The Government may rush legislation through to enable rebuilding work to be carried out in the wake of Canterbury's earthquake, with building consents given in retrospect.
Prime Minister John Key, who took a tour of the damage in rural Canterbury today, said Gerry Brownlee was meeting with local government, insurers, the Earthquake Commission and related parties to see how the retrospective consents could be introduced.
He hoped more information would be available later today.
"If you're talking about chimneys, for instance, that are down, or you're talking about walls that are damaged, that sort of thing, I think you just get in and get that work done and retrospectively get the building consents and the RMA consents.
"What we don't want is the bureaucratic process holding back the restoration process and if we have to get it in reverse order, I think it's totally fine provided it's not some of the really, really major stuff.
"That's a different scenario," he said.
"It may, at the extreme, take a legislative change to allow us to undertake work in retrospectively getting building consents."
Mr Key spoke to the Queen last night in regards to the trip he had cancelled in order to be in Canterbury.
"She wanted me to pass on her sympathies. She knows Christchurch well. She was very saddened by the pictures she had seen on television. She had guessed, actually, that I probably wouldn't be coming."
Having had a good look at the earthquake damage, Mr Key said there were some indications that the total cost of rebuilding after the quake would be more expensive than initially thought.
"We always knew things were bad but I think it shows us how big the rebuild job will be."
Mr Key said the Government was committed to rebuilding Canterbury alongside private insurers and the Earthquake Commission, but first the region had to be stabilised and the true extent of the damage understood.
Mr Key's message to concerned Canterbury residents was that they should not be embarrassed or ashamed to be afraid and to seek help.
The Government is flying in 50 trauma specialists over the next 24 to 48 hours to give people more support.
Mr Key said the welfare centres in Canterbury would stay open as long as needed but it was not sustainable for families to be staying there in the long-term.
Several vehicles carrying Mr Key and senior ministers left from Christchurch about 6.30 this morning and travelled firstly to the township of Kaiapoi, where residential streets are cracked and covered in mud and silt.
After visiting the township Mr Key said there had been "carnage" after the quake.
"But it does give me a lot of confidence in the building code. These houses have just been picked up and thrown apart and are still in a state where people managed to get out of them."
He chatting to residents when a big 5.1 aftershock struck at 7.49am today. Residents spoke of a strong jolt but Mr Key himself did not appear to feel the shaking.
Mr Key spoke with Andrew Blackwell whose family department store in Kaiapoi has been operating on the same site since 1921.
The building is now partially demolished after the quake.
Mr Key said it would be "great to save it if they can".
Mr Blackwell said he was determined to reopen the store in some form.
He welcomed the Prime Minister's visit to check on the damage saying it was important to have the man at the top seeing first-hand the challenges that people faced.
"They are huge. There is absolute carnage in the middle of town here and there are very serious issues that need addressing to get the town up and running again."
Mr Blackwell welcomed the Government's wage subsidy scheme which he described as "essential".
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Red markers: Aftershocks on Saturday
Blue markers: Aftershocks on Sunday
Yellow markers: Aftershocks on Monday
Green markers: Aftershocks on Tuesday
Purple markers: Aftershocks today
View Christchurch earthquake: Where the land shook in a larger map
