State of emergency extended

Last updated 14:49 12/04/2011

 

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has extended the state of national emergency until April 18 in the aftermath of February's earthquake.

The state of national emergency in New Zealand - that applies specifically to Christchurch City - was declared on 23 February.

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 only.

"Work remains focused on residents being adequately housed in safe and warm accommodation, with reliable access to water, functional sewerage disposal, electricity and communications," said Carter.

Carter said once the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) had been set up there would be a hand-over of power and the state of national emergency would then be lifted.