Visiting Japanese citizens are worried about returning home and are seeking ways to extend their stay.

Weekend Herald reporter Michael Dickison grew up in Japan and speaks the language fluently. After last week's earthquake he returned and filed this account of his odyssey through the ravaged countryside of his other homeland...

A Christchurch earthquake survivor explains what today's memorial service means to her and her fractured city.

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.

Japan says crisis stabilised but others say 'worse than Chernobyl'

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.

This year's Budget deficit will blow out to 8 per cent of gross domestic product, says Finance Minister Bill English.

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

For the Japanese to wheel out their Emperor to make a televised address on the nuclear crisis is virtually unprecedented.

As Japan deals with the after-effects of its strongest earthquake on record and an even more devastating tsunami, the world’s attention is focussed on the Fukushima nuclear power plant

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