Sweeping changes to the Christchurch public transport system will be introduced next month, with buses on major routes set to run every 10 minutes at peak times.

Stressed Christchurch council office workers will get an extra day's paid holiday each month, but their colleagues helping rebuild the quake-damaged city won't be getting it.

Mainzeal has completed laying the slab which will be the base of the new Airforce Museum in Wigram, Chrictchurch. Until they move in it will be a pop up conference centre and help out other museums affected by the earthquakes.

Christchurch's determination to rise from the rubble has been richly rewarded with a spot in Lonely Planet's top 10 cities worldwide to visit in 2013.

Cutting-edge quake engineering technology emanating out of post-disaster Christchurch is being ignored by some owners in their haste to erect new buildings, says expert.

Cantabrians are setting their sights on Hamilton's housing market as they look to spend their newly received insurance payouts from damaged properties.

A quarter of the country registered for a national earthquake drill today, but despite the popularity of the exercise there are no plans to make it an annual event.

The drop, cover and hold message was practised around the country today at 9.26am today, but in Christchurch some laughed at the need to take part in an earthquake drill.

Teachers were the unsung heroes of the Christchurch earthquakes, according to a Canterbury University lecturer heading a research project.

About half of the businesses which left the Christchurch CBD after the Canterbury earthquakes are not likely to return, research has found.

Environment Canterbury is advising dust-sensitive Christchurch residents to wear dust masks as demolitions pick up in the city.