A 5.1 magnitude aftershock hit Christchurch shortly before 8am today, causing more damage and another evacuation of the city's central business district.
It was originally described as being of 6.1 magnitude, but that was soon after downgraded. Because it was relatively shallow, at 6km depth, and centred just 10km southeast of Christchurch it was felt as the strongest aftershock in the city since Saturday's 7.1 earthquake.
"My guts is just churning up here," Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said. "When will this thing end? It is like living in a maelstrom.
• More hospital staff required
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is bringing in extra staff to cope with an influx of patients following Saturday's devastating earthquake.
Six health protection officers and six medical officers of health are due to arrive in Christchurch on Saturday. Cardiology nurses have been requested after a jump in the number of patients requiring specialist cardiology care since the 7.1 magnitude quake.
CDHB said it also needed general registered nurses to back up staff across a range of services.
All non-urgent, elective surgeries were cancelled this week, including all pre-arranged admissions to Christchurch, Christchurch Women's' and Burwood Hospitals.
Outpatient clinics were cancelled today, but caesarean sections and inductions went ahead as scheduled.
Maternity services saw an increase in the number of women going into labour after a 5.1 magnitude aftershock today, with 23 in labour by the afternoon.
Akaroa Hospital, Lincoln Maternity Hospital and the Burwood Birthing Unit remained closed.
• Boil water notice lifted
The Emergency Operations Centre has lifted its restriction on the boiling of water across the whole of Christchurch City, including Banks Peninsula.
The lifting of restrictions follows three days' testing of Christchurch's city water with more than five hundred samples being carried out by council and public health staff. All samples were clear of bacterial contamination.
Monitoring indicated that the integrity of the system was maintained through this morning's aftershocks.
Ongoing testing will continue, and the Emergency Operations Centre will advise if new restrictions are required.
• Bus services resume tomorrow
Bus services in Christchurch city will resume tomorrow following further disruption this morning.
The Bus Exchange will open at 6am and services will run to a normal weekday timetable. The two bus routes still out of action are the 51 New Brighton to Tower Junction and 480 bus to Kainga.
• Rock falls close road
Due to rock falls, Sumner Road, Lyttelton, will be closed to the public from Oxford Street to Summit Road until further notice, with access to essential traffic only.
• Hundreds still without power
All power has been restored to those customers who lost supply due to the 7.49am after shock this morning.
Orion said in a statement this afternoon it had returned its focus to its original target of restoring power to all customers by the end of this week.
The company estimated several hundred households remained without power, but it was difficult to give an exact number as the number without power continued to fall.
• Schools likely to stay closed this week
"Most schools in the quake-devastated Canterbury region are not likely to open until Monday, says Education Minister Anne Tolley.
"So far today the Ministry of Education has contacted 100 of the 165 state and state-integrated schools in the affected areas," Mrs Tolley said this afternoon.
"No school has said it intends opening for students tomorrow, though many are likely to open for teachers and staff."
However, she said Civil Defence had the legal right to close schools and had indicated some may open to students tomorrow.
Mrs Tolley said parents could contact schools or visit the Ministry of Education's website for updates on which schools were planning to open.
• Key freight link to reopen
A "key freight corridor" damaged in Canterbury's 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Saturday is likely to reopen later this week, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says.
State Highway 74, one of the main routes to the Port of Lyttelton, suffered foundation damage during Saturday's massive quake.
A decision on whether to reopen the highway would be made at midday tomorrow, NZTA Canterbury highways operations manager Peter Connors said.
Detours were in place via local roads and Johns Rd on SH1.
The Chaney's Rd on-ramp to SH1, north of Christchurch, was also likely to re-open in the next few days.
• Quake bill may reach $4b
Estimates of the cost of the Canterbury earthquake have doubled to $4 billion.
Treasury Secretary John Whitehead told media the previous estimate of $2b was in relation to Earthquake Commission (EQC) liabilities only.
"The cost faced by the EQC, individuals, and insurance costs will probably be of the order of $4 billion," Mr Whitehead said. Full story
• Black Seeds postpone show
The Black Seeds have postponed their Christchurch show, which was scheduled for Saturday.
The decision to postpone was the band's only option, with the state of emergency extension in place for another seven days in the central CBD following Saturday's 7.1 quake.
With no guarantees of reliable power and water, plus the threat of further aftershocks, the band said it was unwise to go ahead.
A new date of October 30 has been set, and the show will take place at the same venue - The Bedford - which has not been affected by the quakes and is structurally sound.
All tickets will be transferable to the new date, or anyone wanting a refund can contact the ticketing outlets.
• More prisoners being moved
More than 300 inmates from Christchurch prisons are being flown by the airforce to North Island lock-ups after earthquake damage to prison buildings.
Saturday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks damaged prison buildings, drained sprinklers of water pressure and destroyed prisoners' sculptures and artwork.
A 5.1 magnitude aftershock this morning further destabilised prison infrastructure and contractors were working to restore water pressure for sprinklers, in case of a fire.
All 135 prisoners from Christchurch Women's prison have been transferred to Auckland, and 90 prisoners from Christchurch Men's prison went to Otago yesterday.
By tonight more than 300 prisoners would have been flown to North Island prisons on the airforce's Hercules aircraft.
Corrections Minister Judith Collins said the prisoner transfers were necessary, as there were safety concerns and insurers needed to inspect severely damaged buildings. Full story
• Christchurch courts to hear 'essential' cases
Christchurch court buildings escaped today's 5.1 magnitude aftershock unscathed, allowing all essential proceedings to continue.
All new arrest and bail applications would be processed as normal tomorrow, Ministry of Justice media adviser Steve Corbett said.
Traffic defended hearings and Disputes and Tenancy Tribunal hearings scheduled for today were postponed, along with all jury trials.
Those summoned for jury service this week were not required to attend court and had been discharged.
Rangiora Court list proceedings have been postponed until Monday.
• IRD to provide leeway for victims
People unable to meet their tax obligations as a result of the Canterbury earthquake may be able to have late payment penalties and interest wiped, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.
He said the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) would make things as easy as possible for those affected by the quake and would take a sympathetic and realistic approach.
Situations would be looked at on a case-by-case basis and the IRD would take into account individual circumstances when making decisions about late payment and late filing penalties and interest.
The IRD has set up a disaster response phone line (0800 473566) for people and business facing difficulties meeting tax obligations as a result of the quake.
• Residents get extra month to pay rates
Christchurch City Council is to give a month's grace to residents due to pay their rates by next week.
The rating area, which includes many of the most badly affected properties in this week's earthquake, will have received their invoices approximately three weeks ago and are due to pay their bills by the 15th September.
However the council is extending the due date for these people to 15th October. It is also considering what other rates relief the council may offer to property owners who are the most badly affected by the quake.
"We can understand that those who haven't already made arrangements to pay, but who have been suffering during the last few days, do not want the added stress of thinking they have to get their council rates paid over the next week.
We are also going to be giving some thought to other measures we could take to assist with rates, for the worst cases," said a spokesman.
• Addington races cancelled
Tomorrow's harness meeting at Addington raceway in Christchurch has been cancelled because of damage from this morning's aftershock.
Addington chief executive Shane Gloury said damage from the magnitude 5.1 quake at 7.49am and an expected increase in numbers of people staying at the welfare centre at the course meant the meeting had to be abandoned.
Gloury said 280 people stayed at the welfare centre at Addington last night and that number was expected to swell because of the aftershock, meaning more rooms and facilities would need to be used over the next 48 hours.
There was no structural damage to any of the buildings and the racetrack lighting towers and stables were fine, he said.
Christchurch greyhound meetings scheduled for tomorrow and Friday are being held at Forbury Park in Dunedin.
• Key thinks quake repair bill may rise
A visit to the outlying areas of Christchurch has reinforced to Prime Minister John Key the severity of Saturday's earthquake.
Speaking to the media outside a devastated church in Hororata, 56km west of Christchurch, Mr Key said the extent of the destruction throughout the region was clear.
"We always knew things were bad, but I think it shows you how big the rebuild job will be and also what the aftershocks are doing."
Having had a closer look at the damage, Mr Key said he had a sense the rebuilding would cost more than originally estimated. Full story
• Queen sends best wishes to quake victims
The Queen has wished Cantabrians well following the earthquake, during a 20-minute phone call with Prime Minister John Key.
Mr Key cancelled his trip to Europe, where he was to stay at Balmoral with the Queen, to show solidarity with those impacted by the Canterbury quake.
Mr Key said he talked to the Queen for 15-20 minutes just after midnight last night.
"(She) wanted her sympathies passed to the people of Christchurch, she was totally understanding of the reason I wouldn't go," he said.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace overnight the Queen sent her good wishes to those affected by and helping with the aftermath of Saturday's earthquake.
• Unifed earthquake appeal
The New Zealand Red Cross will now co-ordinate the appeal fund for the Canterbury earthquake.
The mayoral fund, set up by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker after Saturday's magnitude 7.1 quake, has been combined with the Red Cross appeal with the backing of all Canterbury mayors.
The Canterbury mayors and New Zealand Red Cross chief executive John Ware have pledged that 100 percent of every donation received by the Canterbury earthquake appeal would be spent entirely on the people affected by the earthquake.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is hoping to bring some relief from the stress of the aftershocks for Christchurch residents by playing a free show next week.
• NZSO concert for quake victims
The NZSO has made entry free of charge at its planned concert at the Christchurch Town Hall on September 16.
"Many among the orchestra have family and friends caught up in the devastating consequences of the earthquake. This is our way of showing our support for the Christchurch community," NZSO chief executive Peter Walls said.
Anyone who has already purchased a Soundscapes ticket will get a voucher for free admission to any NZSO concert before June 2011. Concert-goers can reserve seats by calling Ticketek.
• Trauma counsellors head to Christchurch
The Government has set aside $2.4 million for trauma counselling for Christchurch earthquake victims, Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett says.
Speaking in Christchurch, she said 34 counsellors from across New Zealand would head to the quake-stricken city today.
People needed expert help, and many she had spoken to had been traumatised by the earthquake and the aftershocks.
She was also concerned that domestic violence rates had doubled in the city and the extra services would help families during a stressful time.
The extra counsellors were just a start and more would arrive in the next few days. They would visit welfare centres, and people could call 0800 779997 to make an appointment or find out where they could get help.
• Smell of sulphur reported
There have been reports of sulphur smells in parts of Christchurch. These have been investigated by Fire Service and Environment Canterbury's Hazardous Substance team.
At this point, there is no indication that the smell should be of concern to residents. It does not appear to be a gas leak.
• State of emergency extended
The state of emergency following Saturday's devastating earthquake in Christchurch city has been extended for another seven days.
Authorities made the decision after a 5.1 magnitude aftershock hit shortly before 8am today, causing more damage and another evacuation of the city's central business district. Full story
• Lyttelton Tunnel reopens
Lyttelton Tunnel has reopened after being closed for inspection this morning following a sharp aftershock in the wake of Saturday's devastating Canterbury earthquake.
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) state highways operations manager Peter Connors said the tunnel was closed shortly after the 5.1 aftershock that struck at 7.50am to allow safety checks to be carried out for possible damage.
He said an initial assessment of the tunnel had revealed that while some superficial damage had been sustained the tunnel remained structurally sound and safe for use.
• Writers workshop closed
Organisers of The Press Christchurch Writers Festival have cancelled the show due to Saturday's massive earthquake.
All tickets for the festival, due to be held at the Christchurch Town Hall from tomorrow to Sunday, would be refunded, Christchurch Book Festival Trust chairman Brian Phillips said.
The festival was expected to attract hundreds of international and New Zealand writers and book lovers, including British author Simon Winchester, whose non-fiction works include a book on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, A Crack in the Edge of the World.
• Schools remain closed
All schools in Christchurch city, Selwyn and Waimakariki districts would remain closed today, Civil Defence said today.
Some schools might reopen tomorrow, but that was a decision for the individual board of trustees for each school to make, director of civil defence and emergency management John Hamilton said today.
