After two days of hot weather, the reeking sewage-laden silt has dried and the wind sends its dust billowing out.

One of the world's biggest reinsurers estimated today that last week's Christchurch earthquake would cost insurers between $8.1 billion and $16b.

Wealthy parents receiving money from Working for Families look set to lose the funding as the Govt looks to find financial relief for the Christchurch quake.

Search teams in the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Forsyth Barr, CTV and PGC buildings are facing a variety of challenges in trying to secure the buildings.

A distraught wife has left her husband after telling him he did not pick her up quickly enough after the earthquake.

Thousands of Christchurch's 350,000 inhabitants have left in droves, flying, driving, even walking away, with no plans to return any time soon.

Bricklayer's daughter on dad's death: It was "bloody bricks" that killed him. "He would have found that funny."