Live updates: Christchurch earthquake Monday

Published: 5:53AM Monday February 28, 2011 Source: ONE News

Official missing people hotline: 0800 RED CROSS, 0800 733 276. Overseas: +64 7 850 2199

5.00pm The total cost of the earthquake is expected to be $10 - $15 billion. It is forecast the cost of the February 22 and September 4 quakes will be $20 billion, according to John Key.

4.51pm Key says it is likely the EQC levy will double or triple to replenish the funds that will be used to assist Christchurch. But it appears unlikely any seperate levy will be imposed. Key says he is "reluctant to put another levy on unless I have to because it will slow the economy down."

4.40pm Prime Minister John Key has announced a package to assist earthquake victims over the next six weeks. It includes an earthquake support subsidy, with wide criteria, to help employers continue to pay employees. Earthquake Job Loss Cover will also be available to support employees whose employer believes their business is no longer viable. The package is estimated to cost between $100 - $120 million.

4.32pm A total fire ban for urban areas of Christchurch city has been put in place, effective immediately. The ban will continue until further notice.
There continues to be a restricted fire season in place for rural areas in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. A restricted fire season requires people seeking to light a fire gain a permit from their local council.

4.28pm HRV is making a donation of $50,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal fund launched by Prime Minister John Key yesterday. The Property Group and its staff have raised $16,500 for the Red Cross appeal.

4.09pm A community meeting will be held at 5.00pm this afternoon at the old Sumner School in Wiggins Street. Approximately 200 households have been evacuated in the Redcliffs/Clifton area near Sumner.

3.58pm Christchurch Catholic priest, Fr John O'Connor, says grief is going to be a big part of life for Christchurch people in the coming weeks and everyone needs to respect the different ways people will be grieving.  

3.39pm Foodstuffs South Island has advised that, due to the severity of damage, New World stores at Redcliffs and St Martins will not be re-opening.

3.24pm Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples is visiting the Maori earthquake response command centre at Wigram this afternoon.

3.15pm An Auckland based trauma team, which specialises in working with survivors of war or torture, has been called to Canterbury to help earthquake victims.
The team is from Refugees as Survivors New Zealand, an agency that provides mental health treatment and rehabilitation for people from war torn countries like Afghanistan, Iraq or Burma.

3.05pm The Rangiora Earthquake Express road trains continue to deliver food and essential supplies to the worst hit areas of south-east Christchurch.
Donations received or promised during the past 24 hours include: A container load of water bottles from Spring Fresh, an unlimited supply of muesli bars from Griffins, an unlimited supply of burger buns, 10,000kgs of bacon, 15,000 chicken nuggets from McDonald's, 6,000 chocolate bars from Cadbury, a pallet load of torches and batteries from T K Global plus the use of a refrigerated container, a sizeable donation from Canterbury earthquake Trust and sanitizer and emergency supplies from Canterbury 4WD club. The organisation still urgently needs donations of non-perishable food items like baked beans, spaghetti, corn, peas, tuna, corned beef, long life milk, sugar, and pet food. As well as empty and full water bottles, nappies, food, formula, toilet paper, nappies, feminine hygiene items, batteries, candles, lighters, matches and boxes.

2.52pm The Fire Service is urging residents to refrain from lighting rubbish fires in order to ensure that the limited water supply is available for other fire emergencies. Any residents that are concerned about the emission of toxic substances are urged to call 111.

2.31pm: Quake Escape has over 17,000 beds available for displaced Cantabrians.

1.50pm: Engineers are still assessing damage to schools. 18 state schools and 11 integrated schools suffered severe damage and work is underway to get temporary buildings in place as well as looking at moving students to less damaged schools.

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1.45pm: Telecom has established Telecom Connect Hubs at welfare centres for people requiring assistance with communications. The hubs offer free calling, free internet access, mobile charging facilities and distribution of analogue phones for people without power at home.

1.40pm: A total fire ban is in place across the city, including Banks Peninsula. People should only use gas or electric barbeques because of the fire danger, and the lack of water and resources to fight fires.

1.35pm: Lyttelton Port has served state-owned coal miner Solid Energy with a force majeure notice following the quake.

1.23pm: MetService has issued severe wind and rain warnings for Tuesday and Wednesday which will impact on the Christchurch area.

1.20pm: Chief Coroner Neil MacLean has reassured the families of those lost in the quake that their loved ones are being treated with the respect they deserve and efforts will continue to release them as soon as possible.

1.11pm: A scheduled power price hike has been put on the back-burner. Mercury Energy says it will absorb Orion's increased line charges.

1.05pm: ANZ New Zealand is not soliciting donations from the public over the telephone. Fraudsters are pretending to collect donations for ANZ and emailing for security information asking for banking details.

12.55pm: Mercury Energy is reassuring customers in Christchurch it will support them during the recovery from this terrible tragedy. An initial customer welfare fund of $1million has been set aside to assist paying the energy bills of business and residential customers who are now facing hardship due to the earthquake.

12.48pm: Work and Income has seven mobile vans going directly to people in the hardest hit suburbs of Christchurch, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

12.45pm: Countdown's supply chain is beginning to return to normal operations but some supermarkets suffered severe damage and are still closed. Ten of Countdown's 15 stores in Christchurch are open while eight out of 10 SuperValue & Fresh Choice stores are open.

To recap: 12.30pm
- strong winds are expected to bring warm blustery conditions, making the clean up more difficult
- a series of aftershocks have rattled the city
- more helicopters have taken to the skies to assess building damage
- work continues on identifying victims
- the student army and Federated Farmers are calling for volunteers
- Civil Defence says the operational response has transitioned seamlessly into the new working week
- 55,000 properties remain without water
- fuel supplies are returning to normal

12.28pm: The SPCA is calling for public help dealing with animals after the Christchurch quake. The SPCA had a huge number of dogs last week, and over the weekend there's been a cat influx, with evacuees needing to place their pets. There are no significant animal injuries so far, however the team are still waiting for go ahead to get into the worst hit areas.

12.25pm: Christchurch City Council rates are due today but all the Service Centres are closed. The council says rates can be paid at a future date to be confirmed, and no penalties will apply.

12.16pm: A Christchurch Earthquake vigil observance will be held on the steps of Parliament at 12.30pm tomorrow. The service will be open to members of the public. At the close of the observance the bells of St Paul will ring a half-muffled peal for 10 minutes.

12.14pm: Ethnic Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says people can call the government's 0800 help line and talk with someone who speaks their language. Parata says the government is liasing with community representatives to ensure their cultural needs are understood.

12.12pm: BP Oil NZ says fuel supplies are returning to normal.

12.09pm: More helicopters will take to the skies above Christchurch today to assess building damage. They are taking a closer look at buildings with collapsed stairwells and potential problems with internal access. Air Force Iroquois are now helping distribute food. The helicopters are picking up food from the Rangiora Raceway and flying it to the worst affected suburbs. Rangiora Earthquake Express organiser Jayne Rattray says they had been using two Robinson helicopters, but Civil Defence has now stepped in to help.

12.05pm: St John mechanics and a fleet manager are heading to Christchurch today to help keep the ambulance fleet on the road - dust and the dire conditions of the roads are affecting air filters and suspension.

Updates and information from Monday morning.

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