staff are today scouring the suburbs, checking on people and assessing the damage that had been done.

"A small number of people have a lot of work to do today. They won’t be knocking on every door. Don't expect us to do that."

Mr Parker said if people decided to leave town for a while to let people know, perhaps by leaving a note inside the door. He said that if people do leave their homes, they should take their precious and irreplacable belongings with them.

It was revealed this morning that the home of missing Canterbury TV producer Donna Manning had been robbed.

8.48am: A 10,000-strong student volunteer army has been gathered via social networking site Facebook to help those suffering in the wake of Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Christchurch.

"We are working closely with Civil Defence in this operation. At this very early stage we are focusing on helping everyday people in their homes in low risk areas with non-life threatening situations," student organiser Sam Johnson said.

The volunteers planned to meet at the University of Canterbury Students Association tomorrow morning before shipping out to dozens of sites across the city "to roll up their sleeves and help out".

Louis Brown, from Te Waipounamu Foundation, which has joined forces with the volunteer army, said Christchurch had been brought to its knees.

"It is our job to support Civil Defence the best we can and provide suitable opportunities for those who want to help. It could be lifting shelves off beds for elderly or clearing garages of silt and muck, whatever we can do to help."

8.47am: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed sadness at the death of media staff in the quake.

At least seven people are reported dead and scores more missing in the CTV building, which was completely destroyed. It remains unclear how many of those killed or unaccounted for in the CTV building collapse are media staff.

Fairfax Media, which owns The Press, confirmed that one staff member was killed when part of the newspaper’s office building collapsed, while several others had been trapped.

Despite the loss of a colleague and widespread damage to the paper's offices, The Press, has continued to publish.

''The IFJ extends its sincerest sympathy to our colleagues in the New Zealand media at his time of great difficulty and commends their efforts to continue to report despite the chaos and grief,'' IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park said.

8.22am: Search and rescue teams will get a much needed break as extra specialists arrive throughout the day.

Murray Traynor, from New South Wales Search and Rescue, said experienced teams were arriving from around Britain and Australia to help find people, treat patients, support other search teams.

The Red Cross is also boosting its numbers on the ground.

The organisation has about 130 people from Christchurch and more from out of town working in the city, but plans to boost those numbers by the same again over the coming days.

8.20am: Christchurch has been divided up into 114 grids and urban search and rescue workers are going through each systematically now, Canterbury Fire Commander Ross Ditmar says.

“We are working through all the buildings in the grid pattern.”

They establish in each grid whether their a people trapped or in need of aid.

“The system is working well.”

Mr Ditmar said the whole operation was now fully staffed.

“We are very well resourced.”

International teams are working together.

He said the only issue they were struggling with was the lack of reticulated water.

8.15am: Police say they are already starting to see an increase in domestic violence in Christchurch following the quake.

Family violence and suicide numbers rose following last September's quake, in which no lives were lost, and anecdotally officers were already starting to see a similar trend of domestic reports emerging, said Superintendent Russell Gibson.

"The stress and trauma of Tuesday's earthquake is understandably taking its toll, and the continual aftershocks are exacerbating the tiredness and emotional fatigue. However family violence is not OK under any circumstances and it is important that situations are not allowed to escalate."

He urged the Canterbury community to "take care of one another" as police expect the confirmed death toll of 75 to rise.

Help, advice and information was available on 0800 1 REFUGE for Christchurch residents only. For national calls the number is 0800 REFUGE.

8.11am: Prime Minister John Key, who was raised in Christchurch said he understood the frustration of people who wanted to know the fate of loved ones.

"I myself have got one or two people that I think might be missing, and I'd personally like to know the status of them."

He said the people were friends, not family, and he had heard through his sister that they were missing.

8am: Christchurch's Hotel Grand Chancellor is now reportedly leaning on a neighbouring building.

The 70m high building is on a visible lean and rescue workers had yesterday reported hearing glass panes exploding under the pressure as the building lists.

A four-block cordon has been set up for safety should the building fall and this morning TV3 reported the building had listed so far it was now touching a building next door.

7.56am: Victim Support is in the process of sending 100 people to Christchurch with a focus on helping those who have lost loved ones.

Chief executive Tony Paine told TV1 people still needed to take care of each other as they came to terms with the events of the last few days.

"Even if we can send 1000 people to Christchurch that will not be enough."

7.40am: The Government will this morning with police raise the issue of releasing the names of those who have been killed in the Christchurch earthquake.

Prime Minister John Key said while there was pressure on the police and their resources were stretched it made sense to release names as soon as next of kin had been notified.

Mr Key says the death toll will rise and New Zealand must brace itself.

The confirmed toll this morning was 71.

However, he said as rescuers got into other sites that number would rise.

He defended police who have described their efforts as a recovery operation.

Search teams were using dogs and a number of techniques to determine if there were sounds or signs of life under the rubble.

"They're not getting postitive signs."

Mr Key said that did not mean there would not be people who had survived building collapses.

"People can survive for a very long time without food or water."

He said New Zealand could not give up hope, but needed to be realistic.

The focus today for those on the ground and the Government would be critical infrastructure.

"It's critical from a health perspective to get water and power restored."

Mr Key said he flew over the CTV building yesterday and said it was in an "extraordinary bad state".

He defended the police decision to pull rescuers out of there yesterday and said while the wait to get in and search for survivors was agonising, the lives of searchers could not be put at risk.

"We just have to trust them. They absolutely will go in when they can."

Mr Key and Finance Minister Bill English would hold a conference call with 40 private sector chief executives to discuss how the commercial sector would respond and cope with the disaster.

Mr Key said the CEOs had requested the meeting and the aim was to co-ordinate business responses to the quake, Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier says.

He said they wanted to work out how they could, together, make the biggest impact.

''The idea is to get a lot of business leaders together with the Prime Minister to find out what is the most effective thing we can do,'' he told Radio New Zealand.

He said his own company was contributing money and their employees and farmers were helping out.

Mr Ferrier said they would set up various programmes to encourage people to donate cash.

''Sometimes money is the most efficient way to help out,'' he said, suggesting companies could match employee donations.

Mr Key also said there had been no discussion about the Government levying all taxpayers to help pay the bill as Australia did after the Queensland floods.

Mr Key says New Zealand's economy will survive the impact of the earthquake.

"We can afford to take the hit and we can cope with this as a country."

Insurance levies had built up a kitty of about $7 billion, he told TV1.

Although a lot of that would be consumed by the earthquake, the Crown also had the capacity to make payments.

A downgrade in New Zealand's credit rating was not expected.

While the rebuilding in Christchurch after the September 4 earthquake had been expected to add about 1 per cent to New Zealand's GDP this year, that would now be delayed.

Economic activity in Christchurch would be a lot less for a while, but Mr Key said the economy would survive.

"We just have to accept somethimes we're dealt a pretty bad hand of cards."

7.25am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says teams are heading out across the city this morning.

"You will be seeing our people our there," he said.

But he urged people to organise themselves locally.

''Think like you’ve gone to a beach camp at summer time,'' he told Radio New Zealand.

People have to cook together, and organise latrines.

''Think and plan together.''

7.24am: New Zealand's Defence Force has 1464 personnel directly involved in the earthquake operation - 738 army, 500 air force and 226 navy.

Air force planes are flying regularly between Christchurch and Wellington, with Australian and Singapore Air Forces also running flights.

So far 1053 people have been moved out of Christchurch.

The navy provided 700 meals in Lyttelton last night.

The air force had also flown 30 generators to Christchurch to help restore telecommunications.

7.19am: The Government's focus today would be restoring water, power and sewage as soon as possible.

Prime Minister John Key said the extra search and rescue capability would allow an accurate picture of how many people were trapped within 48 hours.

7.16am: Civil Defence Minister John Carter has said 80 per cent of Christchurch was without reticulated water and 80 per cent of trunk sewers were damaged.

6.20am: Water tankers will be dispatched across Christchurch today, each with a capacity of 20,000 litres.

Dairy giant Fonterra had supplied 34 tankers with 20,000 litre capacities to provide the water at selected sites.

They will be at the following locations:

Shirley Intermediate, Phillipstown School, Lyttelton School, Wainoni Primary School, South Brighton Primary School, Heaton Intermediate, Manning Intermediate, Paparoa Street School, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Heathcote Valley School and Waltham School.

Residents will need to take their own containers and also boil the water from the tankers.

6.08am: 40 teams to do building evaluations across Christchurch today.

Teams will include Earthquake Commission inspectors and structure inspectors.

5.23am: More than 600 emergency workers from six countries will help in the search for Christchurch quake survivors.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the Government had accepted help from Australia, the United States, Britain, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan after deciding it was too risky to turn down offers without knowing the full extent of the search and rescue needs.

4.43am: The New Zealand flag will fly at half-mast when the Blacks Caps play Australia at Nagpur in the Cricket World Cup tomorrow.

"These are the practical things we can do," said team manager Dave Currie. "But really we all feel impotent."

2.58am: Pope Benedict XVI has offered his condolences to the victims of Christchurch's earthquake and is praying for the rescue workers and survivors.

The Vatican says a telegram sent to Christchurch's bishop says the pontiff was saddened to learn of the sudden devastation and loss of life in the city, where scores of people were killed and hundreds left missing by the quake.

Benedict says he is praying for those urgently working to free those who are trapped in rubble and for blessings of strength and courage for all New Zealanders.

2.04am: The Canterbury-based Crusaders Super Rugby team have withdrawn from their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

Crusaders Chief Executive Hamish Riach said the decision not to travel to Wellington this weekend, was reached following discussions between the Crusaders coaches, senior players and Crusaders’ Board.

1.34am: Search and rescue workers have been redeployed from the Canterbury Television building and there is no sign of them returning, TVNZ reported.

12.26am: Four Filipino nurses are reportedly among those trapped in the collapsed Canterbury Television building.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

10.58pm: Six looters have been arrested in central Christchurch tonight, according to 3News.

Police have said they would arrest anyone found without valid identification within the four avenues bordering the central city.

9.32pm: Searchers have flood-lit the CTV site and over 20 police and search and rescue staff have deployed to the ruins.

Earlier, what appeared to be sniffer dogs were seen being led over the pile of rubble though they returned empty-handed soon after.

8.45pm: The Corrections Department has begun transferring prisoners from Christchurch's Rolleston Prison so it can be used to accommodate emergency service workers and volunteers.

Prisoners will be transferred to Christchurch Men's Prison over the next few days.

8.30pm: A team of searchers has returned to the ruins of the CTV building despite police earlier saying searching it was futile.

8.13pm: Around 80 per cent of Christchurch remains without water tonight.

7.53pm: Police say more than 100 people may have been lost in the "unsurvivable" CTV building.

7.09pm: Police are ordering people to leave their homes on Clifton Hill in Sumner amid fears the hillside could collapse.

6.28pm: CTV chairman Nick Smith says fifteen staff are believed to have died when their central Christchurch building collapsed.

6.27pm: A number of injured Cantabrians are being flown to Auckland hospitals for treatment, with two children already being treated at Starship Hospital and a further three adult patients expected to arrive at Auckland hospitals this evening.

5.54pm: The rail network in Canterbury has been largely cleared and rail operations are set to resume in a number of areas, KiwiRail says.

5.18pm: All BNZ branches within the Christchurch area were closed today and will remain closed tomorrow.

In the Canterbury region the following BNZ branches are open for business: Kaikoura; Hanmer Springs; Methven;   Geraldine; Timaru; Waimate; Oamaru.

The following BNZ ATM’s are open for cash withdrawals as at 4pm today: Christchurch Casino; On Spot Express Kaiapoi; Christchurch International Airport; Christchurch International Airport arrivals; Shell Kaiapoi; Lincoln New World; Christchurch Domestic Airport; Pegasus Town Convenience Centre; Rolleston New World; Barrington Mall;    Shell Carmen Road; Northlands Pak n Save; Merivale Mall; Belfast New World; Shell Belfast; Bishopdale New World;    Northwood Supa Centa; Ashburton New World; Halswell New World; Ashburton Store; Akaroa Store; Hornby Store;    Leeston Store; Rangiora Store; Rolleston Store.

On-going updates regarding ATM and store availability can be found at www.bnz.co.nz and www.twitter.com/bnzbank

5.05pm: Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the welfare centre in Hagley Park will close this evening.

"The welfare centre at Burnside High remains open, with the new addition of Cowles Stadium which is open now and Pioneer Stadium which will be open from 6 o’clock this evening," says Ms Bennett.

With rain forecast over the next few days, the decision has been made to move everyone from Hagley Park to the other, more suitable buildings.

"People are being shifted by bus out of Hagley Park to other welfare centres," says Ms Bennett.

The 0800 779997 Government helpline has now taken more than 7000 calls. It will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

4.57pm: Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said Kiwis were showing "incredible generosity" to the people of Christchurch.

There had been many offers to help with accommodation and other support.

Bennett said all offers of help could be emailed to mailto:earthquakehelp@msd.govt.nz  which is a central co-ordination point.

4.50pm: The severely damaged Lyttelton tunnel canopy must be demolished.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said the removal of the canopy is expected to begin tomorrow and be completed within 48 hours.

4.45pm: This is the first time New Zealand has ever declared a national state of emergency, Civil Defence Minister John Carter said.

"Certainly, history would tend to show that it's likely to be [our worst ever disaster]," Carter said.

4.42pm:  The Australian Government will donate $5 million to the Red Cross Appeal for Canterbury earthquake victims.

4.19pm: Police operations commander Dave Lowry says police now believe the damage to the CTV building is not survivable.

Lowry said he did not want to risk the safety of rescue staff by sending them into the CTV rubble.

He said there are believed to be survivors trapped at seven other sites across Christchurch city.

4.11pm: A restricted access zone will be in force within the Four Avenues area in central Christchurch from 6.30pm.

Police said anyone found in the central city after that time will be arrested.

The restrictions are being put in place partly for safety reasons, but also to keep criminal elements out of the city.

Police have made about six arrests today for theft and burglary.

4.06pm:  Christchurch residents are being asked to stay home unless they have to be in town.

Christchurch deputy mayor Ngaire Button says efforts by emergency services and authorities to get in and out of the central city are being hampered by members of the pubic driving around.

3.47pm: Three main roads outside Christchurch's city centre are closed.

Lyttelton tunnel is closed, except to emergency vehicles; SH74 at the ANZAC Bridge is closed and the Chaneys on-ramp onto the Northern Motorway is also closed.

All other state highways and bridges have been assessed and are structurally sound.

Associate Infrastructure Minister Steven Joyce has travelled to Christchurch to look at the damage to roads, rail and the Lyttelton Port as well as utilities.

3.38pm: Two extra welfare centres have been opened in Christchurch as people are told the Hagley Park welfare centre is full.

The new centres are at Cowles Stadium (170 Pages Road, Aranui) and Burnside High School (151 Greers Road) and by 6pm another will open at Pioneer Stadium, (75 Lyttelton Street, Spreydon).

"The welfare centres are vital for displaced people who are in need of assistance, as a place to find company, food, water and refuge," said Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

"Donated food supplies are being trucked into the welfare centres by the Food and Grocery Council and other organisations."

A Government helpline has so far taken about 6000 calls, most relate to locating loved ones, offering donations and enquiries about accommodation options. 

Trauma Counselling Services are being mobilised.

The Salvation Army has deployed teams from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Queenstown and Dunedin to work out of Welfare centres and Salvation Army centres.

Victim Support is mobilising between 80 and 100 people from around the country to help those affected by the quake.

Relationship Services in Christchurch was badly affected but have a phone counselling service operational on 0800 735 283.

3.34pm: BP says most of its Christchurch service stations have reopened.

Yesterday BP shut its stations in the region as a precaution following the loss of power and the need of staff to look after their families.

BP NZ managing director Mike McGuinness said the company had been assured that the majority of our stations were safe to operate, but he said it was still a ‘delicate’ situation and the number of stations that were open could change without notice.

The following BP stores have reopened and are trading:

Woodend Service Station, BP 2go Halswell, BP Connect Rolleston, BP Connect Bush Inn, BP Connect Fendalton, BP 2go Sockburn, BP Papanui, BP Westburn, Sawyers Arms BP, BP 2go Ashburton – only open to Emergency Services at present, BP 2go West Melton - only open to Emergency Services at present.

3.32pm: Telecom is starting a nationwide campaign to collect analogue landline phones from around the country to distribute to people in Christchurch without power who only have cordless landline phones. Cordless phones are reliant on power. Power loss around the city means many people are without phone lines.

The older corded analogue phones plug straight into a jack-point and don’t require mains power. Spare analogue phones can be dropped in to any Telecom store. They will be distributed to those in need in Christchurch.

3.30pm: Nelson Hospital will start taking in patients from Christchurch this afternoon.

The Nelson Marlborough District Health board has 100 beds available at Nelson and Waiaru Hospital for patients from Christchurch. These will be for patients who were hospitalised prior to the earthquake, freeing up beds in Christchurch Hospital for earthquake victims.

The board has also identified 100 aged residential care beds across the region for Christchurch residents affected by the earthquake.

2.58pm: Power has been restored to 60 per cent of Christchurch, says Orion chief executive Roger Sutton.

Power has also been restored in much of Lyttelton.

"It's slow going, there's extensive damage in Brighton and Dallington."

Some customers had not just one fault to fix, but two or three, he said.

"It's very difficult to get around, there's a lot of traffic, some we suspect are rubberneckers."

Sutton said staff would not work much beyond dark tonight.

"People need to get their sleep."

2.54pm: The Port of Lyttelton remains closed pending a full engineering assessment. Chief executive Peter Davie said there was obvious structural damage and walls had moved, but no port staff had been injured.

2.52pm: Universities, schools and early-childhood centres in Canterbury are to remain closed.

All schools and preschools in Christchurch city and Selwyn and Waimakariri districts must stay shut for the rest of the week, the Education Ministry has announced.

More information will be available on the ministry’s website, http://www.minedu.govt.nz/, by 3pm Friday. The ministry's helpline is available until 8pm tonight, phone 0800 225 580.

Lincoln University is closed for the rest of the week due to the earthquake’s regional impact, rather than direct impact on its infrastructure. Lincoln University said international students in transit can arrive as planned as accommodation, meals and support are available. Other students and staff are requested to stay at home. Updates are available on http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/.

Canterbury University is shut until further notice. Updates for Canterbury University staff and students are available on http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ and the institute’s Facebook page.

2.34pm: After a sombre debate in Parliament MPs have agreed to adjourn Parliament until Tuesday March 8 .

2.32pm: Ex-Southland woman Ann Bodkin has been rescued from the rubble of the Pyne Gould Corporation building more than 24 hours after a devastating earthquake caused it to collapse.

She was pulled from the ruins about 2.25pm this afternoon and taken to a waiting ambulance.

2.25pm:  Scammers already are using the Christchurch earthquake to take advantage of the good will of New Zealanders.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is warning that emails are being sent out from "James McCoy", claiming to be from "Donate4CharityNZ", using a legitimate UK-based charity’s organisation name and website address.

The email encourages people to receive donated funds into their bank account from overseas for a 10 per cent cut.

The Ministry says this is a scam, and anyone who receives these emails should report them to them at Scamwatch, delete the emails and do not reply.

The emails come from a generic email address, such as gmail.com or hotmail.com and contain poor grammar and spelling.

The Ministry warns people to research charities they are contacted by if they have never heard of them before, and to be careful about “soundalikes” – organisations that sound like legitimate charities, such as “Oxfan”.

They advise New Zealand charities can be checked on the Charities Commission’s register at http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/Search.aspx

2.18pm: Christchurch International Airport has reopened for international flights.

International check-in counters reopened at midday and the first flight is expected to arrive at 3.20pm. Passengers are being asked to confirm check in times and flight details with their airlines.

Some delays are expected.

Many international passengers have been stranded without their passports. Customs are checking what can be done for these passengers, but it is expected that Australian residents with some form of photo identification will be allowed to travel on trans-Tasman flights.

2.06pm: A defence force 757 will spend the day ferrying people out of Christchurch, says David Coetzee of Civil Defence.

Civil Defence head John Hamilton and others are shifting the nerve centre of their operations to Christchurch this afternoon as rescue efforts enter a second day.

2.03pm: Corrections Minister Judith Collins says Rolleston Prison will be emptied to make beds available for emergency services personnel pouring into Christchurch and "anyone who needs it".

Ms Collins said the prison had water, sewage and kitchen facilities and had survived the quake undamaged.
Prisoners from Rolleston would be transferred to Christchurch men's prison.

1.59pm: The Red Cross has opened a call centre in Palmerston North to help deal with an overload of calls.

The organisation is now calling for volunteers to help staff the phones. It's 0800 has been overloaded since yesterday afternoon but the Red Cross is now hopeful the service should be fully operational again by midway through the afternoon.

The numbers are 0800 733 276 or 0800 RED CROSS or +64 471 8250.

1.50pm: Prime Minister John Key has arrived at the Civil Defence headquarters in Christchurch.

1.45pm: New Zealand Post has suspended all mail deliveries in Christchurch.

1.34pm: Fears are held for the Grand Chancellor building on Cashel Street, police have said.

There's a high degree of concern that the builing may collapse, causing devasting damage. The building is visibly slumping, almost warped, witnesses say.

The building is Christchurch's tallest hotel. No-one is believed to be in the building.

1.27pm: The Reserve Bank says it is able to supply any cash required by banks in the Canterbury quake zone.

Some ATMs are operational in Christchurch and the Reserve Bank is working with banks to restore access, electricity and telecommunications to ensure cash is available.

The main banks have a total of 79 ATM that are open in the quake zone.

That number is being updated continuously throughout the day.

However, ANZ National says some ATMs that were operational may not be immediately accessible due to safety cordons.

No bank branches will be opened today in the city.

1.22pm:  Supermarket chains are working around the clock in Christchurch to ensure essential food and supplies are available.

Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises said their distribution centres were spared from major damage and they are in the process of delivering to and opening affected stores.

New World stores in Ashburton, Bishopdale, Halswell, Lincoln, Northwood, Rangiora and Rolleston are open. A limited range of products are also available in Fendalton.

Pak'nSave stores are open in Hornby and Northlands, and all Four Square stores are open, except that in Lyttelton.

Countdown stores in Avonhead, Northlands and Northwood are scheduled to open later in the day. All other Countdown stores and online shopping services in the Christchurch area will remain closed "until it is deemed safe to do so".

Foodstuffs South Island CEO Steve Anderson said a number of their stores will not trade today as they have engineers on site assessing the damage.

Progressive Enterprises public affairs manager Luke Schepen said its Countdown stores in Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Hornby sustained "significant stock damage" but are still trading with skeleton staff.

1.20pm: Dairy giant Fonterra is looking to deliver one million litres of water into quake-stricken Christchurch.

This morning it delivered 200,000 litres of fresh water from its Clandeboye plant to Christchurch via rail pods normally used to transport milk. The water is being distributed around central water centres set up at six local Christchurch schools.

1.08pm: Nearly 300 rescue workers from six countries are on their way to Christchurch to help in the search and rescue operation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the overseas relief effort included:

* A 40-strong urban search and rescue team which arrived at 5:30am this morning and is already working in the city. A second team arrives at 3:00pm.

* A 55-strong disaster relief team from Singapore, due to arrive at 8.30pm tonight. It will join a contingent of Singapore military staff who were already in New Zealand when the earthquake hit. Two Singapore military aircraft are due tomorrow with additional equipment.

* A United States specialist search and rescue team of 75 personnel, which arrives tomorrow morning.

* Sixty search and rescue personnel from Japan, expected to arrive tomorrow.

* A specialised search and rescue team of 63 people from the United Kingdom, which arrives tomorrow night.

* Assistance from Taiwan, which has yet to be finalised.

The teams are in addition to 300 Australian police who were sought by Commissioner Howard Broad after a request from Canterbury district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff.

1.05pm: Shell is appealing to Christchurch motorists to avoid panic buying of fuel.

Shell says that supplies can be maintained if there is no spike in demand.

Shell retail outlets open in the Christchurch area: Belfast, Templeton, Carlton corner, Southbrook, Raceway, Moorehouse Ave, Bryndwar, Yaldhurst, Newbrighton, Tinwald, Burnside, Bishopdale, Darfield.

Shell truck stops open in the Christchurch area: Hornby, Templeton, Southbrook, Amberly.

BP, which was initially providing fuel only to emergency services, said this restriction had been lifted and it was now beginning to reopen sites to the public.

1.01pm: If people in the Wellington area can provide a temporary home for refugees from Canterbury, call 801 4205.

Alternatively, you can email CD.Welfare@wcc.govt.nz with details.

12.52pm: Search and rescue teams are being withdrawn from the collapsed CTV building.

Previous reports that 15 people were trapped alive in a pocket in the CTV building were false.

There had been some rescue success at the Pyne Gould building, so rescue teams would focus on that building for now.

Relatives of missing people are still waiting outside the CTV building.

12.49pm: Christchurch International Airport has confirmed some international arrivals and departures this afternoon.

Emirates flight EK 419 is arriving at 3.20pm and departing at 5pm.

A Qantas flight QF 45 is arriving at 4pm and departing at 5.30pm.

Pacific Blue has a flight arriving at 3.30pm from Melbourne.

Singapore Airlines has no flights scheduled today.

Flight information is now available on the Christchurch Airport website. Travellers should check the website for flight details and confirm their booking with their airline.

Chief Executive of Christchurch Airport Jim Boult said passengers should not come out to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on an international flight. Delays can be expected.

12.30pm: Hospitals around the country are on code red, as they prepare to receive patients from Canterbury.

12.19pm: KiwiRail has halted services in and out of Christchurch, including the route through to Lyttelton Port.

12.11pm: Three hundred Australian police officers are being sent to Christchurch.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said he had asked for the extra police.

A Police National Headquarters spokesman said Commissioner Howard Broad had approached Australian forces and details of the contingent's make-up were likely to be finalised this afternoon.

The officers would work alongside Kiwi police in the city.

12.08pm: The Prime Minister is due to arrive in Christchurch at 1pm and will visit welfare centres.

12.02pm: Key said the scale of the recovery effort was unknown at this stage and would not rule out the cost rising a high as $16 billion, as estimated in some overseas reports. The September earthquake cost $6 billon to $8 billion.

11.48am: The following supermarkets were open in Christchurch today as at 10.30am:

New Worlds in Ashburton, Bishopdale, Fendalton (limited range available), Halswell, Lincoln, Northwood, Rangiora and Rolleston; Pak’n Saves in Hornby and Northlands; All Four Squares are open, except the Lyttelton store.

Foodstuffs South Island chief executive Steve Anderson said four more stores would be opened later today, but it may be weeks before some stores were re-opened.

A Progressive Enterprises spokesman said Countdown stores in Rangiora, Hornby and Kaiapoi are open. Staff are working to open another three stores by tonight if possible. Other stores will remain closed. 

11.46am: John Key says the focus today and tomorrow is on preserving lives.

11.28am: John Key has declared a national state of emergency.

"In practice this enables to the strongest possible focus of local, national and international resources working together to achieve the best possible response in  the shortest time."

The announcement means Civil Defence director John Hamilton will now have power over the operations in Christchurch.

11.21am: Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand is witnessing the havoc wrought by a "violent and ruthless´act of nature.

"Today all New Zealanders grieve for you Christchurch."

"You will get through this. This proud country is right behind you and we are backing you with all our might."

He called on all Kiwis to pitch in to help people stricken by the earthquake by offering places to stay or making donations to relief efforts. He said the test was not Christchurch's test, but New Zealand's.

11.20am: The death of a Fairfax staff member in The Press newspaper's central city office has been confirmed.

11.18am: Police say a camera sent down into the CTV building has found a pocket of 15 people alive but trapped.

No details on their condition are available yet.

11.11am: At least 75 people have been killed in the Christchurch earthquake, Mayor Bob Parker says.

Fifty bodies are in the morgue, while another 20 are in the process of being transported to the morgue. 300 people are listed as missing. Police said many people on the missing list may be fine but having communications problems.

A family liaison centre has been set up at the Papanui police station, where people should go if they are looking for loved-ones.

10.58am: Thirteen of Shell's 25 petrol stations in Christchurch are now open.

 

Greenstone Energy spokesman Jonathan Hill says inspections are being carried out at the remainder of the petrol stations and they will be opened as soon as they ae deemed safe.

An update of which stations are open will be through before 11.30am.

Hill says residents should not be worried about the fuel supply as it was not in danger of running out.

10:54am: Two children are being flown from Christchurch to Auckland’s Starship Hospital this morning.

The Auckland District Health Board Incident Controller Margaret Dotchin says there was also a possibility an adult female would be transported to Auckland for treatment later today.

"The situation is subject to change and, as of now, we have not yet received any patients from Christchurch at Auckland City Hospital or Starship Hospital,” Ms Dotchin says.

"Following a request, three ADHB Intensive Care Unit nurses were last night dispatched to Christchurch.”

10.53am: Hamish Riach of the Canterbury Rugby Union says the union is looking at whether Christchurch will be ready to host any Rugby World Cup games.

"Right now it doesn’t feel like we could host very much at all."

But if there is no dramatic damage to the stadium he is hopeful  the games could proceed. "It’s too early to say."

10.47am: US President Barack Obama has extended his sympathy for victims of the quake.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been touched by this tragedy,"

10.45am: All the sections of the Defence Force are working in Christchurch.

Defence says in a statement medical teams are working with local health officials and soldiers are manning cordons around the city.

Army ambulances and personnel are assisting with various search and rescue tasks throughout the city.

This morning a RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft evacuated people from the city to Wellington and a second aircraft will follow.

The Navy's Multirole Vessel HMNZS Canterbury is in Lyttelton, along with the survey ship Resolution and patrol vessel Pukaki. The offshore patrol vessel Otago is standing off the harbour entrance and is available if required. 

Today a Boeing 757 will create an airbridge between Christchurch and Wellington.  Two RNZAF C-130  Hercules will provide support as needed.

10.43am: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her Government has concerns for four Australians in Christchurch.

At least one Australian woman was trapped in the Pyne Gould Corporation building and another is believed dead. The dead man was born in New Zealand but had lived in Australia a long time. His family were still in Australia.

The Australian Government is working to confirm the status of 1094 nationals in Christchurch who have not been located.

10.41am: Emergency water supplies will be available from Christchurch primary schools from 11am.

10.39am: Prime Minster John Key has ordered that the flags on all Government building fly at half mast until further notice as a mark of respect for people killed in the quake.

10.31am: Air New Zealand has added further flights in and out of Christchurch this afternoon.

An additional 313 seat Boeing 777-200 flight will operate from Christchurch to Auckland this afternoon, departing Christchurch at 15:50, arriving into Auckland at 17:10.

An additional 133 seat Boeing 737 will also operate this afternoon between Wellington and Christchurch as follows:
Depart Wellington 15:00, arrive Christchurch 15:45
Depart Christchurch 16:15, arrive Wellington 17:00

All domestic fares to and from Christchurch continue to be available at $50.

The airline says its total additional capacity into the city now stands at:
Two return Boeing 747-400 (379 seats each) services between Auckland and Christchurch
A Boeing 777-200 (313 seats) service from Christchurch to Auckland
An A320 (171 seats) service from Wellington to Christchurch
A return Boeing 737 (133 seats) service between Wellington and Christchurch.

The additional flights have added more than 2200 seats to and from Christchurch today.

10.29am: Ken Maynard of Civil Defence says there is no electricity, sewerage or water at the welfare centre in Lyttelton.

About 40 people are at the centre at the moment.

10.28am: In Hagley Park, hundreds of people remain camped, mostly tourists and those waiting for flights out of the city.

10:21am: Reports of another rescue at the Pyne Gould Corporation building.

Police earlier said 22 people were still unaccounted for in the building, but had been in contact with three people in the rubble.

10.18am:  The five major banks are offering to suspend repayments on loans, waive withdrawal fees and adjust lending limits for those affected by yesterday's earthquake in Christchurch.

BNZ, ASB, Westpac and ANZ New Zealand, including National Bank, have donated $1 million each to support the "immediate and long term relief and recovery" of the city.

ASB's assistance includes access to a $10,000 90-day overdraft facility for its home loan holders at a lower interest rate, a suspension of home loan payments for up to three months, with interest accruing, and consideration of requests for emergency credit limit increases.

ANZ Bank is offering to waive its fees associated with restructuring finances and early withdrawal of term deposits.

Each bank's terms differ slightly but all are being assessed on a case-by-case basis. Terms can be viewed at each bank's website or by contacting their support centres by phone.

All bank branches in central Christchurch and other affected areas will be closed today and until further notice. Information on the availability of ATMs in the affected areas can also be found on each respective bank's website.

10:13am: Rescue staff are still hearing signs of life in the CTV and PGC buildings that have been reduced to rubble.

Shane Cole, a station officer and a member of the urban search and rescue team, says rescuers have heard banging in buildings and one person has managed to send a text message this morning while trapped on the first of the CTV building.

He says they have rescued eight people alive from the PGC building overnight and three people from CTV.

10:12am: Search and rescue teams are concentrating on a 'top 10' of buildings where they know people are trapped.

Barclay says other teams are out assessing dozens of other buildings around the city.

10:09am: Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) national team manager Steve Barclay says 700 rescuers will be in Christchurch by tomorrow night and 1000 will be in the city within three days.

About 120 volunteers are currently at the Civil Defence headquarters at the Christchurch Art Gallery, ready to be dispatched to the Latimer Square hub. They will then be sent on to other priority hubs around the city to back up professional USAR members.

A further 120 volunteers are on their way to the city centre now.

Barclay says rescuers are working six hour shifts, some through the night and continuing today.

Dogs are being used to check buildings for trapped people.

Barclay says the Cathedral has been checked, but not thoroughly because the site is too dangerous.

Engineers are working to prioritise sites before tasks and crews are sent in, he said.

10.08am: Electricity has been restored to 50 per cent of the CBD.

10.07am: Outrageous Fortune star Robyn Malcolm's mother has been pulled out of a collapsed building in central Christchurch.

She was trapped in the building next door to the heavily damaged CTV building and was rescued yesterday afternoon.

Her son-in-law Roger Sutton, Orion's chief executive, said she is in Christchurch Hospital.

"No one has seen her, but we have spoken to her.  She has injuries, but they are not life-threatening."

Malcolm was born in Ashburton and made a surprise visit to 300 Orion field workers in Christchurch after the September earthquake with co-star Siobhan Marshall.

10.03am: The Government will this afternoon ask Parliament to adjourn for nearly two weeks.

It is expected that when the House sits at 2pm today, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will provide an update on the situation in Christchurch. Party leaders will be able to speak in reply, as had been the case yesterday.

It is understood the Government will then move two motions: one to adjourn the House until March 8 and another to ensure Canterbury MPs are regarded as present at Parliament for the purposes of Parliamentary business until March 24.

While the House was set to adjourn on Thursday night for a week anyway, Parliament has lost sitting days yesterday, today and tomorrow.

9.59am:  A temporary mortuary has been moved to the Burnham Military Camp "for capacity reasons".

Cabinet is this morning meeting for its third emergency meeting. Prime Minister John Key has indicated Cabinet may decide to declare a national emergency at the meeting.

9.52am: Mayor Bob Parker says no one had been pulled alive from the CTV building for several hours but he believes people are still trapped inside.

It is understood a specialist team with dogs was going to enter the CTV building this morning.
 
A growing number of civil defence volunteers are gathering at the emergency headquarters at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

9.48am: Police are doing what they can to provide information about where injured people have been taken to hospital and to identify people who have died.

9.47am:  Police say that text messages are still coming through from rubble.

9.37am: Police are warning people to prepare themselves for a "significantly larger" number of deaths than the 39 confirmed so far.

Superintendent David Cliff said the disaster victim identification team was working to identify those 39 people.

However police were aware of many more people who had been killed as buildings collapsed.

9.35am: Telecom says widespread power outages mean large parts of its network are still working off backup power and prolonged mains power issues will mean more services are likely to go down as back-up batteries and generators run down.

Mobile performance has improved as people heed calls to limit non-essential mobile use. Two COW (Cell Sites on Wheels) have been deployed to critical areas to boost mobile coverage.

Technicians from around New Zealand are being sent to region to assist in the restoration of telecommunication services.

Emergency 111 services remain stable while 260 payphones in and around Christchurch have been enabled with free calling for local, national and mobile calls.

9.34am: Sixty St John's Ambulance staff have just boarded a plane in Auckland for Christchurch.

9.31am: The Canterbury District Health Board is looking to move dozens more people out of Christchurch hospitals to make space for those injured during the quake.

At least eight intensive care patients were evacuated by air ambulance last night to hospitals throughout the country and Fairfax understands they will be looking to free up more beds this morning.

Some patients were being moved to Timaru. Princess Margaret and Burwood Hospitals were being used to take the pressure off Christchurch Hospital. All the hospitals were structurally sound despite some superficial damage and power outages.

Canterbury DHB has asked for support from orthopedic and general surgeons and surgical, emergency and intensive care nurses from around the country. Ambulance staff from around the country were also on their way to Canterbury. Ambulances themselves were on their way since yesterday. About 60 ambulance officers were expected to arrive at 10am today.

9.28am: Christchurch is now in a place that's worse than September 4 according to the city's Mayor.

"We've had six months of pulling our city back together and in a matter of seconds everything has been wiped out,'' Bob Parker said this morning.

"It's taken us to a place that's worse than where we were on September 4.

"The impact on people on communities is significant. That's something we have to start bracing ourselves for.''

9.26am: Most of the missing Japanese students managed to get out of their damaged building overnight.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said, however, he was unsure whether others remain trapped.

9.23am: Christchurch landmark, the Cathedral, remains too dangerous to enter.

Mayor Bob Parker said today that rescue workers still "can't go in, too dangerous" after it suffered major damage.

9.20am: Ambulances are on the tarmac at Auckland International Airport waiting emergency flights from Christchurch

9.17am: TelstraClear says 16,000 customers have been left without phone services as the batteries in its Christchruch cellphone cabinets have run out of battery power or are running low.

Staff are trying to re-charge batteries with generators.

9.15am: Roger Sutton, chief executive of lines company Orion said half the city remained without power.

Mr Sutton said the west of the city was back up and they were working on the eastern suburbs and hope to get more power on today.

"The last earthquake was small pockets, bits and pieces to fix. This earthquake we've got some really serious damage to our infrastructure. We haven't even checked parts of the network. We haven't been able to get to Lyttelton or the hill areas around Banks Peninula because of damage to the roads.''

Mr Sutton said Orion would focus on Lyttelton first because of its importance in getting fuel to the city.

"Then we'll move to work on the eastern suburbs such as New Brighton and Dallington.''

Mr Sutton confirmed the eastern side of the city was particularly badly affected.

"It's going to take us days to work out what we're going to do, and maybe weeks to get power back on to some of those customers."

Most of the CBD was still without power, and would remain so until it was safe restore supplies, Mr Sutton said.

9.03am: Christchurch author David Haywood has provided the Guardian newspaper with a dramatic personal account of the quake.

"I shoved the filing cabinet out of the way, struggled to open the jammed study door, sprinted outside. White with dust, my son was emerging from under the floorboards where he had been hiding, in a bid to avoid going to kindergarten," he wrote.

"He asked unsteadily: 'What happened, Daddy’?"

Haywood describes how his lawn has been torn apart by giant cracks, up to five metres deep.

"My wife emerged from the back garden clutching our three-week-old daughter. Later, we would discover a mound of fallen books in the sitting room – engulfing the crib where she usually sleeps."

He said the nearby river had turned into an "enormous, churning bathtub".

He saw a car driving along the road.

"It suddenly collapsed below him, pulling the car into a huge pot hole," he wrote for the Guardian .

"He got out, checked the car, swore."

8.51am: Temporary mortuaries have been set up in Christchurch, Mayor Bob Parker says.

Meanwhile rescuers are using their hands to pull debris away from buildings in a desperate search for survivors.

Mr Parker said the focus this morning, however, remained on the rescue effort.

"We're determined to get people out"

8.46am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is pleading with the people of Christchurch to stay calm.

"Stay at home. No schools are open. Don't go to work."

Mr Parker said a civil defence update would be held at 10.30am, but this morning it had been several hours since rescuers had been able to extract anyone alive.

"Our view is that we've got people alive in there and we're going to get them out."

There were six primary search and rescue sites set up around the city.

8.38am: United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was deeply saddened by the news of a second major earthquake in Christchurch.

"On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send our sincere condolences and sympathy to the people of New Zealand. 

"When the earthquake struck, American and Kiwi officials were in the middle of a meeting in Christchurch, discussing plans to further develop and expand the broad partnership between our nations.

"The United States stands ready to provide assistance to the government of New Zealand and to the brave people of Christchurch. Our long history of friendship and mutual support in times of need is an example of our enduring bond.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families of the victims, and with all the people of New Zealand."

8.31am: Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says her department is preparing to do whatever it takes to help the people of Christchurch.

"It's going to be a big job but the Government is here to help."

Staff were assessing what the welfare needs of people would be, and were learning more hour by hour.

"There will be payments for people that need them."

8.27am: Christchurch Airport has reopened to bedlam in the terminal building.

Fairfax reporter Lois Cairns says the airport has been inundated with Christchurch residents and tourists trying to leave the city.

"It's absolute chaos. There are queues stetching the length of the terminal. Lots of families and overseas tourists trying to get out.''

Cairns said the check-in counters were open and people were buying flights out of the city on the spot.

8.26am: The head of Christchurch's Central City Business Association says businesses, banks and insurers will need to step up to help the city recover.

Paul Lonsdale said that while businesses had just been beginning to recover from the September 4 earthquake, the task ahead now was far greater.

"This one has actually struck at the core and the soul of our city, which is going to be hard to get back."

8.24am: Rescuers have pulled what appears to be another body from the wreckage of the collapsed CTV building.

The building has been reduced to a pile of still smoking rubble, with dozens of emergency workers on the scene.

Fire fighters, police and paramedics carried a black body bag on a yellow stretcher from the ruins at around 8.10am today.

8.20am: Air NZ is to operate a second return Boeing 747 service between Auckland and Christchurch this afternoon to meet the needs of family, friends and emergency services.

The airline will also operate a special Airbus A320 service this afternoon from Wellington to Christchurch.

Further to compassionate domestic fares for travel to and from Christchurch, Air New Zealand has this morning confirmed compassionate international fares for immediate family wishing to travel to or from Christchurch.

These fares are available for immediate family, and can be booked via the Air New Zealand Call Centre.

Fares are as follows:

All Tasman and Pacific Island fares, NZ$50 one way (plus tax)

All long haul fares, NZ$400 one way (plus tax)

8.17am: Prime Minister John Key said Cabinet was to decide whether to declare a national state of emergency when it meets  at 9.30am today.

Factors it would consider would include whether there's sufficient capability for Christchurch to operate on its own.

A national state of emergency would see many decisions regarding the running of the city transferred to Wellington.

Key stressed there were no concerns about Mayor Bob Parker's ability.

He said the issue was whether civil authorities including health, police and others could cope following the huge devastation.

8.14am: Dozens of after shocks have been recorded around Christchurch since 1pm yesterday.

Geo-net recorded 30 aftershocks since 5:19pm yesterday, ranging from magnitude 3.1 to 5.0.

The latest aftershock officially recorded was a magnitude 4.6 shake at 6am today. The 5.0 quake was at 7:43pm yesterday. A clutch of three aftershocks, all centred near Lyttelton, struck at 3:26am, 3:30am and 3:35am.

8.12am: Cabinet will hold an emergency meeting at 9.30am today to evaluate what further assistance is required.

Prime Minister John Key said the latest earthquake was much more violent than those previously, and would come as huge blow to the city.

It was likely that many iconic buildings that had been damaged would have to be destroyed.

8.06am: GNS Science says there has been a reduction in the large aftershocks being experienced in Christchurch.

However seismologist Bill Fry said the tremors would continue to be felt.

Yesterday's earthquake was on a different fault line to that which caused the September 6 earthquake, Dr Fry told TV1.

"There's no direct link between the two faults. They don't touch each other."

8.04am: The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral has made an emotional plea to the people of Christchurch to support each other.

The Very Reverend Peter Beck said it was essential now that people reached out to each other.

"This is the most traumatic event that could happen to us."

Many people were now experiencing delayed shock, he told TV1 this morning.

"This is the most traumatic event that could happen to us."

He had visited the hospital and said many people simply did not know where their loved ones were, and they needed support.

"You hold them, you love them, you cry, you do whatever you can do."

It was too early to think about the significance of the damage to the cathedral, Mr Beck said.

"We will deal with that in a few days from now. It's too big to think about. The most important thing right now is the people."

"You hold them, you love them, you cry, you do whatever you can do."

7.53am: Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says the city's big problem now is water.

"Our waste water system is completely trashed."

Council staff would today be checking roads and bridges to build a better picture of the extent of the damage to infrastructure.

Many areas which had not been damaged in the September 4 earthquake had been devastated yesterday.

Mr Parker said offers of financial assistance were again flooding in for Christchurch, and he said the Red Cross fund remained open.

7.45am: A busload of Australian search and rescue personnel has arrived at the CTV building along with a truck and trailer load of supplies bearing a New South Wales seal.

Urban search and rescue teams are continuing to work building by building, floor by floor in a search for survivors.

Civil Defence director John Hamilton told TV1 urban search and rescue teams were still hearing from survivors who were trapped inside.

While the confirmed death toll stood at 38 this morning, he said that number would change.

"Obviously we're expecting that number to rise as we clear buildings."

There were still people trapped inside the CTV and Pyne, Gould Corporation buildings.

"I suspect there are other buildings around the CBD that may have other people in them."

Search and rescue teams were working systematically using dogs and acoustic search devices this morning to find where those people were, Mr Hamilton said.

"It's building by building, floor by floor - not quite brick by brick."

7.37am: Rescuers are continuing to hear cries from within the rubble in Christchurch.

Police Superintendent Russell Gibson said the rescue mission was a "painstaking job."

"We're receiving knocks, people crying, people calling out to us."

Prime Minister John Key said specialist search and rescue teams were being flown in from around the world, because of the dangers involved in working around unstable buildings.

Meanwhile, messages of support and condolences have come in from around the world.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he had been in touch with Mr Key and a search and rescue team had been deployed.

The British High Commissioner was also on her way to Christchurch, he said.

Key said the number of dead is formally 39 but the 65 death toll "remains an accurate prediction"

Key flew back to Wellington last night but will return to Christchurch later this morning.

He said a national state of emergency will be announced later this morning.

The first of two Australian teams of 70 has arrived.

7.34am: Labour leader Phil Goff has this morning described "pretty shocking scenes of devastation" in Christchurch.

He said while police had speculated there could be 200 to 300 casualties, he hoped the number was not that high.

However he feared for the people trapped in the "smouldering ruins" of the CTV building.

"We know there were 87 people in that building, only a handful have got out so far."

It was now essential that counselling services were available for people.

"This is going to push them over the edge."

"We've got to do everything we can to help people get their lives back together."

7.26am: Prime Minister John Key said the Government had accepted help from the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, as well as Australia.

He told TVNZ that 38 bodies had so far been formally identified, but police had told him the death toll would be at least 65.

''The number of bodies that have been sighted and the number of people that are missing, the police indications to me are that they're not in question about the 65 number, they're just not quite sure where the number will finally settle. As the day unfolds, I'm sure that formal identification number will rise from 38, very sadly.''

He said the level of debris made it extremely hard to estimate how many people might be trapped. Some reports have put the figure at more than 100, but he said fallen masonry and collapsed buildings made it very dangerous and difficult to search areas and confirm numbers.

6.44am: Police Superintendent Russell Gibson says police are having to leave bodies where they have been found.

6.36am: Police confirm rescuers have had to amputate limbs to get people out of collapsed buildings.

6.34am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says 80 per cent of city without water.

6.24am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says his gut feeling is that there will be more deaths confirmed.

6.22am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says at least 100 people still thought to be trapped in buildings.

6.21am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says six schools across city will be used as points where people can collect food and water.

6.20am: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker pleads with people to stay at home.

5.51am: Evacuation flights for tourists housed in Hagley Park centre due to leave Christchurch at 6am and 8am.

5.43am: Civil Defence boss John Hamilton says priority is to rescue as many people as quickly as possible this morning.

5.38am: Civil Defence boss John Hamilton says eight survivors pulled from Pyne Gould Guinness and three from Canterbury TV buildings.

5.35am: Civil Defence boss John Hamilton says survivors pulled out of rubble overnight.

5.32am: Civil Defence boss John Hamilton say most of city still without water and power.

4.44am: Magnitude 4.0 aftershock hits Christchurch. There have now been more than 30 aftershocks.

1.14am: British Prime Minister David Cameron has sent his country's "deepest sympathies and condolences" to New Zealand.

The Prime Minister said the UK had already deployed a search and rescue team to the scene, and "stood ready" to provide more help at this "dark and difficult time".

12.01am: Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of support for victims of the Christchurch earthquake to Prime Minister John Key.

"Please convey my deep sympathy to the families and friends of those who have been killed; my thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this dreadful event. My thoughts are also with the emergency services and everyone who is assisting in the rescue efforts," the Queen said in her brief statement.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

10.35pm: A Royal New Air Force Boeing 757 is expected to land in Christchurch from Whenuapai Air Force Base shortly carrying 54 search and rescue staff, plus 20 St John's medical staff.

Two Iroquois helicopters from Ohakea have arrived to assist with rescue efforts in the city. 

A P-3K Orion aircraft is also currently taking aerial surveillance images of affected areas.

The Royal New Zealand Navy's Multi-role Vessel Canterbury is in Lyttelton and has offloaded approximately 160 persons for cordon support duties. Other Navy ships are also on the way. 
 
The NZ Army medical teams are at four different locations around Christchurch with military officers working with the Police and NZDF firefighters working with local fire brigades. 

More than 200 soldiers are assisting NZ Police with cordon duties.

10.05pm: Hundreds of Wellingtonians opened their homes to passengers stranded at the airport after the quake caused disruption to air services. Airport authorities said they had found beds for all passengers who wanted them.

9.30pm: Police have set up a hotline for welfare inquiries. The number is 0800 779 997.

9.15pm: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker urged residents to stay at home, conserve water and stay calm.

"We are in the middle of a major disaster on global terms," he said. He acknowledged people's desire to know statistics, but said rescue attempts were the main focus for tonight.

8.40pm: Bill English told press a major search and rescue operation was underway. An Australian Hercules would arrive overnight, making a total of 250 search and rescue personnel.

It was estimated 1200 people were in the Addington shelter. Many people were too traumatised to get home tonight.

Cabinet had decided to approve emergency spending and would meet again tomorrow.

All Christchurch schools were closed until further notice.

7.43pm: Magnitude 5.0 quake, 12 km deep centred 10km south-east of Lyttelton - more than 20 aftershocks have shaken Christchurch following today's 6.3 shallow quake.

7.33pm: Emergency services are continuing to search the central city, particularly the high rise buildings in the central business district, many of which have been extensively damaged.

A police statement said the immediate focus for emergency services is rescuing people trapped in buildings.

The central city business district has been cordoned off and police are warning people to stay away from the areas within Madras, St Asaph, Montreal and Kilmore Streets.

Around 200 extra staff are being sent from around New Zealand to Christchurch to help Canterbury staff in the rescue effort.

7.31pm: Wellington Airport has put out a Facebook plea for people in Wellington who have accommodation for Christchurch travellers stuck in the capital.

7:28 pm: A magnitude 4.6 quake at a depth of 5km, within 5km of Lyttelton.

7.18pm: The bulk of Christchurch's power should be back on within 24 to 36 hours but the worst affected areas could take one to two weeks, Orion New Zealand chief executive Roger Sutton says.

Power had been restored to Banks Peninsula and parts of Christchurch to the west of the city, he told TVNZ.

7.05pm: Death toll could double from the 65 confirmed, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says.

6.56pm: Canterbury University geologist Mark Quigley says it is unclear if the faultline that caused Canterbury's last major earthquake was to blame for today's quake.

But it was a fault that did not rupture in that one, he told TVNZ.

It could possibly cause other faults to rupture.

It is difficult to predict how long aftershocks would continue.

6.36pm: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says up to 25 buildings of significant size in the city were probably damaged beyond repair.

The death toll of 65 "is going to rise'', he told TVNZ.

Hagley Park, where people had been gathering, had now closed. Residents should instead to go to Addington Raceway or Burnside High School, he said.

"It's a day like we never wanted to contemplate," he said.

6.32 pm: Christchurch Hospital is operational but people are being asked to keep the Emergency Department for major casualties only.

The hospital, along with most other hospitals in the region has suffered infrastructure damage, a Health Ministry statement said.

A generator has been brought in to maintain power supply at Christchurch Hospital Riverside Block. "If power is not fully restored this evening patients at Christchurch Hospital's Riverside Block may need to be evacuated."

Large volumes of patients are being triaged through the Christchurch Hospital ED, many with serious injuries. Patients with non-life threatening injuries are being assessed and treated in Christchurch Women's Hospital and the Outpatients Department.

Patients from the top two floors of Christchurch Hospital have been evacuated to lower floors. There is some water damage throughout the hospital but staff are awaiting further assessments.

It's likely that some stable patients will be transferred out of Christchurch to hospitals in surrounding areas to free up beds for the seriously ill, the statement says.

6.22pm: Between 100 to 200 people are trapped in buildings around Christchurch, Mayor Bob Parker says. He reports that 57 are confirmed dead.

6.18pm: Prime Minister John Key confirms 65 dead "and that may rise".

Speaking on his arrival at Christchurch Mr Key said: "We may well be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day".

He said 180 police were working on the ground with an extra 200 on their way. There were also 350 military personnel there and another 250 on their way.

Forty members of an Australian urban search and rescue team were on their way from Australia and New Zealand had accepted help from America as well.

"We may be witnessing New Zealand's darkest day."

He described it as a "scene of utter devastation''.

The earthquake struck at a much worse time than the last one with more people were out on the streets this time.

"We will get through this. New Zealand will regroup, Christchurch will regroup.

6.17pm: 3.0 magnitude. 15km deep. 10 km south-east of Christchurch.

6.16pm:Pyne Gould Corporation's Auckland-based managing director Jeff Greenslade says that he is in constant contact with the authorities trying to free workers from PGC House on Cambridge Terrace.

He says about a dozen Marac staff and 50 Perpetual Trust staff were based in the building and a number of them were still unaccounted for and at least one person is thought to have died.

6.12pm: Up to 500 people have set up for the night in Hagley Park, where they will be spending the night. However, they were in for a long night, with a shortage of water, no food available, and few blankets. Some had just a wooden board to sleep on tonight.

Rescuers say some people will be trapped in buildings overnight.

6.03pm: Death toll confirmed at 17 so far by Civil Defence director John Hamilton. Hamilton is briefing reporters at the Beehive bunker now.

The death toll was expected to climb.

6.03pm: 4.3 magnitude. 5km deep. 10 km south-east of Christchurch.

6.01pm Mayor Bob Parker says "dozens" believed to be dead.

5.56pm: Magnitude 4 aftershock strikes, 10km south-easy of Christchurch.

5.50pm: Christchurch Airport said through its Twitter account the airport "is working hard to resume flights". International flights remain postponed until further notice. Domestic flights may resume tomorrow morning.

5.48pm: Mayor Bob Parker warns residents to boil drinking water as the city's waste water system was damaged.

5.44pm: Orion chief executive Roger Sutton told TVNZ power outages were on par with the September earthquake.

However, this time it would be harder to get systems back up because travel around Christchurch was more difficult.

He expected half of Christchurch would have power back on by tonight, with most of the city back on in three to four days.

The damaged parts of the network Orion had been able check were not overly badly damaged, he said.

5.42pm: Salvation Army social services director Campbell Roberts told TVNZ centres would be set up in Christchurch to help people but, for the time being, they could not get people into the area to help. "Staff I have talked to have said this is of a different scale all together ... this is at a whole new scale.''

5.41 pm: Dunedin, Mercy and Invercargill hospitals have made arrangements to free bed space.

Three rescue helicopters with St John paramedics and medical equipment have been despatched north from Dunedin.

5.32 pm: The Christchurch Cathedral in the centre of the city is destroyed, TVNZ has reported.

Fire fighters are battling blazes in the central city while Christchurch Hospital prepares for hundreds of casualties.

People are reportedly trapped inside the Canterbury Television building. Search and Rescue staff with dogs are at the building, and monsoon buckets are also being used to fight fires.

5.31 pm: The US Ambassador to New Zealand has just tweeted that Armitage has been found and "has been picked up and is en route to muster/shelter site".

5.30pm:  A magnitude 3.5 aftershock hit within 5 km of Christchurch at a depth of 6km.

5.24 pm: A top US diplomat is among those in strife in Christchurch. The US Ambassador to New Zealand, David Huebner, who is in Christchurch, has appealed on social network "having difficulty locating former Dep Sec of State Richard Armitage." Armitage is a major figure in the US.

A large American delegation is in Christchurch for a trade and political conference,

Huebner has appealed for all American Embassy stuff to gather at the Antarctic Centre near Christchurch Airport.

5.21 pm: Southland's 111 system is back up and running.

5.20 pm: There are reports that Brighton and Lyttelton are "unliveable".

5.19pm Another aftershock, this time magnitude 4.6, hits 10km south east of Christchurch, at a depth of 15km.

5.19 pm: Pyne Gould Corporation has confirmed that some of its Christchurch staff are missing, but has not said how many. One person has been reported as dead.

The company's Christchurch office suffered "severe" damage in today's quake. Around 60 staff, employed by PGC, Marac and Perpetual Trust, work in the building office on Cambridge Terrace, and the company is now trying to account for each one.

''At the moment we're going through who was in the building, who wasn't, who was on leave and who is unaccounted for,'' managing director Jeff Greenslade says.

Greenslade says it would be inappropriate to comment on how many staff were missing.

''It’s a dynamic situation. Obviously it's difficult with the phone lines down.''

5.18 pm: BP has closed all of its Christchurch service stations, subject to inspection of ground based tanks and pipes.

Shell said earlier this afternoon that it would close its Christchurch stations.

5.13 pm: The New Zealand Blood Service has been flooded with calls from people wanting to donate blood in the quake aftermath.

On its Facebook page the service says it currently has good supplies of blood in Christchurch. "At this stage we are fine for blood stocks, but if the situation changes we will let people know through Facebook and our website. Our Christchurch Donor Centre will be closed for the rest of the week."

5.12 pm Telecom says it has enabled all public phone boxes in Christchurch to make free calls.

5.11 pm: GNS scientist Bill Fry says people can expect to feel more aftershocks tonight.

He was a bit surprised about the quake's timing. "We had decided there was a 4 per cent chance of a 6 or more magnitude happening in the next four weeks."

It has also been reported that there has been a huge caving of ice come off the side of Mount Aoraki.

5.09 pm: Some Fairfax staff are trapped in The Press building in Christchurch, which has been badly damaged in today's earthquake.

"We are aware that a small number of staff are trapped in the building and every effort is being put in place to  free them in the fastest possible way," says Fairfax NZ CEO, Allen Williams.

5.04 pm: Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says people are fighting for their lives at the moment "but there are also people fighting for them."

"We’re in the middle of an extremely serious situation. We’re preparing ourselves for what I think will be a really sad, bleak day for our city but be reassured everybody is doing what they can."

Around 200 police are coming to Christchurch from around the country. 

5.01 pm: Helicopters, ambulances and emergency personnel are on their way to Christchurch from Dunedin and more help is available if needed,

"We will do anything we are asked to do to help Christchurch,'' Dunedin City Council Civil Defence manager Neil Brown says.

Dunedin's Civil Defence liaison group has just finished meeting. 

Dunedin's hospitals are making bed space available if need be, and DCC building control staff will be made available to Christchurch, as they were after the September shake.

4.59 pm: Simon Pleasants, from the National Crisis Management Centre, said he was not aware of any problems with the 111 system, through it was heavily loaded.

"There are a lot of people calling when they don't have an absolute emergency.''

There was a problem with people using cellphones for voice and data. People may be having problems connecting to cellphone networks as a result, he said.

People should be texting to avoid overloading the system, he said.

4.58 pm: Four people have been stretchered out of the CTV (Canterbury Television) building, which is now on fire.

Workers are using cranes to bring down walls to get people out, TV1 is reporting.

This building is just across the road from one of the triage centres. Reports indicate there are definitely fatalities from this situation. A security guard entered after the quake and rescued someone with serious leg injuries, but said he was unable to revive them.

4.55 pm: Labour leader Phil Goff is waiting at the cordon of the levelled Pyne Gould Guinness building. 

He says at least 30 peopole ae feared trapped inside the building and at least one person has been killed.

Families are congretgating at the cordon waiting for news, he says.

"It's not a sense of panic, it's a sense of calm, almost."

Rescue crews are using crowbars and hammers to free the trapped.  A crane is also on site.

"There is concrete right above their heads, they are putting their lives at risk. People are hugely impressed with the rescue teams"

4.53 pm: Bill English says the Government is gearing up for something larger and more devastating than the September earthquake.

On the cost of the earthquake, English says "we are covered for this as a separate earthquake because the reinsurance was put in place after the last ones".

"My advice is that it is a new event. That means the government reinsurance was back in place and any claims would be regarded as new claims."

4.51 pm: John Carter says it wouldn’t be "prudent or proper for us to speculate at this stage" on numbers of fatalities.

He says reports of damage were focused on Christchurch city rather than outlying areas at this stage.

Bill English confirms the government will be discussing offers of international assistance this evening. That includes offers from the United States and expertise from Japan.

4.48 pm: Civil defence director John Hamilton has confirmed there have been fatalities and says next of kin have to be notified and victims identified.

He says Christchurch residents should play it safe and boil water or use bottled water.

4.44 pm: The government is working as rapidly as it can to get welfare centres established.

It hopes to have some centres established tonight but there are communication difficulties and that cannot be confirmed yet.

4.42 pm: Carter confirms that schools have all been closed and teachers are staying with pupils till they are collected by parents.

4.41 pm: Emergency services are rescuing 24 people from the 23rd floor of the Forsyth Barr building, where a staircase has collapsed.

A witness says his son was one of those trapped and they are reportedly uninjured.

4.40 pm: Carter says he is unable to give detailed reports about significant buildings but he understands a number of "significant hotels" have collapsed.

It is not clear how many people were in the buildings at the time. Civil defence, army and police will evacuate the town centre and cordon it off as soon as possible.

4.39 pm: Search and rescue teams from New Plymouth and Auckland are expected to arrive in Christchurch tonight. They will work through night.

4:37 pm Civil Defence Minister John Carter says the most important message he wants to get out is that the government will give all the support that is needed.

He says agencies around the country will fill any gaps in Christchurch.

"But immediately people need to make sure they are safe, make sure their families are safe…that their friends and families are all taken care of."

People should where possible move out of the area where there is significant damage, in the city centre, and longer-term people should look to leave the city. There will be a continuous series of aftershocks and for those who have lived through the last few months that would be traumatic.

4.35 pm Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says he is still unable to confirm reports of fatalities.

Police have mobilised their disaster identification team and details will be made available as they came to hand.

Christchurch Hospital has suffered "reasonably minimal damage" and is open.

Air ambulances have transported some patients to other centres and other South Island hospitals are clearing their capacity so they can take casualties if needed.

The Government had been assured by Transpower that they have the grid up and running again after power went out to parts of the city.

The local power company is working as fast as they can to restore power though some parts of the network were seriously damaged.

Christchurch airport remains closed but runways are being assessed.

The Lyttelton tunnel is still closed.

Phone lines are operational but there is a significant overload and people are being urged to text rather than call.

4.31 pm: Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says reports are flowing in of serious injuries and loss of life.

He confirmed that Christchurch mayor Bob Parker has declared a state of emergency and there was deep concern at the devastation. There would be another emergency cabinet meeting this evening.

Two urban search and rescue teams had been flown into Christchurch from other parts of the country.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had also offered further search and rescue personnel, which had been accepted.

There had also been a number of other offers of international help.

4.25 pm: Transpower CEO Patrick Strange said people should be careful around fallen power lines.

"Assume that they are live."

He told TVNZ power supply to the area was down by about a third and it could be some time before regular supply could be resumed.

"We need about 900 mega watts and we're currently getting approximately 600. Most of the damage is to reasonably minor equipment, but this is certainly bigger than the last one in terms of damage.

"Our system is secure and safe, but people should still treat all lines as live."

4.24 pm: The New Zealand dollar has dropped by more than a cent against the US dollar this afternoon, as traders bet that the Reserve Bank may cut interest rates to prop up the economy in the aftermath of the quake.

4.23 pm: Helicopters are being used to put out fires in the central city because roads are busy or are unpassable.

4.21 pm: Dunedin City Council, Civil Defence and emergency services are meeting  to discuss what help can be given to Christchurch.

"We're collecting together information to see what we have on offer in terms of hospital beds and emergency equipment, that sort of thing, and then we'll decide how to respond,'' DCC communications manager Rodney Bryant said.

The 12.51pm quake was felt strongly in Dunedin, amd several aftershocks have also been felt. There have been no reports of damage in the city.

4.19 pm: There is flooding in some streets in Christchurch.

The army is going door to door checking on the elderly and those who need special assistance.

People are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel.

Kiwirail has halted trains between Timaru and Picton.

4.18 pm: People trapped in the CBD have put signs up in windows saying 'HELP'.

4.07 pm: Damage to Christchurch's central business district appears to be much more significant than after the September 4 earthquake.

Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend says there is liquefaction throughout the central city.

4.06 pm: Telecom says much of its Christchurch network is operable including the 111 emergency service, but there is significant network congestion and a lot of its network is running on battery power.

Telecom evacuated its 111 call centre on Hereford Street in Christchurch and has diverted 111 calls to Wellington. It has a back up site in Palmerston North on standby if required.

TelstraClear's Christchurch call centre has been evacuated and all staff have been sent home. Customers trying to contact our call centres may experience delays.Around 25,000 cable modem customers are without services due to loss of electricity.

Customers are advised to use corded phones rather than cordless phones to be able to get voice services.

4.05 pm: United States Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is understood to be safe.

4.04 pm: Magnitude 5 aftershock at a depth of 12 km within 5 km of Christchurch.

4.01 pm: The Dean of the Cathedral, Peter Beck, says he had no idea how many people were inside the church.

He says they tried to get out as many people as they could but it was now in the hands of emergency services. "It doesn't look good".

3.51 pm: Christchurch hospital is functioning but only people with major injuries should head there..

"Mostly those brought in by emergency services but some people may find their own way here," says Chief Medical Officer of the Canterbury District Health Board Nigel Miller.

He says people with other injuries should head to other medical centres or GPs.

3.50 pm: Police confirm multiple fatalities have been reported at several locations in the central city, including two buses crushed by falling buildings.

A doctor and emergency services are attending.

3.49 pm: Bodies have been seen being taken out of the damaged YHA hostel in the city.

3.48 pm: Another aftershock of magnitude 4.5, depth of 5km, 10 km south west of Christchurch.

3.46 pm: There are reports people were up in the Cathedral observation spire, which has collapsed entirely. There are road blocks stopping people coming into Cathedral Square.

3.44 pm: Paramedics are being flown in to Christchurch rather than driven because the roads are so bad.

People with medical skills are volunteering at triage centres.

3.43 pm: Christchurch St Johns has had to divert all calls to Auckland as their computers have crashed. They have run out of ambulances and are using four-wheel drives to get people out.

3.42 pm: The British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mrs Vicki Treadell said the British Government was ready to help.

3.41 pm: Contact Energy says it will shut off its gas supply after reports of gas leaks. It says consumers should turn off all gas appliances and the gas mains is they can find them.

3.40 pm: Christchurch Airport is open for medical evacuations. Christchurch hospital is now open and operating.

Speaking from the Civil Defence headquarters at the Art Gallery, Civil Defence public information manager Lee Cowan said a state of emergency has been called for five days.

"This is a serious situation. There are injuries and deaths but numbers are not confirmed."

She said Civil Defence were asking residents to boil water, try to avoid flushing toilets and use water sparingly.

The central city is cordoned off and the Four Avenues would probably be cordoned also, she said.

3.37 pm: All Shell stations in the Christchurch area have been shut as a precaution following the earthquake and would remain closed until owners Greenstone were satisfied that it was safe to re-open them.

3.33 pm: A backpacker is presumed dead, stuck on a van on Gloucester St.

3.32 pm: PM John Key has just left the Beehive now on his way to Christchurch accompanied by Christchurch MPs and a member of the diplomatic protection squad.

3.31 pm: An air ambulance has landed in Auckland from Christchurch. The Minister of Civil Defence John Carter says hospitals around the South Island have been cleared to take injured.

3.29 pm: Witness reports from inside the Cathedral say there is so much rubble that it's hard to tell if there's anyone underneath.

3.28 pm: The 111 phone system in Southland is not working. The emergency number for Southland while 111 is down: 03 211 3044.

3.26 pm: Retailers across the country may be experiencing delays processing eftpos transactions due to problems with Telecom's network in the wake of the earthquake.

3.17 pm: The New Zealand Transport Agency is advising motorists to limit travel and use extreme caution when driving amid reports of major damage to local roads, liquefaction and surface flooding

3.15pm : 80 per cent of Christchurch is without power. People are advised to stay off cell phones.

3.14 pm : Airways New Zealand, which provides the country’s air traffic control service is trying to re-establish its network.

Spokeswoman Nikki Hawkey said the national network is controlled from Christchurch, but there is a back up facility in Auckland.

"They are getting a service back-up and running," Mr Hawkey says.

"They may have transferred some control to Auckland, that is probably the most likely thing to have happened."

3.13 pm: The three-storey National Addiction centre on the Christchurch Hospital grounds is probably damaged beyond repair, says centre director professor Doug Sellman.

3.08 pm: There is a reported shortage of ambulances in Christchurch.

A four wheel drive has taken injured people away from PGG building, and people are beign brought out on makeshift stretchers

3.07pm: Auckland Hospital has been put on code red for Christchurch patients.

3.06pm: Telecom says it is experiencing serious over-loading and has asked people not make calls unless it's an emergency.

3.03pm: Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said, contrary to some reports, New Zealand's national airspace had not been shut down. Flights in and out of Christchurch Airport have been shut down till at least 7pm, Air New Zealand says.

Jetstar has suspended all services to and from Christchurch as well as services to and from Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown.

2.58pm: A body has been pulled from the wreckage of a collapsed block of shops on the corner of Lichfield and High Streets. Rescue services believe another four or five people are trapped in the rubble.

Thirty rescue workers are currently trying to pull them out, assisted by members of the public.

2.57pm Firemen are evacuating people from the roof of the Pyne Gould Guinness building, which has been severely damaged. Some people are being brought out on stretchers.

2.50pm: A magnitude 5.5 aftershock at a depth of 5 km, centred within 5 km of Lyttelton.

2.39 pm: A magnitude 4.0 aftershock struck at a depth of 8 km, 10 km north-east of Lyttelton.

2.37pm: John Hamilton, head of Civil Defence, says a level 3 emergency has been declared. This is the highest level that can be declared for a regional emergency. 

The Civil Defence is struggling to communicate with Christchurch2.33pm: Police say there are reports of multiple fatalities at several locations in central Christchurch.

The central city is being evacuated as police receive reports of widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.

2.31pm: There are witness reports of people screaming from within the rubble.
 
There are casualties in Cashel Mall, which is described as "like a war zone". Building facades have collapsed.

There are reports people could be trapped in the Provincial Chambers Building near the courthouse, which has collapsed.

2.29pm: Triage centres have been established for people with injuries at Latimer Square in the central city, Spotlight Mall in Sydenham and Sanitarium in Papanui.

Police advise that people who have evacuated their homes or buildings should report to their nearest Civil Defence sector post - usually schools.

2.26pm: Air New Zealand has put on hold all flights into and out of Christchurch as it awaits information from Christchurch International Airport on the state of the airport's infrastructure.

Latest updates will be posted on Air New Zealand's website.

1.51pm: A witness said people were attempting to rescue others trapped in collapsed shops in the central city, and from a bus had been crushed by a fallen building on Colombo St.

"This was way worse than the first earthquake ... people are definitely dead."

Central Christchurch was in a state of chaos.

"No one really knows where to go, what to do."

1.49pm: Civil Defence Minister John Carter said from the national crisis management centre that officials were urgently tying to make contact with Christchurch.

He said early indication were that the earthquake was shallower, closer 'and worse' than last September.

There had been unsubstantiated reports of fatalties, but nothing was confirmed.

Cellphone coverage appeared to be down in the city, though there was some sporadic cover.

He said he would provide an update as soon as more details were available.

1.48pm: Christchurch residents have been running from the city centre in the wake of today's 6.3 earthquake.

Local art teacher Tracey Tishrei told Stuff water was gushing through cracks in the road in the suburb of Linwood.

Residents of Mt Pleasant and Sumner are unable to get home because bridges are out.

Tishrei was at Eastgate mall when the quake struck and said there was broken glass everywhere. She had heard unconfirmed rumours the roof of Riccarton mall had collapsed.

1.40pm: Lorraine Gosling, from Cafe Central in Ashburton, said the Briscoes store in the town was evacuated after products fell off the shelves.

"It was almost as bad as the first [earthquake]," she said.

She said residents were a "little bit freaked'' from the shake.

1.38pm: The Civil Defence Ministry confirmed the National Crisis Management Centre has been activated.

A bulletin from the ministry warned residents to expect more aftershocks. They advised listening to the radio for up to date information and to avoid jamming phone lines with non emergency calls.

1.38pm: At Christchurch girls' school Rangi Ruru, distraught students had assembled on the main sports field. A student said several fellow students had suffered minor injuries and were bleeding.

1.36pm: The ground in Christchurch has not stopped moving since this afternoon's 6.3 magnitude earthquake.
 
A Christchurch resident spoken to a short time ago said she was almost knocked to her knees.
 
"There's water at Wainoni, all the pipes have burst, there's water everywhere as well as liquifaction. They're out making sure people aren't hurt.... oh here's another one [aftershock].

"Everything's just rocking, the ground just hasn't stopped. They're one after another, the ground hasn't stopped moving."

1.33pm: Malcolm, a policeman from Darfield, and was driving into town to a rowing event when the earthquake hit.

"I thought I had a flat tyre, then the place was shaking like hell."

He said oak trees in the Hadley Park had been uprooted and fallen across tents.

He said "I'm shaken, I'm at Christ College now and the school is a shambles - there's a lot of damage to the buildings."

"All of the water pipes are burst and it looks like a tsunami coming across the park."

"It's just unbelievable - just the sheer power."

His daughter is at Rangi Ruru school and she said students were running around screaming.

Malcolm's wife Jenny said the mayor is on the radio telling people not to go outside.

"It doesn't sound good - it sounds like this time people injured," she said.

Hamilton says urban search and rescue teams are on standby to fly to Christchurch and there have also been an international offer of assistance from Australia.

The national Civil Defence response is being coordinated from Wellington, including extra police, fire personnel and the defence force. International offers of help would also be coordinated through Wellington.

The Lyttelton Tunnel is closed, but the Rakaia Bridge on SH1 south of Christchurch and the Waimakariri Bridge on SH1 are open.

She was saddened and shocked by the latest earthquake.

Police also say Defence forces have been called in to assist.

Dr Campbell was in Christchurch with a large delegation of US officials and business people for the New Zealand-US Partnership forum at AMI Stadium.

He says Cabinet will meet again in a couple of hours.

Police have arrested a man attempting to volunteer but who was putting more people in danger,

Sergeant Chris Brooks says people should not jump in and try to help because it's too dangerous.

-Fairfax Media and agencies