The Christchurch earthquake is expected to provide a much-needed lifeline for NZ's beleaguered construction sector.

Photos from the aftermath of the quake that struck Christchurch on Saturday.

Anyone caught looting in the wake of Christchurch's devastating earthquake would be harshly treated by the courts, a judge warned today.

Saturday's earthquake could prove to be the tipping point for some businesses already squeezed by the recession, a Christchurch business leader says.

There have been nearly 5,000 insurance claims made already as a result of the Christchurch earthquake, says the Earthquake Commission. Here's how to make a claim.

Fonterra says the earthquake has damaged some milking sheds, but all milk has been collected from its Canterbury suppliers.

Cabinet will today meet to get an early overview of the damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake, and John Key says the bill outside private insurance and Earthquake Commission funding will be large.

One upside of the Christchurch earthquake is that nature has unleashed the biggest job creation scheme NZ has seen.

It wasn't just humans shaken by the big quake - hundreds of terrified pets fled during the tremors.

Savage winds battered Canterbury this morning as the province only just begins to pick itself up after Saturday's devastating earthquake.

Chris de Freitas says risk-management planning can help society in practical and economic ways.

The abiding memory of Xavier Trousselot-Rhodes before an earthquake threw him out of his second-storey bedroom was of the house screaming.

Hundreds of people devastated by the Christchurch earthquake are staying put in emergency shelters.

Mayor Bob Parker is unsure about the comparison with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, but the earthquake that struck Christchurch could help him keep his job.

Dibley has the redoubtable vicar Geraldine, and Hororata has the Rev Jenni Carter.

Residents of an entire street say their homes are a write-off after the land liquefied underneath and swamped the properties in sewage and silt.

The seismic shift in the South Island made headline news around the world.

After 48 hours - and what seems like countless aftershocks - the mood of the people of Canterbury is changing.

The wild winds forecast for Canterbury tonight are unlikely to reach full force in Christchurch.

Safety first is the message authorities want to convey as many displaced locals face a second night away from their homes.