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Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says he feels "repulsed" by members of a family evicted from a welfare centre.
The people were members of a family group of about 30 at the Addington welfare centre, some of whom were behaving unacceptably.
Police are warning others not to take advantage of the facilities for those without homes.
The group took advantage of the centre, intimidated others, created a nuisance and then refused to leave, Superintendent Dave Cliff said.
Checks found they had not told the truth about the damage they had suffered.
"Their addresses had been assessed by council engineers and found to be safe and secure," Mr Cliff said.
"After extensive attempts by a number of different agencies failed and the family refused to move on, they were evicted under the Trespass Act."
The welfare centres were for people without safe, alternative accommodation, to stay at for a few days until they made arrangements.
"What we don't want is for people to expect to use the welfare centres as a more comfortable place to stay than their own homes," he said.
It was the only incident of its kind, but police would keep visiting welfare centres to ensure that people in need get help, and to move on people with no legitimate reasons for being there.
Mr Parker said 99 per cent of people in the region were standing up to help, but this family had taken advantage of a centre set up to help the most vulnerable.
Police would keep visiting welfare centres to ensure that people in need get help, and to move on people with no legitimate reasons for being there.
The Addington Welfare Centre housed 208 people last night, while the Linwood Welfare Centre housed 58 people.
Earthquake minister's house damaged
Meanwhile, 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 spokesman said Mr Brownlee did not want to talk about damage to his own house because it would detract from his role as government coordinator of the recovery.
The house was in a short street and another resident said at least six of the 11 houses in the street had been damaged.
Christchurch building evaluations
By the end of yesterday, 4069 building evaluations had been carried out across the city.
Of the 958 buildings inspected in the CBD 74.3 per cent have received a green placard (little or minor damage), 20 per cent have received a yellow placard (will need repairs but usable for shelter) and 5.7 per cent have received a red placard (major damage, not suitable to occupy).
Of the 2290 residential buildings inspected, 86.55 per cent received a green placard, 12.2 per cent received a yellow placard and 1.25 per cent received a red placard.
Police warning
Police have renewed an appeal to Cantabrians to check the qualifications of tradesmen offering to do repair work following last weekend's quake.
Inspector Dave Gaskin said today there had been reports of opportunists seeking to take advantage of vulnerable residents.
"We recommend people ask for identification and trade qualifications and get more than one quote. And if you feel something is suspicious, phone police."
Mr Gaskin said police applied a zero tolerance approach to anyone found to be trying to take advantage of the current situation in Canterbury.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
