The organiser of student volunteers helping the clean up in Christchurch has been talking to the new Civil Defence Minister about better ways to co-ordinate and manage volunteers.
In his first visit since taking on the portfolio, the minister, Chris Tremain, spent Tuesday morning in the eastern suburbs and helped volunteers in the clean up.
The students, Farmy Army volunteers and others were spending a second day removing silt left by liquefaction caused by Friday's strong earthquakes.
Mr Tremain says he is happy with how his ministry responded to the recent quakes and wanted to see the recovery for himself.
Student Volunteer Army organiser Sam Johnson said he and Mr Tremain have been visited earthquake-affected homes.
Mr Johnson said it had been frustrating at times dealing with Civil Defence as it does not have a mandate to deal with volunteers nor with residents' private properties.
He said about 400 people turned their hands to the work on Monday, removing silt and mud from properties mainly in the eastern suburbs.
