Christchurch's Rolleston prison will be cleared to create beds for the influx of rescuers into the city.

Earthquake damage in the small town nearest to the epicentre of Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude quake.

Aerial photos reveal the damage to buildings and shows rubble lining the streets of Christchurch.

Hundreds of specialist search and rescue personnel from around the world are arriving in Christchurch.

Rescue services have stopped work at CTV and are now focusing on the Pyne Gould building, where as many as 50 people are thought to still be alive.

A man who has more than a dozen close friends and colleagues missing in earthquake-devastated central Christchurch says all he can do is wait and hope they are still alive.

Track the aftershocks rattling Christchurch in the wake of the shallow magnitude 6.3 earthquake.

IAG, the ASX-listed insurer that owns State Insurance and NZI, says the latest earthquake will cost it up to A$40 million.

Information about what's been damaged in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake and where people can get help.

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Blue markers: Damage to infrastructure and buildings

Red markers: Closures and restricted areas

Yellow markers: Triage centre and welfare centre locations

Green markers: Water supplies and other services for residents

Purple markers: Operational ATMs and petrol stations

Pink markers: Supermarkets and schools that are open

The New Zealand Defence Force aide NZ Police in affected areas around Christchurch.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says emergency cash grants will be made available for victims of yesterday's quake.

Compare photos of some of Christchurch's hardest hit buildings from before and after the earthquake.

Images record the shocking aftermath of the magnitude 6.3 quake around central Christchurch.

Cabinet will hold an emergency meeting at 9.30am to decide whether to declare a national state of emergency, Prime Minister John Key says.

The Crusaders have suffered personal loss as a result of the Christchurch earthquake.

Rescue workers are having to leave bodies in the streets of Christchurch as they focus on trying to save survivors of yesterday's devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake.

The official death toll from yesterday's earthquake in Christchurch has been revised to 38, but there are fears it could reach as high as 300 as rescuers uncover more bodies in the rubble.

Between the giant rubble littering the rain-drenched Colombo St, police pull another dead body and lay it down on a black tarpaulin.

Five World Cup games and two quarterfinals scheduled for Christchurch are in jeopardy after yesterday's big quake.

Hundreds of displaced people flocked to the Burnside High School evacuation centre last night to take shelter.

Prime Minister John Key flew into Christchurch to what he says were scenes from a horror movie.

Much of Christchurch is without essential services after yesterday's earthquake with gas, power, water and phone infrastructure all affected.