Stricken homeowners and workers will start receiving compensation and emergency payouts within days as Christchurch's earthquake bill threatens to exceed $2bn.

Politicians swooped into earthquake-ravaged Christchurch last night, visiting a shelter that descended into chaos at John Key's visit.

The Government has stepped in with an emergency wage subsidy for quake-stricken workers who aren't being paid.

Follow the developing situation on day four of the Christchurch earthquake disaster with nzherald.co.nz's latest updates.

Two heritage buildings in central Christchurch are likely to be demolished this afternoon due to quake damage, the city council says.

View a map of the damage caused by Saturday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks in Christchurch.

Welfare staff are unable to contact thousands of solo pensioners in Canterbury and the Government is urging anyone looking after them to get in touch.

Children traumatised after the Christchurch earthquake will get the same support as those in war-torn Afghanistan and quake ravaged Haiti.

Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa have been hit by two quakes this morning but there have been no reports of damage.

Finance Minister Bill English has asked banks and the Inland Revenue Department to be flexible with Christchurch earthquake victims.

John Key has cancelled his scheduled trip to Europe in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.

Supermarket chains are counting millions of dollars in damaged stock as they ship in groceries to cover shortages and access lost to distribution centres.

Christchurch tourism operators say there is some disruption from the earthquake but most are open for business.

If you only have a minute and you want today's need-to-know earthquake news at a glance, this is the page for you.