National state of emergency extended

The state of national emergency has today been extended until April 12, as the recovery continues in the wake of the devastating February 22 Christchurch earthquake.

The state of national emergency applying specifically to Christchurch City was declared on 23 February, however under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 a state of national emergency can be declared for a maximum of seven days at a time.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter said it was necessary the state of national emergency remain in place.

"While the situation in Christchurch City has improved significantly in the six weeks since the earthquake, the city has not been stabilised sufficiently to change the status of this state of national emergency in Christchurch City," Mr Carter said.

"Once the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has been set up there will be a hand-over from the (Civil Defence) national controller to that organisation and the state of national emergency can be lifted."

- NZ Herald staff