Most of the international search and rescue crews helping in Christchurch are heading home.
The Fire Service's assistant national commander, Russell Wood, says the United States team left on Thursday and the Singaporean, Japanese and Chinese crews will head home this weekend.
Mr Wood says 43 buildings in the central city are still to be searched and cleared and it's hoped that work will be finished next weekend.
He says Australian searchers will stay to help next week and the US crew has left equipment behind.
Mr Wood says work outside the central city cordon could be completed this weekend.
