Cabinet meeting to consider response

Cabinet ministers will meet today to discuss how to get quake-ravaged Canterbury back on its feet – but the Government won't say how much it is willing to spend.

Prime Minister John Key will return to the region tomorrow.

Meanwhile, messages of support have flooded in from overseas leaders including Prince William, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Key last night said early estimates putting the cost of repairs at $2 billion were a "finger in the air figure."

Hundreds of homes would need to be demolished and there will be thousands of homes where damage was not immediately apparent.

But he said it was too early to say how much the Government would commit to a mayoral fund established by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker on Saturday.

Ministers will be briefed by Civil Defence Minister John Carter and Agriculture Minister David Carter on the scale of the devastation and what help is needed.

The Government will look at where it can step in to help fix local infrastructure, such as rail, road and water, which is usually funded by local government. Key said Cabinet would appoint a civil defence commissioner to oversee reconstruction and aid.

The Earthquake Commission expects claims from at least 100,000 households to cost about $1b.

- © Fairfax NZ News