Power has been fully restored to about 20,000 homes and business after a 5.3 magnitude aftershock in Christchurch tonight.

The Green Party has called on the Govt to stop food imports from Japan.

Another 123 buildings in Christchurch have been approved by Civil Defence for demolition or partial demolition - or are required to be made safe, bringing the total to 307.

It is important to remember the two incidents were fundamentally different, writes Michael McCarthy in The Independent.

Christchurch's people will be asked for their own ideas on what to add to the city's time capsules.

The cost of household insurance could climb out of the reach of many people.

A powerful 7.1 aftershock off Japan killed three people.

'Both AMI and South Canterbury appeared not to have planned for disaster,' writes Bernard Hickey.

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.

A honeymooning pair claim to have run into not one, but six natural disasters as they followed their itinerary around the globe.

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