New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has said the government is looking to pass emergency quake legislation next week to help with the rebuilding process in Canterbury following Saturday's earthquake.

Key was back in South Island's Canterbury on Saturday visiting some of the worst-hit areas of the city.

"We're hopeful we'll get agreement on that legislation by the early to mid-part of next week, and look to transition that legislation through the house," the Stuff website quoted him as saying on Saturday.

Without special legislation, the rebuilding effort could be hampered after the state of emergency, scheduled to remain in place until next Wednesday, is lifted.

"While there is a civil emergency in place the Civil Defence Act overrides all of the other legislation, but when we take that off then that's no longer the case," Key said.

The legislation would set up something like a commission to cover the three worst-hit districts, the Stuff website reported.

The commission would "make decisions that allow the city to be rebuilt as quickly as possible and with the least inconvenience to the residents of Canterbury", he said.