Canterbury tourism officials say the best way people can help is to keep bookings they have made and continue visiting the region.

Business owners in central Christchurch are anxious about their shops being sealed away from customers behind cordons a week after the earthquake.

Bart Visscher, co-founder of software company Emendo, has had his business tested on several fronts by the Canterbury earthquake.

Evert and Maruschke Barnard with their daughter Dianthe, who was born during the earthquake. Photo / Alan Gibson

Children try to come to terms with the fear as they return to school.

Tracking today's events as they happen on day seven of the Christchurch earthquake disaster.

A set of "streamlined measures" to deal with the large volume of claims for earthquake damage is being developed, the Government says.

Waimakariri residents are being warned of burglars posing as bogus insurance agents to case homes hit by Saturday's earthquake.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake turned buildings into rubble, sent brick chimneys through roofs and knocked homes off their foundations - so how did no-one die?

The mayor of Christchurch says developers built on land that could turn into 'murky soup' after an earthquake, despite opposition from the council.

Aftershocks rattling Canterbury are likely to last for "weeks" rather than days but will get less frequent and probably weaker.

Central Christchurch businesses are heading to the hotels as they relocate in the wake of the earthquake.

The Christchurch Mayor has warned the rest of NZ that they are not immune from the type of natural disaster that struck his city this week.

Canterbury's second oldest pub - the Famous Grouse Hotel - was today demolished after being damaged in the earthquake.