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Tracking today's events as they happen on day eight of the Christchurch earthquake disaster.
6.19pm: Veteran New Zealand race driver Greg Murphy has thrown his weight behind the Christchurch earthquake appeal.
Murphy is running signage on his car with details on how to donate at this weekend's Phillip Island 500 V8 Supercar race.
"When the community has been affected like it has in Christchurch with the earthquake, Kiwis shine," Murphy said today.
"We dig deep to help those who need it most and I hope we can help raise awareness to the appeal and lend a helping hand."
5.39pm: Two more aftershocks have hit Canterbury, one at 5.11pm and 20 km south-west of Christchurch, and the other at 5.14pm, 20 km south-east of Darfield. According to Geonet, both were magnitude 3.6
* We are unfortunately unable to update our aftershocks map at present due to a Google Maps error, but will do so as soon as possible.
5.01pm: The Ministry of Education has an updated list of which early childhood centres will be open this week.
4.35pm:
The stress of last Saturday's quake is manifesting itself in a spate fo heart attacks.
The Press reported that eight Cantabrians suffered heart attacks last night, which Christchurch Hospital clinical director of cardiology David Smyth said was "undoubtedly due to the quake".
Yesterday morning there were 68 cardiology patients in the hospital, and on Monday morning there were a record 77 patients.
They normally saw two or three heart-attack patients a day, but that number had risen to eight to 10 this week, Smyth said.
4.05pm: Canterbury residents with damaged properties are being reminded to obtain proper permits before proceeding with demolition.
There are estimates over 2,000 buildings may need to be taken down because of damage caused by last weekend's earthquake.
The Christchurch City Council says all property owners and contractors should seek advice before carrying out any demolition work.
Emergency demolition work is only allowed under the law for protecting life, health, or serious damage to adjoining properties.
3.55pm: The Earthquake Commission has received more than 44,000 claims for damage to residential property and is struggling to meet demand.
More than 60 people are currently working through inspections, focusing on the 5000 properties that owners have said are uninhabitable or not waterproof.
Once that is completed, inspectors will look at claims where structural damage has occurred, and fast-track the settlement of non-structural claims.
3.51pm: Real estate agents say people buying properties are having trouble getting insurance following the earthquake.
Buyers trying to arrange insurance after settlement are likely to run into problems, REINZ told Radio New Zealand.
But the Insurance Council says those buying a new home in Canterbury should still be able to get insurance. Chief executive Chris Ryan said companies were working to provide more flexible options.
3.41pm: People needing the services of volunteers in Waimakariri District this weekend are being urged to call 021 402 312.
A pool of volunteers is available to help with things like clearing rubbish, and removing silt and furniture following the earthquake.
Also, people who want to volunteer to help others are being asked NOT to go to the welfare centre at the Kaiapoi Rugby Clubrooms in Smith St, Kaiapoi.
Instead they should report to the park beside the Kaiapoi Community Centre in Sewell St. They can also ring and leave their details with the council on 03 311 8900.
3.20pm: The Prime Minister wants to push through legislation that will make rebuilding the focus of repair work in Christchurch.
John Key says it is vital to get the legislation passed through before the state of emergency is lifted and it could be passed early next week.
It would establish a commission for the three worst-hit districts to speed up decision-making and the reconstruction process.
3.11pm: Electricity provider Orion says power has been restored to nearly 100 per cent of Christchurch, barring a "handful" of customers.
3.02pm: Christchurch mayoral candidate and MP Jim Anderton, facing speculation about his intentions if he wins the mayoralty, is making an announcement tomorrow.
Mr Anderton, Progressive Party leader and its sole MP, has previously indicated he would stay on as MP for Wigram even if elected as mayor in the October 9 election.
Since last Saturday's earthquake, he has refuted comments that he would consider leaving Parliament to be full-time mayor if he won because that was what the city needed.
Today, his office released an advisory of "an important statement of intent" to be made at his Wigram electorate office tomorrow afternoon.
13.57pm: The Government is moving to address potential housing shortfalls across Canterbury. Demand for rentals has sky-rocketed since the earthquake because people have been forced to leave their severely damaged homes.
Prime Minister John Key says a paper outlining support options will be presented to Cabinet on Monday. However Mr Key, who's visiting the area today, says some time will be needed just to assess how serious the problem might be.
The Government is also keen to pass new earthquake recovery laws covering Canterbury so it can lift the current state of emergency.
Mr Key says by lifting the status a strong signal can be sent out that the region is open for business.
13.04pm: The city council's Kilmore St and Tuam St car park buildings are open and will be free of charge for this weekend. Other council car park buildings remain closed and are currently being assessed.
A decision on further free car parking will be made once the other car parks are open, a spokeswoman said.
12.31pm: Banks are pulling the rug from under homeowners in Canterbury, by cancelling property deals.
Newstalk ZB reports there was a flurry of activity yesterday which is normally the changeover day for a house sale.
About 150 deals would go through in a typical week but the banks are withdrawing finance until they confirm if a property is OK to purchase, or covered by insurance.
Christchurch Director for the Real Estate Institute David Rankin says there's nothing unethical about the banks' behaviour.
He says they're obliged to protect money which has been lent to them, and need to be prudent. Mr Rankin says it'll take patience and goodwill for all the issues to be resolved.
11.45am: Overnight, police and soldiers manning cordons in the central city were met by two little girls, aged four and six, handing out sweets and lollipops as a thank you for a job well done.
The girls' mother explained how her daughters had originally planned to go and read to the elderly at emergency centres but couldn't because someone had stolen their car.
"They had done drawings for the people and really wanted to do something so I took them into town where they were able to do this as their way of saying thank you to the people who are doing so much for us."
11.09am: The Government minister appointed to look after the devastation of the Christchurch earthquake may lose his own house.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee, MP for Ilam in Christchurch, was appointed minister in charge of earthquake recovery.
His office said today he did not want to talk about damage to his own house in the Christchurch suburb of Fendalton. The small street had liquifaction but the water had since drained away, leaving the hard residual material.
The house was empty and being prepared for renovations but his office said it was too early to say if it would be demolished..
The house was in a short street and another resident said at least six of the 11 houses in the street had been damaged.
10.40am: Offers of help for victims of last weeks earthquake in Canterbury are still pouring in.
Waimakariri district mayor Ron Keating says his council is taking around a thousand calls a day from all manner of people. Mr Keating says the offers are sent to the person or agency who can deal with them best.
The Prime Minister, John Key, is returning to Christchurch today to look at damage to the wastewater plant at Bromley, and then visiting Bexley and Brooklands.
And New Zealand Post has cancelled all its mail deliveries in Canterbury today. The company's CEO Brian Roche says they need to give staff and contractors a break. Post shops are open as normal.
10.18am: The house built by hand by celebrated Labour Prime Minister and Kaiapoi Mayor Norman Kirk survived last weekend's earthquake relatively unscathed.
Waimakariri District Council assessed the house at 12 Carew St, Kaiapoi, yesterday and gave it a "green" rating, meaning little or no damage.
Kirk paid 40 pounds for the section in the 1950s and built the house himself after work and during weekends, right down to the casting of the bricks.
Elected in 1953, at 30 Kirk was the youngest mayor elected in New Zealand at the time. He was mayor until 1957 when he won the Lyttelton seat in the general election.
"Big Norm", as he was known, was elected Prime Minister in 1972 and seemed destined to be one of the country's great leaders, but tragically died just two years later of heart disease, aged 51.
9.52am: Two more aftershocks have shook Canterbury in the last hour and a half. The first, 4.2 in magnitude, was centred 20km south-west of Christchurch at a depth of 5km and was felt at 8.36am. The second was 4.0 in magnitude and came at 9.01am. It was centred within 5km of Darfield at a depth of 7km.
8.57am: Police are urging residents to check tradesmen's qualifications and get a second opinion after reports of opportunists offering to remove people's damaged chimneys and do other repair work around Christchurch.
Inspector Dave Gaskin said overnight, police had spoken to a number of people who had experienced similar situations to an elderly woman who phoned Police.
"She was approached by a man yesterday who came to her home offering to take down her chimney but their demeanour left her ill at ease.
"Their manner and lack of identification leads us to believe they were opportunists seeking to take advantage of a vulnerable woman."
Mr Gaskin said in the first instance the Fire Service are prepared to render safe damaged chimneys on homes but owners will need to arrange tradesmen to repair them.
8.24am: There were several small earthquake tremors in Canterbury overnight.
The first registered 3.4 on the Richter Scale near Darfield at 2.45am. The second was just after 4am. At 5.40am there was a 3.9 magnitude quake, centred about 30 kilometres south east of Christchurch.
8.15am: Police have reported a relatively quiet night after the main cordon was lifted around central Christchurch last night for the first time since last Saturday's 7.1 magnitude quake.
But people are being advised to stay away from barricaded buildings as aftershocks continue to rattle the city.
The Hereford Street/Manchester Street intersection remains closed due to concerns about the safety of the multi-storey at the intersection.
