Gerry Brownlee is having to deal with his own badly damaged house as he works on the Govt's earthquake reconstruction plan.

Dozens of people buying and selling homes in Christchurch face delays as buyers fail to finalise sales, forcing sellers to default on contracts.

Christchurch earthquake-shelter residents say they have had to deal with gangs, drug searches and theft as they enter their second week displaced from their homes.

Weary Canterbury farmers picking themselves up from days of earthquakes and aftershocks face new threats.

Owners of Christchurch historic buildings will be able to fight demolition rulings that their earthquake-damaged properties are dangerous and insanitary.

A big aftershock rocked Christchurch this morning. Read latest updates here.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says Christchurch will take years to return to normal.

Jim Anderton has announced he will stand down as MP for Wigram if he wins the Christchurch mayoralty, in light of the challenges presented by last week's earthquake.

About 400 people today gathered in Christchurch's Cathedral Square for the Cathedral's first mass since last week's earthquake.

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Whanganui region this afternoon.

A bewildered and pregnant Renee Rushton is living in a Christchurch holiday park after last week's earthquake.

As Christchurch tries to make sense of the earthquake destruction, a child questions how much 'braveness' she has left.

A 53-year-old grandmother was searching her home in the darkness to find her grandchildren when she suffered a heart attack.

A man accused of looting a house that had been damaged and left abandoned is concerned about what people are saying about him.

EQC-trained building inspector Peter Wei examined four homes in Auckland to see what improvements could make them safer in a natural disaster.

An elderly man filling water bottles for himself and neighbours after Saturday's earthquake was told to stop by the petrol station boss.

Without special legislation, the rebuilding effort could be hampered after the state of emergency is lifted, says John Key.