The residential rebuild in Christchurch could require up to 12,500 full time workers and reveal a number of skills shortages in occupations such as concreting and carpentry, Prime Minister John Key says.

The minimum $190 per week rent for a Government-supplied campervan in earthquake-hit Christchurch is affordable, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

A $1.7 billion higher-than-forecast deficit points to the fiscal challenges the Government faces in its May budget, Prime Minister John Key says.

Police have named a woman who died in Christchurch's February 22 earthquake, bringing the total of number of names released to 170.

The congregation of St Paul's Trinity Pacific Church on Cashel St have come to accept the reality - their 135-year-old church is no more.

Workers have been thrown "on the scrap heap" by a redundancy offer from the owners of the earthquake-damaged Christchurch Casino, a union representative has claimed. But Prime Minister John Key said casino management were doing everything

The 'To Christchurch With Love' fundraising concert was held in Auckland on Saturday night.

The quake-damaged Christchurch casino which has been closed since February 22 could reopen at a different site. Staff today were given the stark choice of taking redundancy or unpaid leave.

Police patrols are keeping a high level of security in the cordoned off areas of central Christchurch.

A magnitude 4 earthquake jolted Christchurch today as Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove was discussing earthquake recovery on live TV.

Research shows that once people have enough to live comfortably, adding to their wealth makes little difference to happiness.