Earthquake visit: 'It's John whatever-his-name-is'

Politicians swooped into quake-ravaged Christchurch last night, visiting an emergency shelter that descended into chaos at the Prime Minister's visit.

Fire alarms went off and piercing whistles were blown to keep shelter residents in order while Prime Minister John Key, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, newly-designated "Earthquake Recovery" Minister Gerry Brownlee and others dropped into Addington Raceway's welfare centre.

Opposition Leader Phil Goff signed into the centre's visitor book a few minutes ahead of the Prime Minister, escorted by the centre's manager.

But the manager's phone suddenly rang and he rushed outside.

"Sorry darling, I can't talk to you now. I've just got the Prime Minister here," he said into his phone.

Mr Key soon walked in and signed his name with a flourish, chatting with staff. Crowds quickly gathered as Mr Key and Mr Goff walked side-by-side upstairs.

"It's John whatever his name is," said one girl, as the politicians entered a large hall strewn with mattresses.

Mr Key shook hands with children and had photos taken with them.

Michelle Phillips and her son, niece and nephew were greeted by the Prime Minister and talked with him about their experience since Saturday's earthquake.

Mr Key reassured them the centre was a good, safe place to be.

"It was awesome," said Ann-Marie, 11.

"It's good for the kids to be distracted than sit around waiting for an aftershock," Ms Phillips said.

Mr Goff also chatted comfortably with shelter residents.

Nancy Lee, who had arrived at the centre about an hour earlier, said he seemed like a "really nice man".

"I didn't know who this guy was. He's a politician?" Mrs Lee asked.

"He didn't tell me who he was. I'm sitting here eating and he just sits down, and he seems like a really nice man."

But whether or not she could identify the powerful men mingling in the shelter, it made her feel better after a horrific few days, she said.

"It's a comfort, really. We're going through a bit of a rough time with this earthquake, and it's almost like they care. They're showing an interest in people."

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker and rival candidate Jim Anderton were in opposite ends of the room, reassuring residents and making their presence felt.

But 20 minutes into the visit, the centre's fire alarm rang out loudly. An 89-year-old refugee, who asked to be identified as Mrs Sparks, had to be slowly escorted out with two helpers on her arms.

Mr Parker asked people not to run, and the centre manager blasted a shrill whistle to keep order.

Most blase inhabitants of the centre, however, kept lying unconcerned on their mattresses.

One of them got up and put a sock on a fire alarm, bringing some quiet back to the hall.

Mr Key then embarked on another round of hand-shakes.