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.

Three earthquakes have struck Wellington this week - one measuring 4.7 - but a seismologist says they are not linked the Christchurch quakes.

The search of the Pyne Gould building in Christchurch's CBD is over but work on the CTV, Cathedral and Forsyth Barr buildings is continuing.

Police have officially released the names of seven more people who died in the February 22 Christchurch earthquake. The death toll now stands at 163.

Half of Christchurch's heritage buildings are in danger of demolition after assessments showing they have severe earthquake damage.

With the rescue phase over in Christchurch's central city, authorities are working to restore vital services to the eastern suburbs.

Timaru has grown by 20 per cent as 7000 traumatised quake survivors shift down.

Bert and Pat Archbold are in their 90s, nearly blind and without water or power, but they are refusing to leave their Christchurch home.

Thousands of Christchurch schoolchildren have fled the quake-stricken city and are now attending schools across the country.

Accommodation providers renting out homes for the Rugby World Cup are clinging to hope that the tournament will still be held in Christchurch.

After 218 hours and nine minutes of desperate searching, hope of finding any survivors among the rubble of downtown Christchurch was officially extinguished.

Surrounded by her children in the garage of their Hampshire St home in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui, Mafutaga Manuleleua still feels unloved.

Searchers are close to entering the collapsed spire of Christchurch Cathedral, where up to 22 people are believed to have been killed during last week's 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

The thoughts of everyone should be with the families of the Christchurch earthquake victims following the change in the search focus today to recovering bodies, says an emotional mayor, Bob Parker.

John Key says a national memorial service will allow all NZers to mourn, with details of the service to be announced early next week.