It's obvious that mere amateurism will not help our second-largest city up on its feet this time.

The woman who rang her son to say goodbye as she lay trapped in the PGC building for 24 hours has spoken about her ordeal.

Bricklayer's daughter on dad's death: It was "bloody bricks" that killed him. "He would have found that funny."

A historic 155-year-old Christchurch mansion was reduced to a pile of dust and splintered wood today while the owner and his family looked on with glassy eyes.

Ann Bodkin kept up hope during her 26 hours entombed in the PGC building by thinking over and over 'I'm alive. I'm okay'.

Amid the tragedy and debris it feels harsh to talk about economics and daunting to talk about getting Christchurch back to business.

'I was having a hot dog in the Square, felt the rumble, looked around, and the cathedral just come down.'

As Emma Woods dashed to her son's school in central Christchurch, she was terrified at the thought of losing a second child in nine months.

Christchurch lived in its heritage - grand stone buildings, many of them now shattered by the largest ground shake recorded in NZ.

Central Christchurch is facing financial oblivion, a local business leader says.

Overwhelming offers of help for Christchurch are impeding the systems of non-government organisations trying to help there, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

After being rescued from the collapsed PGC building, Emma Howard and Christopher Greenslade wed at the Christ The King Catholic Church in Burnside.

A Christchurch man whose house was condemned after Tuesday's earthquake says it's fortunate no one was home at the time.

An Australian army field hospital is set to be turned into a community health centre as authorities work to prevent a medical crisis in Christchurch.

Misery in the form of illness struck earthquake-ravaged Christchurch this afternoon, with the closure of one of the three welfare centres in the city.