The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended a further seven days following an aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale this morning.

Re-building Canterbury after the earthquake will happen, but it may happen quickly, says Fletcher Building chief executive Jonathan Ling.

An open source online map has been set up to help Cantabrians find help nearest to them.

Stricken homeowners and workers will start receiving compensation and emergency payouts within days as Christchurch's earthquake bill threatens to exceed $2bn.

Rebuilding up to 100,000 damaged and destroyed homes in quake-hit Canterbury could take years, a building executive says.

The Christchurch earthquake is expected to provide a much-needed lifeline for NZ's beleaguered construction sector.

Aucklanders are being lauded for staying off the roads during a mammoth traffic management operation.

Aucklanders stayed off the roads last night as authorities shut the busiest stretch of motorway in the country.

Organisers of the country's largest motorway closure are praying they have scared enough Aucklanders off the roads this weekend to avoid the city grinding to a halt.

There have been more than 1000 submissions against plans to build houses on an unspoilt Coromandel beach.

The historic Birdcage Tavern started its slow move towards new temporary lodgings yesterday.

Businesses are concerned traffic diversions to be put in place while the Newmarket Viaduct is developed will create traffic mayhem.