Damaged road at Pines Beach. Pic: NZPA

By Amelia Romanos of NZPA

Christchurch, Sept 6 NZPA - Tentative Christchurch central city residents edged back into their homes today to collect belongings.

With many buildings in the CBD condemned and at risk of collapsing, those living in neighbouring properties trod carefully as they collected up personal belongings.

Among those who returned home today was broadcasting student Holly Carran, who was asleep in her second floor Lichfield St when the quake struck at 4.35am on Saturday.

"It was quite lucky because I'd only walked home from town about an hour earlier," she told NZPA.

"It was terrifying, especially when you look out the window and the building across the road has fallen right over."

Ms Carran said she and her two other flatmates had packed minimally when they were evacuated on Saturday, not knowing how long they might be away.

"Our place has the all-clear to go into, but I guess it depends how long the city is closed," she said.

"We called our landlord and they've got about 70 other buildings which have been red-stickered, so it could be a while."

Buildings on which structural engineers have placed red stickers are no-go zones, yellow stickers provide restricted access and green stickers allow access.

Fellow broadcasting student Lloyd Burr said his Poplar Lane flat was yet to be assessed, but he had returned to collect up some items today as well.

"Just going in you're nervous. Walking up the stairs there's paint and plaster everywhere," he said.

"When I got into my room it's just a disaster. It looks like I've really pissed someone off and he's come round to teach me a lesson."

Mr Burr said he had run straight onto the street in his pyjamas following the quake, and was not able to get back in until 3pm.

"The police just wouldn't let me back past the cordon, and when I did get in there was an aftershock and I was out of there."

Mr Burr said he had spoken to several people who lived in the inner city who also had shredded nerves.

"When you're in the building every gust of wind feels like it's going to bring it down."