The state of local emergency in Kaikōura has been extended for another seven days.
New Zealand Defence Force troops deliver supplies to Kaikōura's New World. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Civil Defence controller Murray Sinclair said this would provide extra support and assistance to the community, after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 14 November.
He said Civil Defence has made good progress over the last few weeks.
Fuel restrictions have been lifted, the supply of water has increased and power has been restored to most of the community.
The town was cut off by last month's earthquake, which brought down huge slips on State Highway 1. The coastal highway remains closed.
Road access via the inland route has been intermittent, but weekday public convoys were given the green light a week ago.
The government said last week about 60 businesses in the town had taken up its offer of an employee wage subsidy. The scheme would be reviewed before Christmas.
Number of ruptured faults rises
Meanwhile, scientists say they now have evidence that nine faults ruptured in the Kaikōura earthquake.
Geologist Rob Langridge, who flew over the area today, has just confirmed the tally has risen from seven faults to nine.
He said the quake now stood as being of similar complexity to the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake, in which many onshore and offshore faults ruptured, and which caused a tsunami.
Mr Langridge said several faults also simultaneously ruptured in the 1906 San Francisco quake.
Good progress on landslips - NZTA
The New Zealand Transport Agency said crews working on SH1 south of Kaikōura have cleared more than half of the 25 slips created by last month's earthquake.
It had cleared 13 and was making good progress on the 14th and 15th - the two biggest.
Its regional performance manager, Pete Connors, said it was aiming to restore controlled single-lane access for residents and essential services by the middle of this month - depending on the weather and any further quakes.
Meanwhile, police were warning those driving from Christchurch to Picton by inland highways to drive with caution and not dangerously overtake other vehicles.
One landslip dam breaches
The latest check from the air of dams caused by landslides into waterways in the region shows one of them has broken.
The dam on the Towy has breached and the lake level behind it has dropped a lot, leaving only a small amount of water.
The flyover yesterday showed the other 10 slip dams of potential concern were pretty much as they were early last week.
GNS Science geologists and hydrologists were still investigating the likely impact of a breach of any of the three dams of the most concern: on the Hapuku River, Ote Makura above Goose Bay and the Linton Creek.
Flyovers were taking place two or three times a week to keep track of how water was building up.