By Annabelle Jackman
Prime Minister John Key has spent the morning visiting some of the worst affected areas in rural Canterbury.
On his trip Mr Key had an opportunity to speak to business owners, farmers and homeowners with property that in some cases is beyond repair.
It's not everyday the Prime Minister comes to your front door, but these aren't ordinary circumstances.
Mr Key made three stops like in Kaiapoi this morning, one of the worst-affected areas in Saturday's quake.
Andrew Blackwell met briefly with Mr Key and showed him the damage the 7.1 magnitude quake had on the department store his family has been running since 1921.
"It doesn't look too pretty does it? You know, we've got to think of positive things. We're determined to stay here in Kaiapoi, in business.
"We've been here a long time, it's a great town great people, we've had a lot of support from them."
Mr Blackwell hasn't even been able access his building yet to survey the damage inside, but he's determined to get back up and running.
"Quite when we get going again here we're not too sure. We've got to take the first step, get going again here and come to what we do with the building, and how we get going here again is the next step."
Mr Key's next stop in his journey around the quake-affected area will be the epicentre of Darfield and then across to Leeston.
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