A state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended until Wednesday following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Saturday.
Much of the city and its surrounding towns remain in shut down mode because buildings are still deemed unsafe.
A 12-hour curfew covering the centre of Christchurch was lifted at 7am on Monday.
It was the second night that police have maintained a lockdown of the central business district.
Another curfew in the city is intended on Monday, from 7pm - 7am, for the public's safety.
All schools in Christchurch, Selwyn and Kaiapoi are closed on Monday. Canterbury University is closed until at least 13 September.
Workers in the central city are being told not to go to work and city buses are cancelled.
Dozens of aftershocks are still being felt as people confront the massive task of cleaning up after New Zealand's most damaging earthquake since the Napier disaster in 1931.
CBD cordoned off
Thousands of workers are unable to enter the cordoned off area of the Christchurch central business district, where at least 90 damaged buildings are yet to be declared safe.
Police Superintendent Dave Cliff says it is still too risky for people to be in the central city because of unstable bricks, masonry and glass.
As buildings are given the all-clear, he says the cordon blocking the central city will be gradually reduced.
He also told Morning Report on Monday that drivers on suburban streets, particularly in the eastern suburbs, should be particularly vigilant because large sinkholes have been appearing without warning.
Health officials say everyone should boil their drinking water.
