More than 100,000 homes were damaged after a 7.1 earthquake hit at 4.35am on Saturday morning with power, water and sewerage services all disrupted.
The damage from the earthquake has been estimated at $2 billion and repairs are expected to take months if not years.
• Some schools may be opened this week
Some schools around Christchurch could open before the end of the week as buildings pass safety checks following Saturday's massive earthquake.
All schools in the Christchurch City area will remain closed tomorrow amid fears about the structural integrity of some public buildings, but some schools may re-open on Thursday depending decisions by the individual boards of trustees, said John Talbot, regional controller of Civil Defence Emergency Management.
In the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts some schools may be open from tomorrow, depending on decisions made by each board of trustees.
Parents were urged to contact their own schools for specific information.
The decision is a change from earlier today when Education Minister Anne Tolley said schools and early childhood education services in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn would stay closed because remain closed all week.
• Most elective surgery postponed
Christchurch hospitals have postponed most non-urgent, elective surgeries this week.
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) today said it would contact patients with pre-arranged admissions for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Christchurch, Christchurch Women's and Burwood Hospitals.
Caesarean sections and inductions would continue as planned, and outpatient clinics were still operating as normal.
CDHB communications manager Michele Hider said there was a steady flow of patients coming into the hospitals, with a noticeable increase in the number of cardiology admissions.
Akaroa Hospital, Lincoln Maternity Hospital and the Burwood Birthing Unit remained closed.
• Criminals to help with quake clean-up
Christchurch criminals on community work sentences will step in to help with the earthquake clean-up,
Christchurch Community Probation Services (CPS) area manager Nick Scott said work parties had been organised today and priority had been given to earthquake recovery work.
"If we can use offenders on community work sentences to help in any way then we're only too happy to do so," said Mr Scott.
CPS had a "large labour pool" with over 2400 offenders on community work in Christchurch available.
Offenders would help cleanup debris and sand buildups, support the work of welfare centres and long-term recovery projects.
• Schools to remain closed all week
Education Minister Anne Tolley said schools and early childhood education (ECE) services in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn would stay closed because remain closed all week.
"The Ministry of Education has advised that there are still serious health and safety issues following last weekend's earthquake," Ms Tolley said.
"There are also reports of further structural damage as a result of last night's aftershocks, which means that schools which have already been inspected will have to be reassessed."
Boards needed to be sure buildings were sound and any hazards cordoned off and that there was a clean water supply before any would open.
The Education Ministry's emergency call centre was providing ongoing advice to boards and principals on 0800 225580 and there was advice to help children and young people cope with any potential emotional difficulties on the ministry's website.
• Concern cowboys may chase quake repairs
Some Canterbury tradesman are worried cowboys are about to move into the district to make the most of the devastating earthquake which hit the region early on Saturday morning.
Christchurch roofing contractor Tony Stuart said he, along with many tradesmen, was working at reduced rates to help people but he feared out-of-town cowboys would see the devastation as an opportunity to rip off people who needed damaged homes repaired.
Mr Stuart, who has been working on roofs and chimneys since early on Saturday morning, only hours after the quake struck, said he had not hiked his charges because of the earthquake.
"It is not very enjoyable making money out of other people's misery."
Warwick Quinn, from the New Zealand Masters Builders Federation, said there had been no cases yet of exploitation but people needed to be vigilant about hiring people to do work. He said they should never pay cash in advance and should ask for credentials and a written quote.
• Most of the central city safe: CCC
Most of the CBD is back to normal, with businesses and services running as usual, the Christchurch City Council says.
Buildings throughout most of the central city were now safe and in working order, and people were encouraged to resume day-to-day activities in the area.
A cordon remained in place in the small area bounded by Worcester Street, St Asaph Street, Colombo Street and Madras Street.
Access to the cordoned off area was available to people working within the cordon in buildings that had received a green, all-clear sticker, and to those need to assess damage to property.
People wishing to enter the cordon area should approach police posted at the cordon.
• Trampers asked to stay off tracks
Trampers are being advised to keep clear of Canterbury tracks and visitor facilities until they have been checked over by the Department of Conservation (DOC) following the weekend's 7.1 magnitude earthquake.
There was concern fallen debris and damaged structures could pose a risk and DOC staff were inspecting the affected areas, acting southern general manager of operations Mike Slater said.
The Pinnacles Hut track, the Staveley Lime Kiln near Mount Somers and the Otukaikino Reserve north of Christchurch are closed to the public because of structural damage.
"There's a lot of country to check but we're out there now, and we will provide updates as soon as we receive reports," Mr Slater said.
• Strikes cancelled in Canterbury
Secondary school teachers have joined radiographers in calling off strikes in Canterbury following Saturday's earthquake.
The Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) will hold a nationwide one-day strike in support of their pay claim on September 15 but has agreed to call off action in Canterbury as a gesture of goodwill.
"We understand that schools will already be closed for a number of days and that some may not re-open for at least a week. This is a way for us to help restore the community to some sort of normality," president Kate Gainsford said.
Radiographers holding a one-day nationwide strike today have also called off striking in Canterbury where staff have opted to stay and treat victims of the earthquake.
• Hundreds remain in welfare centres
Welfare centres in Christchurch had a wave of new arrivals overnight as big aftershocks continued to rattle the city.
A significant number of people remain in welfare centres with the number rising to about 300 last night after two large shocks.
At Linwood College's centre, the school hall was packed to capacity following the 5.4-magnitude tremor about 3.30am, Gert van de Vorstebosh, the centre's emergency service supervisor, said.
"There was a big influx after that shallow one at about 3.30am, taking us to 105 or so," he said. "Some people have gone home today, but they may come back if they find their houses are still uninhabitable."
Most people at the centre seemed to be coping quite well, Mr van de Vorstebosh said.
"They realise the situation they are in, and they also realise that other people are in the same situation. I think there's a reasonably good atmosphere in here."
• Rest homes not safe
Hundreds of Christchurch rest home residents will be relocated because of structural problems and complications after the earthquake.
The magnitude 7.1 quake damaged at least two aged care facilities in Christchurch and caused ongoing problems with water supply.
Residents had been looked after since the quake but the situation was not sustainable, DHB spokeswoman Karalyn van Deursen said.
The damaged rest homes could not be named as not all families of the residents had been informed yet, Ms van Deursen said.
The move would involve almost 200 residents, most of whom would be rehoused at other rest homes by the end of the week.
Ms van Deursen said families of those affected were being involved in the process.
• The show must go on
Heavy metal rockers Metallica will forge ahead with two Christchurch shows this month after the city was devastated by Saturday's magnitude 7.1 quake.
Fans had feared the quake would prompt Metallica to postpone its two sold-out shows at the CBS Canterbury Arena on September 21 and 22.
But the band said the shows would go ahead as planned, the World Entertainment News Network reported.
CBS Canterbury Arena management said the 9000-capacity venue appeared not to have been damaged and engineers were making an assessment.
Metallica added the two Christchurch shows to their tour after South Island fans begged them to play.
• Cordons remain in place
Cordons remain in place around the restricted access zones in the central city and in Kaiapoi.
People are able to access through two checkpoints.
Those people going through the cordon are being logged in case of evacuation.
• 2000 homes still without power
About 2000 homes are still to regain power, a significant improvement from Saturday night when 20,000 people were without electricity.
Orion Chief Executive Roger Sutton said between 400 and 500 staff and contractors were working long hours to reconnect power. Mr Sutton said he was very pleased that every dairy shed in the district now had power.
He reminded people to treat all power lines as live and asked that people remember to disconnect the power before demolishing any building.
• Work continues on water supply
About 180 city council staff continue to work to restore the water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
There are 60 streets where water mains are shut off affecting all or part of the street. Residents are being asked to boil water for three minutes.
The Medical Officer of Health, Alistair Humphries reports that testing of water supplies has begun but it will be a day or two before the results are available.
The City Council report teams of structural engineers and public health staff are out in the suburbs assessing homes and talking to residents today.
