People listen to each other over and over as they recall the stories of escape, of bravery, of fear.

Of all the emergency workers in Christchurch, these 16 police staff may have the worst job of all: identifying the broken bodies of the dead.

Television psychic Deb Webber claims she predicted the Christchurch earthquake - and says it won't be the last of the devastation.

Labour MP Lianne Dalziel's is a discordant voice at a time when few dare criticise the emergency response.

Christchurch was last night slammed by its biggest aftershock since the day of the devastating February 22 earthquake.

Justin Marshall never took a backward step on a rugby field though these days he surveys his Sumner backyard with a sense of trepidation.

The names of six more people who police have confirmed died in the February 22 Christchurch earthquake have been released.

Search teams who were bracing for grim news had a "surreal" moment when they discovered no bodies buried in the ChristChurch Cathedral spire that had collapsed during last week's devastating earthquake.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says if he had his way, most of Christchurch's heritage buildings would be bowled tomorrow.

An Australian searcher who helped remove victims from the earthquake-ravaged Canterbury TV building says bringing closure to families was his way of coping with the devastation.

Central Auckland would suffer only a few casualties if struck by an earthquake similar to the Lyttelton shake.

It's the only time I saw a policeman cry. Acts of kindness can do that.

When the roof of the Pyne Gould Corporation building fell in, more than 100 workers were inside.

The intensity of shaking during last week's quake was unprecedented in New Zealand for its Richter magnitude, says an engineering expert.

What is staggering about the Christchurch earthquake is the way it seems to keep getting bigger.

Prime Minister John Key saw for himself today the devastation wrought by last week's earthquake in Christchurch's eastern suburbs and acknowledged the hardship faced by residents.

Prime Minister John Key visited Christchurch's hard-hit eastern suburbs today to try and reassure residents they have not been forgotten.

Earthquake victim Shane Tomlin, whose family clung to hope after footage of him pulled from the rubble alive was broadcast around the world, was farewelled this afternoon at a church overlooking the ocean in his family hometown of Kaikoura.