Access to Kaikoura restored after 5.7 aftershock temporarily closes only road in

UPDATE 12pm: Access has been restored and an army convoy is now on its way along Inland Rd toward Kaikoura. It is expected to arrive later this afternoon.

EARLIER: The Inland Rd to Kaikoura has been closed following yesterday evening’s 5.7 aftershock, again leaving the quake-hit town with air-only access to the outside world.

The road (formerly SH70) had been reopened to army convoys.  

A  Canterbury Regional Emergency Management Office update issued soon after the aftershock says it is closed to all traffic pending an assessment for new hazards.

The 5.7 magnitude aftershock struck near Culverden at 6.13pm at a depth of 23km, GeoNet says. It was rated severe.

Even before the major aftershock, contractors were saying thousands of workers would be needed for road and building repairs.

Scott Mathieson, of recruitment and immigration firm Working In, said such workers were already scarce in New Zealand.

He was already looking for more workers from the Philippines, he said. He saw the need for around 1000 immigrants to fill the gap.

Wage subsidy scheme extended to larger firms
In other quake news, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the wage subsidy package for small businesses (those with less than 20 staff) in and around Kaikoura will be extended to larger companies.

Kaikoura Whale Watch was among those who missed out on the initial package.

PSA backs GeoNet boss in stoush with Brownlee
The Public Service Association has backed GeoNet director Ken Gledhill in the ongoing stoush over the quake monitoring agency's request for a funding boost to allow for 24/7 staffing.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee hit out at Geonet director Ken Gledhill, who has called for more funding and round-the-clock staffing for the tsunami early warning system.

“We absolutely back Dr Gledhill’s decision to draw attention to the limited staffing at GeoNet in the face of criticisms of his service,” PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk says.

“Dr Gledhill clearly has deep concerns about the way our early warning systems operate and he should be free to speak publicly."

Mr Brownlee told NBR Radio he felt blindsided by the criticism and questioned if it was appropriate to bring up the topic of funding "in the heat of the response to a disaster."

Some incredible footage of the Kaikoura coastline post-quake. Ohau Point, Pinnace Rock, Waipapa, and the stranded cows. (By Canterbury Maps) pic.twitter.com/d6k1YaRp17

— NBR (@TheNBR) November 18, 2016<