It was meant to come across as fighting for the suffering people of Christchurch. But it ended up sounding petty, senseless and bordering on offensive.

Dave Dobbyn, Dame Malvina Major and Hayley Westenra will perform to a crowd of tens of thousands expected to gather for today's National Memorial Service at Harley Park today.

Tickets for the Crusaders' Super rugby match against the Sharks at Twickenham in London next week are selling fast.

Respondents less gloomy about own prospects than economy as a whole.

As police release more names of people who died in Christchurch's devastating earthquake, they say the toll is likely to be 182 but it could take months for the last bodies to be identified.

Thirty angry Christchurch business owners marched to Civil Defence HQ to demand to be allowed back into their central city properties to retrieve belongings before they are bulldozed down.

Prince William was today stunned by the damage in quake-hit Christchurch, where he thanked Civil Defence and USAR workers for their "stirling" efforts.

Prince William has thanked civil defence workers for the "wonderful" job they are doing in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

In addition to the National Memorial Service in Christchurch tomorrow, events will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin.

And then there were 12. Even staunch Cantab and Wallaby coach Robbie Deans was pragmatic enough to accept he would not bring his side to Christchurch

The Christchurch earthquake has continued to inspire the entertainment industry into action with benefit shows. Here are two more on the way:

Most of the seven RWC matches pulled from quake-damaged AMI Stadium are set to be moved to the North Island, despite the Government's desire to keep all the pool games in the South Island.