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.

The initial trauma may be over but experts say earthquake-weary Christchurch residents will endure at least six years of "man-made" stressors as the region battles bureaucracy.

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.

Scientists expect quake activity in Wairarapa for weeks after yesterday's 6.2 shake.

A "severe'' 6.2 quake that hit the lower North Island today has toppled walls and chimneys and sent rockfalls across roads, with a building in Masterton red-stickered due to damage.

Donovan Cowley sent nzherald.co.nz this reaction on camera of his daughter Cameryn to today's 6.2 earthquake, she was filming herself when the earth started shaking. Also before Race 11 in the Manawatu, the earthquake is captured in the moments leading up to the start of the race.

The lower North Island has been shaken by a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

Earthquake claim fraudsters are still being hunted down almost three years on from the city's devastating quakes.

Seddon has been shaken by another earthquake this morning. The quake measured 3.7 in magnitude and rattled the area at 12.48am this morning, according to GeoNet.

A shallow 4.1 magnitude earthquake has rattled Christchurch this afternoon.

The risk of a supervolcano eruption powerful enough to wipe out civilisation as we know it is far greater than previously thought, a study has found.

Scientists say lights from electrical discharges are a sign of stress at faultlines and can give warning of big shakes

A large magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Southland in the early hours of this morning.