Cabinet will today meet to get an early overview of the damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake, and John Key says the bill outside private insurance and Earthquake Commission funding will be large.

One upside of the Christchurch earthquake is that nature has unleashed the biggest job creation scheme NZ has seen.

It wasn't just humans shaken by the big quake - hundreds of terrified pets fled during the tremors.

Savage winds battered Canterbury this morning as the province only just begins to pick itself up after Saturday's devastating earthquake.

Hundreds of people devastated by the Christchurch earthquake are staying put in emergency shelters.

Chris de Freitas says risk-management planning can help society in practical and economic ways.

The abiding memory of Xavier Trousselot-Rhodes before an earthquake threw him out of his second-storey bedroom was of the house screaming.

The Christchurch earthquake took scientists by surprise, as it revealed a new faultline in a territory not known for seismic activity.

Dibley has the redoubtable vicar Geraldine, and Hororata has the Rev Jenni Carter.

Residents of an entire street say their homes are a write-off after the land liquefied underneath and swamped the properties in sewage and silt.

The seismic shift in the South Island made headline news around the world.

The wild winds forecast for Canterbury tonight are unlikely to reach full force in Christchurch.

Safety first is the message authorities want to convey as many displaced locals face a second night away from their homes.

It was the earthquake New Zealanders have been told for years to expect. And Christchurch got it.

Rebuilding the damage caused by yesterday's earthquake could create a much-needed economic upturn for Canterbury.

All non-essential procedures booked in Christchurch for tomorrow have been cancelled as a result of disruptions from the earthquake.

Christchurch Hospital is already seeing a stream of people with minor injuries from trying to fix their houses.

A list of websites where Canterbury residents can get more information.

Most of the CBD remains closed off to the general public, in contrast to the outer suburbs where people are going about business as usual.

One of the casualties of yesterday morning's massive Canterbury earthquake was the historic Deans family homestead in Homebush.

KiwiRail is sending almost 300,000 litres of water to Christchurch, where around 15% of people remain without it.

Audrey Young finds Canterbury farmers are sticking together after yesterday's massive earthquake.