Photos from Our VIP Reception

Thanks to our photographer, Ian Laughlin.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU to the many people who attended our VOICES FOR CHRISTCHURCH Benefit Concert, and donated generously to make the evening such a success! Many thanks also to our selfless volunteers who gave of their time and talents.

Program for VOICES FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Traditional Maori Welcome
Ataahua Papa

Sings Harry
by Douglas Lilburn

When I am old sings Harry
Once the Days
The Casual Man
The Flowers of the Sea
I Remember

Kerry Henderson and Babette Hierholzer

“Song to the Moon” from Rusalka
by Antonín Dvořák

Marie Te Hapuku

“Agitata da due venti“ from Griselda
by Antonio Vivaldi

Maria Todaro

“Bess, You is My Woman Now” (Porgy and Bess)
by George Gershwin

Kerry Henderson and Marie Te Hapuku

“Di Provenza il mar” from La traviata
by Giuseppe Verdi

Louis Otey

"Le Rêve de Manon" from Manon
by Jules Massenet
Brian Frutiger

 “Barcarolle” from Les contes d'Hoffmann
by Jacques Offenbach

Maria Todaro and Marie Te Hapuku

“Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific
by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Daniel Sumegi

“Suoni la tromba” from I puritani
by Vincenzo Bellini

Louis Otey and Kerry Henderson

Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
by Franz Lehar

Brian Frutiger

"Mira, d'acerbe lagrima" from Il Trovatore
by Giuseppe Verdi

Louis Otey and Marie Te Hapuku

“Non piu mesta” from Cenerentola
by Gioachino Rossini

Maria Todaro

“Au fond du temple saint” from Les pêcheurs de perles
by Georges Bizet

Kerry Henderson and Brian Frutiger

“Pokarekare ana “

Marie Te Hapuku

“Po atarau”

Marie Te Hapuku, Kerry Henderson, and Tutti

Po atarau (Now is the Hour)
Pö atarau / E moea iho nei / E haere ana / Koe ki pämamao.
Haere rä / Ka hoki mai anö / Ki i te tau / E tangi atu nei.

Now is the hour / when we must say good-bye 

Soon you'll be sailing / Far across the sea.

While you're away / Oh please remember me 

When you return / You'll find me waiting here.

TICKETS Now on Sale!!

TICKETS are now on sale for VOICES FOR CHRISTCHURCH benefit concert on 31 March at 7pm in NYC.
http://voicesforchristchurch.org/Purchase_Tickets.html

Voices for Christchurch tickets go on sale 17 March

Purchase tickets for the Voices for Christchurch benefit concert, beginning Thursday 17 March. Bookmark http://voicesforchristchurch.org/Purchase_Tickets.html to get your tickets for $30 on Thursday!

CONCERT DATE: Thursday 31 March, 2011

Voices for Christchurch is thrilled and grateful to announce the DATE and VENUE of the Voices for Christchurch Benefit Concert: 7pm Thursday, 31 March at the Judson Memorial Church. Located in Washington Square, Judson Memorial Church is generously donating the use of their beautiful hall to V4CHCH. http://www.judson.org/


Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South
NY, NY  10012

Special Service: Christchurch Earthquake: Friday 11 March, 12.30pm

On Friday March 11 @ 12.30pm, join other New Zealanders in NYC for a special memorial service to mark the Christchurch earthquake. Church of the Good Shepherd, 236 East 31st St (2nd/3rd). Please be seated by 12.25pm. Organized by the NZ Permanent Mission and the NZ Consulate General.

Click here for more information.

New York Fundraiser raised NZ$20,000 for Christchurch

Voices for Christchurch Organizers, Marie Te Hapuku and Kerry Henderson sang at last evening's fundraiser for Christchurch at the Stone Street Tavern. TVNZ were there,and gave this report.

Venue and Date for VOICES FOR CHRISTCHURCH to be announced early next week

It's been a hectic couple of weeks for the Voices for Christchurch team.  We've scoured New York for the best possible venue to perform our benefit concert for Christchurch.  We've finally found a suitable space with a great attitude. Last minute details are being sorted, and we'll get back to you early next week with a date, time and place.

We've partnered with ANZA, KEA, THE KIWI CLUB OF NEW YORK, and LITTLE KIWIS - the support for the earthquake of these NZ groups in the Big Apple has been truly awesome.  The US Salvation Army is on board to direct funds straight to the  Canterbury Earthquake Appeal-  and The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is lending logistical and artistic support.

Our evolving lineup for Voices for Christchurch includes celebrated kiwi opera singers, soprano  Marie Te Hapuku, and baritone, Kerry Henderson, as well as friends and colleagues,  Metropolitan Opera baritone, Louis Otey and the French/Italian mezzo-soprano Maria Todaro.

NZ Opera singers Marie Te Hapuku and Kerry Henderson to sing at Fundraiser this Saturday

Voices for Christchurch Organizers, soprano Marie Te Hapuku and Christchurch baritone Kerry Henderson will sing the New Zealand National Anthem at the Fundraising Event for the earthquake this Saurday at the Stone Street Tavern in Manhattan.

 TVNZ has  advised that this will be the opening sequence on the TVNZ News in New Zealand at 6pm on Sunday March 6th.

Christchurch earthquake:10 acts of kindness

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10709965

Katherine Irvine has found people from all walks of life doing what they can to contribute to the earthquake appeal.

Radio Sport

A range of one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia, including a 2011 Rugby World Cup All Blacks jersey to be signed by the entire team and race car driver Scott Dixon's helmet, has been put up for sale on TradeMe and is raising around $20,000 a day for the Christchurch relief fund.

Radio Sport has been inundated with donated memorabilia from the likes of Andy Haden and Martin Crowe since it began the auction on Tuesday.

The most valuable item on offer is a 2011 Rugby World Cup All Blacks jersey that will be signed by the 2011 All Black team and donated by coach Graham Henry later in the year. As of last night, bidding was at $21,550.

Also up for grabs is a one-piece swimsuit worn by Rachel Hunter and asigned poster of of the face-to-face stand-off between Black Caps batsman Scott Styris and Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in the 2010 ODI series.

Radio Sport programme director Chris Gregory said the station had raised $75,000 in three days and hoped to hit the $100,000 mark before the end of the week.

There is also the chance to have one-on-one time with some of New Zealand's sporting greats, such as Sir Bob Charles, who is offering a round of golf at Clearwater golf course in Christchurch to the highest bidder, and Black Caps Scott Styris, Kyle Mills and Chris Martin, who are offering a coaching clinic.

Big Little City

Auckland's central business association Heart of the City have organised a myriad of goods and services donated by central Auckland businesses to be trademe.co.nz/stores/big-little-city" target="_blank">auctioned on TradeMe to raise money for the Red Cross Christchurch earthquake fund. Among the luxury goods, art and restaurant vouchers on offer is a man's watch worth $8,000 and two $2020 Louis Vuitton travel bags.

Project Manager for Heart of the City Michelle Dodds said the association has had a phenomenal response from Auckland CBD businesses who have been shocked by the devastation caused in Christchurch's central city.

Heart of the City has already raised over $30,000 and expect that figure to grow by the time the auction closes on Monday night.

"There is a whole lot of people out there who want to do something so it was a way of harnessing that intent and bringing it together in a meaningful way,"

Students

While the 2000-strong Canterbury student army help shovel silt off the streets of Christchurch, other students from universities and polytechnics around the country have rallied together in support of the devastated city.

Vice-president of the Auckland University Students Association Max Hardy said University of Auckland students launched a fund-raising appeal in the hours after last Tuesday's earthquake and have already raised $20,000.

"There are likely to be thousands of volunteers from universities around the country collecting thousands in fundraising appeals," said Mr Hardy.

Nearer to the quake's epicentre, the Otago University Students Association delivered more than 17,000 lunches to feed the volunteer student army in Christchurch last weekend and are planning another lunch run this weekend.

Otago Students Association media advisor Alasdair Johnson said Otago students also make up the bulk of volunteers at the "Christchurch embassy" established at Dunedin Railway Station, where quake victims can access support agencies and charge their mobile phones and laptops.

"Basically, it's just a drop-in centre for people to say hi and get advice. We have got the Ministry of Education here in case people are wanting to put their kids in school for a few weeks," he said.

Society of Beer Advocates

New Zealanders will be able to wind down after a long week of work with a cold glass of beer, and at the same time help those in quake-devastated Christchurch.

The Society of Beer Advocates has organised various bars around the country to donate all profits from beer sales tonight to the Red Cross earthquake appeal.

All bars will have a minute's silence at 7pm followed by an earthquake fundraising auction or raffle.

The bars are Andrew Andrew in Auckland, House on Hood in Hamilton, Bar Edward in Wellington, The Freehouse in Nelson, The Old Bank in Blenheim and a venue yet to be announced in Dunedin.

Spokesman Martin Bulmer said breweries from around the country, such as boutique brewery Moa in Blenheim, have donated beer to bars in the region but it will be up to individual bars to determine the percentage of profits that will go to the appeal.

"It's a bit of a boot-strap affair. As the word has gone out bars around the country have said 'yeah, we'll help, we'll step in, we'll do something'. We have basically made it as wide as possible to encourage bars around the country to see if they can do something as well," said Mr Bulmer.

Mr Bulmer said many smaller breweries in the Christchurch region, such as the small-scale Three Boys Brewery, had been extensively damaged in the quake but fortunately there had been no loss of life in the beer community.

Mr Vintage

Auckland-based t-shirt company Mr Vintage is donating 100 per cent of profits from the sale of three limited edition red and black t-shirts to Christchurch relief funds. The campaign, launched on Tuesday, has already sold over 1,000 t-shirts, raising more than $30,000 for St John, the Canterbury SPCA, Victim Support and the Salvation Army.

Modelling the $49.95 t-shirts, that feature a Richter scale graph and the words of support "Aroha Christchurch", are local celebrities Hayley Holt, Shannon Ryan and Ben Boyce.

Mr Vintage communications spokeswoman Melanie Michels said the company's suppliers had discounted t-shirt materials heavily for the cause and the company who manage the online payment systems have given the company 5,000 transactions for free.

The company has also provided the 2000-strong University of Canterbury student army, that has been assisting in the worst-hit Christchurch suburbs, with t-shirts to use as uniforms.

T-shirts are available at mrvintage.co.nz

Adopt a Christchurch Family

Dancing with the stars host Jason Gunn and his wife Janine Morrell-Gunn have rallied support from the local and international community for their Adopt a Christchurch Family fund.

Mrs Morrell-Gunn said the husband and wife team, who own Christchurch's Whitebait studios, were compelled to set up the fund in the wake of last Tuesday's earthquake after they provided financial assistance to two families following last September's earthquake.

"For us, it meant we helped two families get up each morning and keep going... we kept two families together and for us family is the foundation to rebuilding the future here in Christchurch," said Mrs Morrell-Gunn.

The couple has gained wide exposure in international media and has received donations from Japan, China, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The fund not only provides financial assistance but also makes smaller contributions such as thermoses for the elderly who may not have been able to boil water for a cup of tea in the last week.

"We are going into areas where people rely on their connections to the community and their community is in the same boat. So we are reaching out to the international community and saying 'hey, come be neighbours to these families'," said Mrs Morrell-Gunn.

SBS

Across the ditch, members of the non-English speaking community have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to help those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

The Special Broadcasting Service, which broadcasts in more than 70 languages, launched a national radio and online campaign earlier this week that managed to raise $322,988 in just one day.

Multilingual volunteers manned SBS offices in Melbourne and Sydney, fielding thousands of calls during the campaign that was held in partnership with the Red Cross.

SBS spokeswoman Sophia Spinelli said Australia's multi-cultural public broadcaster were compelled to fundraise after watching the devastating live footage of the earthquake's aftermath.

Spinelli said the broadcaster appealed for donations through 17 radio programmes, in languages such as Arabic and Italian, throughout the day on Tuesday.

"It was a really great opportunity for people who can't usually donate. A lot of the non-English speaking communities are very giving and they want to contribute, but quite often there's a language barrier there," said Ms Spinelli.

Sabato

Fine-food importer Sabato are donating 100 per cent of retail profits from its Mt Eden Store on Sunday to the Government's Christchurch earthquake appeal after many of its suppliers were shut down in the aftermath of last Tuesday's earthquake.

Sabato marketing assistant Helen Dixon said the company had been overwhelmed with the response to the gift baskets auctioned off on Trademe to raise money for the earthquake appeal.

"The TrademMe auctions have had a lot of positive feedback - particularly considering they were only advertised on our Facebook and Twitter initially. New Zealanders want to help Christchurch and it is a good incentive for them to donate if they also get something in return - and we are happy to provide that," said Ms Dixon.

Food writers Ray McVinnie and Julie Le Clerc will be in store for live cooking demonstrations throughout the day.

Visit sabato.co.nz for details.

Greenstone Energy

New Zealand-owned Greenstone Energy has donated 100,000 litres of jet-fuel at a cost of around $150,000 for Air New Zealand's humanitarian flights in and out of Christchurch.

Communications Manager Johnathan Hill said this equated to more than three truck loads - or enough fuel for 10 return flights.

He said the company wanted to help Air New Zealand connect friends and family who have been affected by the quake.

"The way we see it is as a collaboration between two Kiwi companies coming together to do the right thing for people at a time when they need it. We are a company that effectively is owned by every New Zealander", said Mr Hill.

He said the company, which owns Shell service stations, has 26 retail petrol stations in the Christchurch area, 16 of which are now open.

Expats in France

A group of New Zealanders living in France has donated more than $216,000.

On Tuesday, a limited edition amphibious boat signed by the All Blacks raised $208,700 for New Zealand Plunket at an auction in Paris.

A drinks and dinner benefit organised by the Kiwi Corner raised $5000 for the earthquake fund.

The Association France Nouvelle-Zélande gave $3000 to the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal and said the money was to support "0our Christchurch friends"
during this difficult time.

The association has also organised a number of fundraising events to raise more money for victims of the quake.

Collected

Red Cross - $23m
Salvation Army - $6.2m
ANZ/National - $3.3m
Fonterra - $3m
Westpac - $1m
BNZ - $2.8m
ASB - $3m
Telecom - $90,000 (from The Official Red Cross txt-to-donate service)
Vodafone - $566,437 raised by customers $1.25m raised by Vodafone New Zealand and Vodafone's worldwide sister companies.

Fundraiser to Benefit Christchurch Relief

http://www.americannewzealand.org/news/2011_02_25.html

EARTHQUAKE BENEFIT 

March 5, 2011

ANZA and Stone Street Tavern invite you to join our friends from
Kea North America, and the Kiwi Club of New York, at a 
Fundraiser to Benefit Christchurch Relief

STONE STREET TAVERN at 52 Stone Street, New York, NY 10004
Saturday March 5th at 7 PM

Click on the BUY NOW button to make a $30 Tax Deductible contribution or a $40 contribution can be made at the door.

Included in the night will be Kim Crawford and other New Zealand assorted wines, Steinlager, 42 Below Vodka, and great selection of finger food. Other drinks will be sold at a special rate.

Raffle Prizes will include Kim Crawford NZ Barbeques, restaurant dinners, and other items.

ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE ANZA
CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

This is a great opportunity to support our Christchurch cousins. Let's do it.

ANZA Fundraiser this Saturday

http://americannewzealand.org/news/2011_02_25.html

General Motors makes quake donation

http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/general-motors-makes-quake-donation-4042709#

America's General Motors is making a substantial donation to the Christchurch earthquake.

Today, Holden New Zealand announced it is joining with the General Motors Foundation for a $US200,000 ($NZ268,000) grant to the New Zealand American Association to help provide disaster relief services to earthquake stricken areas in and around Christchurch.

These funds will go toward the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund in support of ongoing relief efforts and to provide essential supplies to communities devastated by the deadly February 22 earthquake.

General Motors CFO is Kiwi Chris Liddell, who joined GM after a high profile stint at Microsoft.

Liddell announced the donation during a visit to Auckland today.

"As a global company, we feel a deep responsibility to give back in a time of need for the communities where our employees live and work," said Liddell.

Holden NZ Managing Director, Simon Carr said Holden has a history of supporting the community that in turn has supported it so strongly for over 50 years.

The GM Foundation has been providing financial support to the US and cities around the world rocked by natural disasters for over three decades.

Recent contributions have helped relief efforts toward the earthquake in Haiti and floods in Tennessee, Kentucky and most recently Queensland.

'There's always hope... but it fades'

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10709627

Search and rescue at the devastated Pyne Gould Corporation building in central Christchurch paused work early this morning for an emotional karakia, police say.

Police Superintendent Russell Gibson told Radio New Zealand that a British contractor at the site had suggested a karakia - or Maori prayer - to give strength to workers.

Mr Gibson said staff took five minutes out for the "lovely ceremony" at 5.30am.

"There were quite a few tears shed and when that finished they went back to work."

Mr Gibson said many of the personnel had missed yesterday's two minutes' silence for the victims of last Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake because they worked nights but had wanted to pay tribute.

"I think it was their way of reflecting on the horrendous job that they had been doing."

Rescuers at the site still hoped to find survivors, he said.

"There's always hope - they live on that - but the reality is it fades."

Police believe the death toll could reach 240 but say it might not be possible to recover all of the bodies from among the ruins.

One week after the quake, most of the sites inside the city's cordon remain untouched - bikes are locked to street lights, dented and bruised cars sit under a scattering of bricks.

But at the three main sites where many of the victims died - the CTV and PGC buildings and the Christchurch Cathedral - the landscape is slowly changing as unstable buildings are deconstructed, block by block.

At the CTV building, the mound of rubble at the base has mostly disappeared.

However, at the cathedral, the rubble is increasing as teams work to remove the leftovers of what fell within the tower when the spire crumbled.

Outside the city centre authorities are still going door to door, assessing the safety of damaged homes.

Of the 12,250 inspections completed by mid yesterday, 1444 have been deemed too dangerous for residents to remain in.

Many have now fled the city instead.

Police estimate up to 5000 residents have gone to Timaru where a large number of children have been temporarily enrolled in local schools.

In Christchurch City, all early childhood centres, schools and tertiary institutions have been closed until further notice.

Canterbury University has also cancelled all graduation ceremonies scheduled for next month in an attempt to take pressure off the city's infrastructure.

- NZHERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA, AGENCIES

Christchurch: Then and Now

Compare photos of some of Christchurch's hardest hit buildings from before and after the earthquake.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=116929#7382077

Voices for Christchurch Fundraising Concert- UNITED IN SONG

Several prominent New Zealand opera singers , along with colleagues from around the globe are presenting a concert in New York City  to raise funds to help the people of Christchurch rebuild their futures, in what will be a very slow return to any sort of normality.  These artists believe that this event will help to bring New Zealanders and their friends in New York together, and act as a form of healing for those whose loved ones are far away, reeling and  suffering in the wake of this tragic natural disaster. 

Watch this page for detailed information regarding the Voices for Christchurch Benefit Concert.

Christchurch earthquake: Public gatherings for two minutes' silence

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10709447&ref=twitter

.

Church bells will ring across the country at 12.51pm as New Zealanders observe two minutes' silence in respect of the victims of last Tueday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.As well as at a number of cathedral and church services throughout the country, people can gather in the public places to show their respects, one week on from the devastating earthquake.

Attendees are encouraged to wear red and black to show solidarity with Cantabrians.

Auckland
Victoria Park, from 12.30pm.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, from 12.30pm.

Hamilton
Garden Place, 200 hundred red and black balloons will be released in honour of the victims.
Waikato University, Village Green.

Rotorua
Civic Centre, outside the Hinemaru St entrance, gather just before 12.51pm.

Taupo
Great Lake Centre, at the cenotaph.

New Plymouth
Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary, from 12.30pm.

Napier
St John's Cathedral

Palmerston North
All Saints' Church in Church St

Wellington
Civic Square, Wakefield Street, from 12.45pm.
Parliament grounds, from 12.30pm.
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, from 12.30pm

Nelson
The 1903 Square, from 12.30pm.

Blenheim
Seymour Square.

Greymouth
Grey District Council, next to the fountain, Tainui Street, Greymouth. Just before 12.51pm.

Christchurch
Mayor Bob Parker is advising people not to head into the central city, but rather to reflect for two minutes in their communities.
There will be a service at the Art Gallery at midday.

Queenstown
Village Green, as part of the Kia Kaha Christchurch fundraising concert, from 12pm.

Dunedin
The Octagon, followed by a short service of prayer St Paul's Cathedral at 1pm.

Invercargill
Invercargill City Council, next to the flag pole on Esk St, Invercargill, just before 12.51pm.
First Presbyterian Church
St Mary's Basilica

Christchurch earthquake: Family say farewell to baby Baxtor

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10709415
Distraught relatives of baby Baxtor Gowland have spoken for the first time about the 5-month-old's death after last week's devastating earthquake.

Little Baxtor, born just 13 days after the first earthquake hit Christchurch on September 4, was asleep in his bed on Tuesday and was hit by falling masonry.

He was rushed to hospital, but his injuries were too serious for him to survive.

At his funeral yesterday, mourners wore white ribbons and some arrived carrying balloons decorated with smiley faces.

Two police officers attended the service at a chapel in Upper Riccarton, but left about halfway through. One officer wiped away tears.

After the service Baxtor's tiny white coffin was placed on to the back seat of a car next to his mother, Breanna Gowland, who walked from the service holding a little blue teddy bear.

She was distraught but allowed a relative to say a few words.

Baxtor's great-uncle Peter Croft choked with emotion as he spoke of how the little boy died.

"The last week has been a tragedy for Canterbury and New Zealand. It has been especially difficult for our family because of the death of Baxtor," he said. "Baxtor was sleeping peacefully at home at the time of the earthquake and he was seriously injured by falling masonry. He died in hospital."

Media had been asked not to attend Baxtor's funeral service inside. Mr Croft said the interest in the service for his nephew was understandable, but the family requested privacy.

"We have all been thankful of the support and good wishes from people from New Zealand and around the world. However, we would like to think today is for family and friends, so we can farewell Baxtor with peace and dignity."

Baxtor's father Shaun McKenna set up a tribute page on Facebook.

Before the funeral he requested a minute's silence for his "beloved" son. He said his "little man" made everyone who met him smile.

"May you look down upon us and help us remember your beautiful face. Bax you are forever in our hearts, we will always love you."

It is understood Baxtor was to be buried next to his grandfather.

The next funeral to be held for earthquake victims will be Jaime Gilbert's. The 22-year-old father of two died when the Iconic Bar collapsed in the quake. His sister, Amy Cooney, survived and was found holding Mr Gilbert's hand.

His funeral is this morning.

Prime Minister Announces two minute silence Tuesday at 12.51pm

This is at EST 6:51 - 6:53pm, Monday evening in the United States.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4711648/Two-minute-silence-tomorrow-at-12-51pm-John-Key

Prime Minister John Key has asked all New Zealanders to observe two minutes' silence from 12.51pm on tomorrow, exactly one week after Christchurch's deadly earthquake, to honour quake victims.

The death toll following Canterbury's magnitude 6.3 quake is 145 and police say that number will rise.

More than 200 people are listed as missing.

Canterbury police chief Dave Cliff yesterday said the toll increased from 123 after 22 more bodies were found.

"We expect that number to rise as the search and rescue teams progressively find more and more deceased," he told a press conference.

Mr Cliff said he was aware families were concerned about how long it was taking to identity victims, but the disaster victim identification team was going as fast as it possibly could.

Police held two meetings with families yesterday -- one with overseas families and one with locals.

"We have tied up each of the families with a liaison officer, one of our police officers, so when there is specific information about the identity of a loved one and that person is in our possession, we will be doing everything humanly possible to get that loved one back to their family as soon as we can," he said.

"We will move heaven and earth to do that, but the biggest concern we have is returning the wrong loved one to the wrong family, and that is a risk we just don't even want to think about."

Police were working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to get information from consular officials that would help identify foreign nationals.

Mr Key has said Tuesday's earthquake may be New Zealand's single most tragic event in its history.

"I am calling on all New Zealanders to stop and remember those who have lost their lives, those who are missing, and the hundreds of people who are mourning family and friends," he said.

"At 12.51pm this Tuesday, the 1st of March, I am asking that New Zealand stops for two minutes as a sign of unity for the people of Canterbury who are enduring a tragedy beyond what most of us can imagine.

"Canterbury will recover and we will do all we can to ensure it does.

"For now, we must do all we can to show its people that all of New Zealand grieves with them."

Meanwhile, police have urged people to stay off Christchurch roads, so that essential services are not held up.

They also say the risk of bricks and windows falling from windows in the central city remains high and people should stay away from the CBD.

Civil Defence director John Hamilton has said the scale of the response to the emergency has been huge, with a fantastic response, under trying conditions, from many people.

- NZPA