The state of emergency in Canterbury is due to be lifted at midday on Wednesday.
But the region's mayors say that will not happen if they are not satisfied with new legislation the Government wants to push through Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
The Government says emergency legislation will enable rebuilding to be fast-tracked, as Christchurch works to recover from a magnitude 7.1 quake on 4 September.
But the mayors says the legislation in its draft form has no provision for a recovery co-ordinator to be appointed to carry on the powers of a civil defence controller, should that be necessary.
