Charity collection scams, fake rescue workers and email rorts - the Christchurch quake has been an opportunity for criminals and fakers.

A Christchurch family had to step in to stop their elderly mother being sent to Nelson against their wishes.

Strong winds that were set to hit Christchurch this afternoon did not eventuate, but residents are warned that they should secure loose roofs and beware of the threat of falling masonry.

As the Government commits itself to rebuilding earthquake-ravaged Christchurch, it is looking at costs running into tens of billions with an economic impact that will last for years.

The bodies recovered after last Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch will be released to families as soon as possible and are being treated with respect in the meantime, the Chief Coroner says.

A man who used Lyttelton's historic Timeball Station to propose to his wife exactly a year before it was devastated by last week's quake says he is gutted the landmark has been seriously damaged.

A man who went to earthquake-hit Christchurch and joined the urban search and rescue effort there has been remanded in custody for a month after being charged with falsely representing himself as a rescue team member.

The short life of five-month-old Baxtor Gowland has been celebrated at a funeral in upper Riccarton this afternoon. A family friend said he'd be laid to rest next to his grandfather.

Police have named two more people confirmed dead in last Tuesday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake.

A distraught wife has left her husband after telling him he did not pick her up quickly enough after the earthquake.

Adrian Marsh thought he was dead after he was crushed by slabs of concrete when the Smiths City carpark collapsed around him.

Christchurch's devastating 6.3 earthquake is thought to have been caused by the rupturing of a single fault.

Christchurch can be rebuilt in a way that buildings would withstand very strong earthquakes in the future, Prime Minister John Key says.

Thousands of Christchurch's 350,000 inhabitants have left in droves, flying, driving, even walking away, with no plans to return any time soon.