Residents could soon get items from red zone

7:40 pm on 14 April 2011

Residents of Christchurch's red zone may soon be given the opportunity to retrieve their possessions.

Civil Defence plans to use an existing information exchange service to organise the retrieval.

National Controller John Hamilton says a plan is in place for a test run using the Earthquake Recovery News and Information Service (ERNI).

Mr Hamilton says the public can register with ERNI to receive alerts from the system, which will be used to coordinate the retrieval of items.

No date has been given for when this will occur, but residents must be registered with the service to take part.

At least 900 people have registered since the service was launched on 5 April.