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.

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.

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.

Updated map with data from geonet.org.nz showing the 6.2 earthquake and the following aftershocks for the lower North Island of New Zealand.

Yesterday's 6.2 magnitude earthquake caused an agricultural chemical spill on a Palmerston North farm, resulting in one man being sent to hospital.

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.

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.

The Human Rights Commission has called for the Government to consider rent-control measures following major natural disasters.

An EQC customer satisfaction survey has been cleared of deliberately excluding thousands of unhappy claimants after an independent review.

A Christchurch couple are not entitled to a "windfall payment" over their red zoned house, according to a judgement released today.