New tasks for Nelson rescue team

This morning's "solid shake" in Christchurch has sent Nelson's search and rescue response team in Christchurch scattering.

From the Woolston Fire Service training centre, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence rescue team (NZ RT2) leader Barry Rowe said this morning's big aftershock and subsequent shocks could reprioritise the tasks they had travelled down to assist with.

This morning's quake caused fresh damage to buildings, knocked out power and sent residents out into the streets. People rushed from hotels and inner city businesses.

Twelve of the Nelson region's 24-strong Urban Search and Rescue team, NZ RT2, have gone to support Christchurch's own team.

They were initially asked to assist with inspecting buildings, help residents to make their houses safe, fasten chimneys and other response activities.

Mr Rowe said: "We've had two big aftershocks around 8am today and another at 12.30am today. The earthquake just before 8am was a fairly good solid shake. There were guys scattering everywhere.

"We are just waiting to be tasked, but these aftershocks might change things quite dramatically."

Nelson and Tasman building inspectors sent to Canterbury were this morning secure at Civil Defence headquarters at the Waimakariri District Council, and a little removed from the effects of this morning's big aftershock.

From Waimakariri, Nelson City Council building manager Tracy Quinton-Boundy today said she did not feel the quake as she was in the car at the time but her colleagues had felt it.

So far the team had managed to inspect properties in Kaiapoi which were badly damaged in Saturday's quake.

Ms Quinton-Boundy said that while the team was not overly surprised at the extent of the damage, what was surprising was the consistency of damage in specific streets.Almost all houses in some streets had been badly damaged, including cracked cladding and severe sinking where liquefaction had occurred.

"Then other parts of the street might have half a dozen houses that haven't been touched," Ms Quinton-Boundy said.

She said everyone at the centre in Waimakariri was "quite upbeat", and support had poured in from Marlborough, Timaru and the West Coast.

Three volunteer fire brigades from the Nelson region are on standby, ready for a call to assist with efforts in Christchurch.

The Richmond, Wakefield and Takaka volunteer fire brigades each have four firefighters and one appliance on standby today, waiting to be called to the city to relieve tired firefighters.

New Zealand Fire Service national adviser of volunteer services Chris Walbran said a total of 11 brigades from the top of the south and the West Coast were on standby today.

The decision on whether the brigades would be sent will follow a series of meetings after checking with crews in Christchurch to see how they are coping.

The deployment plan was strategic so there were enough firefighters and appliances left in the Nelson region to cope with emergencies.

Takaka volunteer fire brigade chief fire officer Philip Woolf said there would be one appliance left in Takaka.

Collingwood would back up the brigade, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News