A banker says the total cost of damage from the Canterbury earthquake will be nearly a billion dollar higher than Government estimates.

The Earthquake Commission's stage two report shows thousands of homes need to be demolished or repaired following September's Canterbury Earthquake.

South Island mayors will unite to fight the economic pulling power of Auckland's new Super City - a move that may hamper multi-billion-dollar dreams to unclog the city's roads.

Incumbent Bob Parker is way ahead of rival Jim Anderton in the Christchurch city mayoralty race, according to a poll issued today.

Liquefaction was a huge problem, and many hard-hit Bexley residents believe that was because their homes were built on what was once a swamp.

The Government hopes it will be able to give thousands of Canterbury property owners in the worst earthquake-hit areas some idea of what the future holds by the middle of next week.

Student volunteers who helped in the earthquake clean-up have been rewarded with tickets to a sold-out Metallica gig.

Owners of Christchurch historic buildings will be able to fight demolition rulings that their earthquake-damaged properties are dangerous and insanitary.

Broadcaster Paul Holmes returns to the city where he began his career to see how locals are coping in the wake of the earthquake.