The Chief Coroner says efforts are still being made to identify victims of the Christchurch earthquake and could continue for months.
Judge Neil MacLean says of the 181 people presumed to have died, it has not yet been possible to find any identifiable trace of about nine.
He says care has been taken to make sure there have been no errors and a decision on a common grave for those unable to be identified has not been made.
Judge MacLean says his immediate responsibility is to return remains to family members.
