The Green Party is urging landlords of quake-stricken buildings to stop charging rent to residents who have been displaced due to the Kaikoura earthquake.
Many inner-city apartment buildings in Wellington have been forced to close following the quake, leaving residents without a home.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw says continuing to charge rent would be unfair on tenants.
"I think any landlord should examine their conscience - if they're still charging rent to residents who can't actually live in the houses or apartment buildings that they've got on offer, [they] should take a look at that and say, maybe we could give people a break right now," he said.
Mr Shaw says while the Government was right to announce financial support for businesses, helpless residents also need support.
"I know personally people who haven't been able to go home since the earthquake, so it's pretty clear that we do need to provide some form of support just as we did during the Christchurch quakes," he said.
The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment is launching website support on Tuesday, as well as an 0800 number for residents affected by the earthquake.
Newshub.
