Christchurch's AMI Stadium off limits after quake

The $60 million World Cup redevelopment at AMI Stadium is ''locked down'' as engineers survey the structure for damage.

Bosses from Vbase - who are custodians of AMI Stadium, as well as the Christchurch Convention Centre, CSB Canterbury Arena and the Town Hall - have closed the ground as they survey the tournament venue after Saturday's earthquake, which registered 7.1 on the Riechter scale.

Vbase chief executive Bryan Pearson said a preliminary assessment hadn't unearthed any major damage.

But ''further assessments'' were needed before the ground - which is set to host five World Cup pool games and two quarterfinals - was given the all-clear.

''There is a lot of damage and breakage to fixtures and fittings. But that is realitively minor stuff... lights, glassware, ornaments, paintings, mirrors and that sort of stuff,'' Pearson told Sunday News.

''But in terms of major structural damage, at this stage from our preliminary assessment, there is no indication yet that there is an issue.

''Obviously though, we will need to complete further assessments over the coming days.'' Vbase officials put assessment teams into all four of its prominent Christchurch venues at 6.30am yesterday - two hours after the earthquake struck.

More thorough assessments will be undertaken by structural engineers over the next three days.

''The four venues are closed to the public until 8am on Wednesday. And we will be reassessing things over the next few days,'' Pearson said.

''We do need to be careful as it was a major shake and we have to be certain that the structural integrity of these buildings has been maintained before we let the public back in them.

''These assessments will need to be undertaken by people who have been involved in the structural design of the buildings so that they are aware of where the potential issues might be.

''We will be commissioning the relevent engineers for each of the four buildings that have had some experience and knowledge of the design of the buildings.'' The earthquake struck about nine hours after thousands of rugby fans had headed to AMI Stadium for Friday night's Canterbury/Bay of Plenty ITM Cup clash.

''Thank God, yep. We are counting our blessings,'' Pearson said.

''At the time of the day or the night when this was going to happen, if it had to happen, I don't think a better time could have been picked.''

Pearson said the risk of an earthquake striking - and ways of minimising any damage - had been a priority in the design of the iconic ground's new stands.

''Absolutely,'' he said. ''The modern buildings in Christchurch have suffered very little damage and that is a testament to the quality of the [New Zealand] building code.''

With Vbase's four venues now in shutdown mode, the earthquake had forced the cancellation of a two-day conference set to start at the Christchurch Convention Centre yesterday morning.

''The delegates arrived at the venue and were provided with coffee and refreshements, but we weren't able to host them for a conference,'' Pearson said.

''The Convention Centre lost some services. It didn't have electricity or water supplies - we couldn't have people within the venue when we couldn't provide some of the basic services like toilets.''

- © Fairfax NZ News