With the rescue phase over in Christchurch's central city, authorities are working to restore vital services to the eastern suburbs.

Green lamingtons almost certainly saved the workmate of a baker fatally injured in the Christchurch earthquake.

Timaru has grown by 20 per cent as 7000 traumatised quake survivors shift down.

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Bert and Pat Archbold are in their 90s, nearly blind and without water or power, but they are refusing to leave their Christchurch home.

Thousands of Christchurch schoolchildren have fled the quake-stricken city and are now attending schools across the country.

If this was any old round three Super 15 match there would be no need for the Crusaders to bring in a mental skills coach.

Mike Brown was meant to be working on the ninth floor of the Copthorne Hotel at the time of the earthquake but had decided to take a long lunch.

Accommodation providers renting out homes for the Rugby World Cup are clinging to hope that the tournament will still be held in Christchurch.

After 218 hours and nine minutes of desperate searching, hope of finding any survivors among the rubble of downtown Christchurch was officially extinguished.

Katherine Irvine has found people from all walks of life doing what they can to contribute to the earthquake appeal.

Surrounded by her children in the garage of their Hampshire St home in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui, Mafutaga Manuleleua still feels unloved.

Searchers are close to entering the collapsed spire of Christchurch Cathedral, where up to 22 people are believed to have been killed during last week's 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

The thoughts of everyone should be with the families of the Christchurch earthquake victims following the change in the search focus today to recovering bodies, says an emotional mayor, Bob Parker.

John Key says a national memorial service will allow all NZers to mourn, with details of the service to be announced early next week.

We're gathering stories about Christchurch small businesses rebuilding after the earthquake. Send us in your tips, resources, offers of help or questions that we can get answered.