Prime Minister John Key believes confidence is beginning to return to Christchurch, six months on from the earthquake on 22 February.
He says a lot of progress has been made, from the establishment of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority to a draft plan for the central city.
Mr Key says work to repair homes is happening as quickly as possible and the Government has a package on offer for people who have to relocate from damaged land.
He says his sense is that people are now able to see a future for the city and believe there is a plan to rebuild it.
Mr Key says about 8500 people have left Christchurch since the first of the quakes, which he says is remarkably few.
