A moderate earthquake has struck Christchurch today.

Auckland is a long way from high earthquake activity and can expect a major shake every 10,000 to 20,000 years, says a new study.

New Zealander Rachel Lilburn has felt earthquakes in Chile before but said yesterday's big one was much stronger than any others.

Sensible residents of Los Angeles have already stocked up on batteries, water and medical supplies in anticipation of "The Big One".

A $10 billion national seismic building upgrade will save only seven lives during almost a century yet destroy much of the country's heritage, an economist says.

A severe earthquake centered near Waipukurau rocked the North Island today and was felt as far north as Hamilton and as far south as Marlborough.

Firefighters, police officers, Urban Search and Rescue experts, and courageous passersby risked life and limb to drag several survivors from the CTV Building.

A moderate earthquake that rattled a swathe of Southern California forced several dozen people in one community out of their homes.

Students at University of Canterbury have a new concept to test quake-resistance with a machine that will simulate over 100 earthquakes. The results will produce data that is able to help build quake-proof buildings.

Seismologists will be asking many questions about the magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck Los Angeles this week, a sharp jolt that reverberated across densely populated southern California.

Work has begun on some of NZ's most historic school buildings as the Govt scrambles to work out by next month which are at high risk in an earthquake.

The Reserve Bank has told the insurance industry to expect a tougher stance on corporate governance as it beds in new rules for the industry.

Nick Walls knows the slow pace of recovery better than anyone.

A team of international scientists are to help find ways to better protect some of New Zealand's historic and heritage buildings against earthquakes.

Owners of damaged and unrepairable Canterbury homes are increasingly selling them on an "as is, where is" basis, a new property report says.

Thousands of signatures and messages of support pledged by the people of Christchurch after the devastating 2011 earthquakes have been digitally preserved.

A shallow earthquake jolted Southland residents from sleep today.

The Earthquake Commission is two-thirds of the way through repairing houses damaged by the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes in a contract managed by Fletcher Building.

An earthquake described as strong by GeoNet struck about 60km south of Tuatapere, at the bottom of the South Island, this evening.

'It will be nice to have an apology.' Police are to compensate pensioner John Bennett for the way he was roughed up by armed officers in his own home two years ago.

Hundreds of quake damage claims have been lodged as a result of the severe magnitude 6.2 tremor that damaged homes.

Hundreds of quake damage claims have been lodged as a result of the severe magnitude 6.2 tremor that damaged homes and cut power.

Damage claims from yesterday's 6.2 quake are starting to be lodged with EQC, as more than 300 aftershocks hit the lower North Island - and a couple of biggies are expected.