The airforce will fly 60 volunteers from Whenuapai in Auckland and Manawatu's Ohakea airbase to Christchurch, where North Island LandSAR personnel will relieve their South Island colleagues.
LandSAR chief executive Hadyn Smith said its main role was to go door-to-door to check on the health, wellbeing and safety of Christchurch residents.
A second contingent of volunteers was expected to be sent later this week.
Fire ban
A total fire ban for the urban area of Christchurch city has been put in place, effective immediately.
The Fire Service said today the ban will continue in the quake-stricken city until further notice.
There continued to be a restricted fire season, which meant people needed a permit, in place for rural areas in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
Victim Support postpones appeal
Victim Support has postponed all fund-raising activities planned for its annual appeal in March.
Chief executive Tony Paine said today that in light of the tragedy still unfolding in Christchurch the organisation was unwilling to draw potential donations away from much needed funds for the quake-stricken city.
"It's simply the right thing to do. Funds for the people of Canterbury will be a priority for New Zealanders at this time,'' he said.
The decision was also made in recognition of the additional workload the quake crisis was placing on staff and volunteers throughout the country.
Maori quake command centre
A Maori earthquake response command centre has been established in the Christchurch suburb of Wigram, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said today.
He said the ministry's offices and those of Ngai Tahu were damaged in the quake, and they had moved in with He Oranga Pounamu, Christchurch's Whanau Ora welfare provider.
"Together we have spent the past few days getting our communications infrastructure established so we can co-ordinate the help that is flooding in from Maori around the country," Dr Sharples said.
"Other agencies whose offices cannot be used may join us over the coming days and weeks to become a hub mobilising the resources of Maori in Christchurch and around the country."
Dr Sharples said there was a toll-free help line, 0800 KAI TAHU, for accommodation at local marae.
Book of condolences
Christchurch residents will be able leave messages in a book of condolences and reflect on Tuesday's devastating earthquake at the city's Botanic Gardens from tomorrow.
The special place of condolence at the Archery Lawn in the Botanic Gardens would be open from 8am to 4pm daily for members of the public to visit and reflect on the weeks events, Christchurch City Council said.
Up to 15,000 pupils affected
Up to 15,000 students could be affected by severe quake-damage in Christchurch schools, Education Minister Anne Tolley said today.
Ms Tolley, in Christchurch this morning visiting the worst-hit schools, said the priority in the early stages would be assessing buildings to find out the extent of the damage.
"We need to know what buildings can be used and what can't," she said. "What is a matter of cleaning up and what is structurally unsound."
With 18 state schools and 11 integrated schools already known to have suffered extreme damage, Ms Tolley said between 10,000 and 15,000 students were going to be affected.
Vigil at Parliament
A vigil will be held at Parliament tomorrow to mark one week since the Christchurch earthquake struck.
The vigil will be held on the front steps from 12.30pm.
Quake inquiry called for
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says there should be an official inquiry into last week's 6.3 magnitude earthquake.
Mr Parker said that while the immediate focus of authorities had to be on the search for people in the collapsed buildings and helping the community, there would have to be an official probe into the quake.
"Personally I believe there should be an inquiry," he told reporters. "Government will need to set the level of where that will be, or local government. That's a conversation we have yet to have.''
Coroner reassures families
Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean has moved to reassure the families of those killed in the Christchurch earthquake that their loved ones are being treated with the respect they deserve and their bodies will be released as soon as possible.
Expert teams were working out of Christchurch Hospital and Burnham Military Camp.
"There is no set timeframe so we are dealing with each individual one by one until there is absolute certainty, we cannot afford to make one mistake," he said.
Dust storm warning
Christchurch residents have been warned to take care today, as forecast strong winds could create dangerous dust storms across the city.
Mayor Bob Parker said there was180,000 tonnes of dust and debris lying in city streets from Tuesday's quake. He said strong winds could also add to the danger of falling masonry and asked Christchurch residents to secure their properties ahead of the gusts forecast for this afternoon.
Toll rises to 148
The death toll from the Christchurch earthquake has risen by one this morning to 148 following Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude quake.
The names of two more deceased have been released. They are Natasha Sarah Hadfield, 38, of Kaiapoi and Owen Morris Wright, 40, of Lyttelton.
Cracks force evacuations
Homes in the exclusive Christchurch suburbs of Clifton Hill and Redcliffs are being evacuated after cracks appeared in cliffs above the houses.
A police southern communications spokesman told NZPA people were being moved from their homes, but could not say how many.
The evacuation comes as Civil Defence has closed the main road into the east Christchurch suburb of Sumner to assess the stability of the rock face between Cave Terrace to Nayland Street.
To get to Sumner, people should use Evans Pass via Mount Pleasant Road and Summit Road, Civil Defence said.
Donations top $5 million
Donations to the Red Cross appeal have passed the $5 million mark.
The tally stands at $5.2m, with $2m of that begin donated in the last 24 hours, Stuff reports.
PM's travel postponed
Prime Minister John Key's trip to Moscow, London, Paris and Brussels next month has been postponed because of the Christchurch earthquake.
A spokeswoman for Mr Key said hosts had been informed that Mr Key could not travel due to the earthquake.
An earlier trip to visit Balmoral Castle and to catch up with British Prime Minister David Cameron was put off because of last September's quake.
The latest trip had not yet been formally announced but planning was well under way. He was to meet Mr Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Buildings face demolition
At least 755 central city buildings in Christchurch face demolition after being "red stickered".
Inspection of all CBD buildings outside the no-go zones is complete.
Kirwan collects for victims
All Black legend John Kirwan joined Japanese rugby officials on Sunday collecting donations for earthquake victims.
Kirwan, who now coaches the Japan national team, stood outside the Tokyo venue of the All-Japan Championship final with a collection box, receiving money and shaking hands of fans.
Sombre news for family of missing man
The family of Shane Tomlin, who bizarrely disappeared after a photo of his rescue from a bakery after last Tuesday's deadly Christchurch earthquake was published, have been told to prepare for his funeral.
Mr Tomlin's dust-caked face was captured by a photographer last Tuesday as he was pulled from the debris of a Cashel Mall bakery.
The 42-year-old was last seen at Christchurch hospital on the evening the 6.3 magnitude quake destroyed much of central Christchurch, but there has been no sign of him since.
Last night police told his family they needed to prepare for a funeral, The Dominion Post reported.
Mr Tomlin's father, Bernie, told the paper his family planned to hold his funeral in Kaikoura next week.
Police have not formally identified Mr Tomlin, but have retrieved his toothbrush, hat, hairbrush and fingerprint samples in an effort to find his body.
Dunedin to pay respects
Dunedin will stop tomorrow to honour Christchurch and its fallen.
A national two minutes of silence at 12.51pm will be preceded by a rally in the Octagon at 12.15pm to demonstrate support for and solidarity with the battered city.
"We want to send the strongest message of support we possibly can to Christchurch," Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said yesterday.
Rent holiday for tenants
About 2500 state house tenants in 32 Christchurch suburbs won't have to pay rent for three weeks, the Government said today.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley said the period was backdated to February 22 and rent already paid since the earthquake would be refunded.
Teen criminals used quake to escape
Two resourceful teenaged criminals used the earthquake to make a dash to freedom from a Child, Youth and Family facility in the city.
The pair, one from New Plymouth and one from Christchurch, stole a car from the sexual offenders' Youth Justice lockup facility when they were outside cleaning it for a staff member as part of their community service, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
They then drove the car 344km to Picton where they dumped it and took the Cook Strait ferry across to Wellington, police said.
The boys, both 16, went by bus to New Plymouth where they arrived on Thursday.
Police, however, were alerted and arrested the duo and charged them with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
The two appeared in the Youth Court at New Plymouth on Friday and then flown to Christchurch.
They were remanded to appear in the Youth Court in Christchurch on March 15 on the theft charges.
Supplies shipped in
HMNZS Canterbury was due to leave Wellington this morning laden with supplies for quake-devastated Christchurch.
Included in the cargo are a 28,000 litre fuel tanker, 29 4x4 vehicles, six containers, two pallets of water, two Unimogs, a truck tractor, 12 army Bailey bridges and three diesel generators.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said the Canterbury was expected to dock in Lyttelton at 5pm today.
Govt payouts top $2 million
More than $2 million has been paid out to earthquake victims in Christchurch and food continues to be the greatest need, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.
"We have now made over $1m in payments for this," Ms Bennett said yesterday.
"Requests for other essential items such as bedding and clothing are also being met."
So far, 13,443 civil defence emergency payments had been made, totalling $2,212,825.
