Christchurch protesters risking their lives - police

Christchurch business owners protesting last week. Photo / Sarah Ivey

People who force their way through cordons into Christchurch's quake-ravaged central business district (CBD) could be killed, police say.

A group of businesspeople marched through Christchurch's cordoned CBD this afternoon, demanding access to their businesses.

"The CBD is a very dangerous environment...They're putting their own lives at risk when they actually go within the cordoned area," Christchurch Superintendent Andy McGregor said.

Some buildings were still unstable and in danger of falling, especially if large aftershocks continued to strike.

Mr McGregor said he understood why business owners were so frustrated but storming the cordon was not the answer.

"It has actually got to be done in quite a structured, systemic way. We can't just have people going in when they feel like going in," he told Radio New Zealand.

Nobody was arrested during the protest today despite people pushing past the cordon, he said.

However, if it happened again people would be arrested: "The fact is if people are using force to go in, we'll deal with it firmly," he said.

Christchurch businessman Kurt Langer, who has a photography studio in Cashel Mall, said at least 100 people took part in a protest outside the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Protesters demanded Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Civil Defence chief John Hamilton come and talk to them, but to no avail, he said.

People pushed past the cordon and walked along several streets on the outskirts of the CBD, he said.

"We really want to stop the demolition companies from demolishing buildings without anyone's consent...That's why there are many frustrated people."

Mr Langer said protesters, mainly people who owned buildings or leased buildings in the area, felt out of the loop and were concerned their buildings would be demolished without any consultation.

"We are all going bankrupt. We are about to lose everything and they will not tell us anything. It's a complete police state," he told NZPA.

He said protesters held signs with messages including "stop the demolition", "let us retrieve our property", and "stop ruining our lives".

Mr Langer said a structural engineer had told him his building could be made safe enough to enter.

"I could retrieve at least half a million dollars of irreplaceable goods within half an hour," he said.

He said protesters only walked in the safe area of the cordon and he felt no concern for his safety.

However, Civil Defence said the cordon was in place for a reason.

"They're lucky there wasn't an aftershock because it would have been highly dangerous to be in the cordoned area," a spokesman told NZPA.

"We understand their frustrations but we do not condone entering a cordoned area. Our number one priority is public safety."

Meanwhile, structural engineers earlier checked buildings in the CBD for further damage after last night's hefty aftershock.

However, the magnitude 5.1 quake had not caused any significant damage, Civil Defence said.

Engineers checked eight buildings throughout the CBD, which varied in height, width and construction.

The sample gave engineers a good indication of the structural behaviour of other buildings in the area, which had a similar structure.

- NZPA