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New Zealand extended a state of emergency in earthquake-hit Christchurch Monday as troops enforced a no-go zone in the centre of the country's second-biggest city.

Authorities said strong aftershocks continued to rock Christchurch following the 7.0-magnitude quake on Saturday, which caused extensive damage estimated at two billion dollars (1.44 billion US).

Troops were called in to relieve exhausted police manning checkpoints sealing off the city centre, with the Civil Defence authority saying the area remained closed due to danger from falling masonry and glass.

"The state of emergency has been extended until midday Wednesday," a ministry spokesman told AFP.

A night-time curfew has been imposed since Saturday after initial reports of looting.

Christchurch police superintendent Dave Cliff told Radio New Zealand that a number of "known criminals" were arrested as they attempted to enter the central business district posing as council workers.

About 200 people whose homes were uninhabitable spent the night in welfare centres.

Officials warned it would be some time before life returned to normal in the city of 340,000 people following the country's most destructive quake in almost 80 years.

"This isn't a short-term thing," said Prime Minister John Key, who was scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting Monday to fast-track arrangements to restore Christchurch's damaged infrastructure.

Key is expected to appoint a special commissioner to oversee rebuilding efforts.

Schools, shops and businesses were closed and residents were advised to stay at home until inspections of the more than 500 buildings damaged by the quake were completed.

Business owners were among the few people allowed into the city centre so they could assess damage to their properties.

Buildings deemed too dangerous to enter, many of which are likely to be torn down, were marked with red tags by structural engineers.

About one-fifth of the city's homes were without running water and authorities were bringing in supplies on rail tankers.

Civil Defence advised residents whose taps were working to boil drinking water because of possible contamination from burst pipes.

However, emergency workers gained some relief when a massive storm that was feared would topple already weakened building failed to arrive.

The break in the weather eased fears of flooding in Christchurch, although it remained a danger in the wider Canterbury region and 150 people were evacuated from a caravan park near the town of Kaiapoi as a precaution.

AFP