Dozens are missing or confirmed dead in an earthquake that could have claimed as many as 300. Here are some of the stories of the victims.
Donna Manning
Donna Manning loved seeing people step outside their comfort zone and succeed. And in her role with Canterbury Television she saw that all the time.
Read more about Donna here.
Jeff Sanft
A young father travelling on a bus in the city centre that was crushed in the quake is among the dead.
Read more about Jeff here.
Matti Makeekan
Tattoo apprentice Matti Makeekan died as Southern Ink Tattoo in Manchester St came crashing to the ground.
Read more about Matti here.
Samuel Gibb
Samuel Gibb, a journalist for Canterbury Television, was described yesterday as a loving husband and "the last person that deserves this".
Read more about Samuel here.
Murray Wood
Murray Wood's day job was managing director of Canterbury Television. But outside his office he would often be found hammering the keys of his piano around the garden city.
Read more about Murray here.
Andrew Bishop
Andrew "Bish" Bishop is supposed to give his sister away at her wedding.
Read more about Andrew here.
Phil McDonald
The Crusaders were yesterday coming to terms with news one of their own was dead.
Read more about Phil here.
Jo Giles
A long-time familiar face on regional television, mother of four Jo Giles was also known for high-adrenaline activities and even tried her hand at politics.
Read more about Jo here.
Matty Beaumont
Whether in front of the camera or behind it, Matty Beaumont was equally at home.
Read more about Matty here.
Susan Chuter
Aaron Waine's relief at being reunited with his wife turned to horror when he realised a building she had seen collapse was where his mother, Susan Chuter, 51, worked.
Read more about Susan here.
Jaime Gilbert
Jaime Gilbert was running for his life from the bar he worked in when he became trapped under rubble. His workmates frantically dug through debris to save him but he did not survive.
Read more about Jaime here.
Owen McKenna
Owen McKenna is believed to have been shopping when debris fell on his car.
Read more about Owen here.
Melissa Neale
The body of Melissa Neale lies somewhere in Cashel Mall where she was eating lunch with her mother, moments before the quake devastated Christchurch.
Read more about Melissa here.
Neil Stocker
Neil Stocker has been described as a devoted family man who was dedicated to his work and was a well-known face in the Timaru community.
Read more about Neil here.
Scott Lucy
Scott Lucy was looking forward to becoming a husband and starting a family with his fiancee, Gemma Shefford.
Read more about Scott here.
Paul Dunlop
Paul Dunlop was part of a team of eight dismantling an organ at the Durham St Methodist Mission Church when the quake hit.
Read more about Paul here.
Don Cowey
Don Cowey had wandered out to his garden to pick some raspberries for a get-together that evening.
Read more about Don here.
Baxtor Gowland
Five-month-old Baxtor Gowland was born two weeks after the first earthquake rocked Christchurch in September.
Read more about Baxtor here.
Joseph Pohio
Christchurch City Council worker Joseph Pohio was trying to help someone else when he was hit by falling debris shortly after Tuesday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake.
Read more about Joseph here.
