SEE FULL STORY HERE: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416547/cheviot-earthquake-what-you-need-to-know

ROAD CLOSURES

• The New Zealand Transport Agency said State Highway 7 is closed between Waipara and Springs Junction due to earthquake damage.
• People are being asked to delay their travel between Picton and Christchurch and over the Lewis Pass.
• State Highway 1 has been closed from Picton to Waipara, north of Christchurch, due to earthquake damage.
• The road closure covers 278.6 kilometres, including Kaikoura.
• It is believed bridges on the road have been damaged, including the rail overbridge at Parnassus, between Cheviot and Kaikoura.
• The road to Hanmer Springs is affected by a slip blocking both lanes on the eastern side of the Waiau Ferry Bridge.
• The Lyttelton Tunnel (State Highway 74), which links Christchurch with the seaside suburb of Lyttelton, has been closed until further notice.
• Cheviot ward councillor Vince Daly said State Highway 1, up from Goose Bay on the boundary between the Hurunui and Kaikoura districts, is “impassable”. “I wouldn’t advise people to travel north of Cheviot. There are big cracks in the road – the road’s just opened up.”

TRAINS SUSPENDED, FERRIES CANCELLED

KiwiRail said all trains throughout the South Island, and in the North Island south of Palmerston North on the main trunk line, have been cancelled until further notice.

Ferry sailings have been cancelled until a full assessment can be made of the terminals in Wellington and Picton. That was unlikely to happen until daylight hours.

The Kaiarahi ferry is currently standing off Picton and the Kaitaki and Aratere are at anchor in the Wellington Harbour.

Metlink said all train services on the Wellington network are suspended until further notice. 

“A full inspection of the network needs to take place in daylight before services can resume.”

People are being asked not to travel into the Wellington CBD. If travel is urgent you will need to arrange alternative transport.

Wellington commuters should phone Metlink on 0800 801 700 for more information.

Auckland commuters can phone TransDev on 09 969 7777.

LIMITED BUSES IN CHRISTCHURCH

Environment Canterbury has announced limited bus services due to the tsunami warning with no buses in or out of New Brighton, Southshore, Sumner, Ferrymead, Lyttelton, Pegasus, Waikuku.

Police are blocking access into Sumner due to the tsunami risk.

Buses will not run from Pegasus into the city, nor Burwood Hospital to New Brighton.

Some buses will be missed due to drivers unable to get to work.

EVACUATION CENTRES

Linwood College has been set up as a evacuation point for people who have left their home in Christchurch. The address is 85 Aldwins Rd, Phillipstown.

The Akaroa School Hall at 141 Rue Jolie is open for people on the Banks Peninsula.

Several evacuation centres have been set up in the Waimakariri district, north of Christchurch.

They are at the Woodend Community Centre at 6A School Rd, Rangiora Baptist Church at 111 East Belt, Oxford School Hall at 52 Bay Rd, and the Kaiapoi Rugby Club at 12 Smith St.

There are also welfare centres at the Amberley Pavilion on Douglas Rd and Leithfield School in Amberley; Monteiths on Amuri Ave in Hanmer Springs; the fire station in Motunau; and Mt Lyford Lodge in Mt Lyford.

In Temuka, people can head to the Alpine Energy Stadium in Temuka Domain, and in Timaru, they can head to the SBS Events Centre on Morgans Rd.

In the Clutha District, a welfare centre is open at the Owaka Community Centre on Campbell St.

In Marlborough, the Tuamarina Hall on State Highway 1, north of Blenheim, has been set up as an evacuation point.

Picton residents can head to Waikawa Marae at 210 Waikawa Rd.

Residents of Te Awanga in the Hawkes Bay should gather at Huamoana School,  7 Raymond Rd, Hastings.

In Wellington, refuges have been set up at BizDojo at 115 Tory St and Houghton Valley School at 110 Houghton Bay Rd.

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