The gigantic task of upgrading New Zealand's earthquake-prone building stock to a safe level has not yet sunk in, Housing and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Robyn Galloway, Managing Director of Innovative Travel in Christchurch and Board Member for the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce on business survival and insurance after a disaster.

New Zealand has offered its support after a major earthquake and tsunami hit the Solomon Islands, leaving five people dead and dozens of homes damaged or destroyed.

A major 8.0 magnitude earthquake has jolted the Solomon Islands, with small tsunami waves buffeting Pacific coasts, leaving at least five people dead and dozens of homes damaged or destroyed.

Giving building owners 10 years to strengthen earthquake-prone buildings would amount to an "execution order" for many heritage buildings, says the Auckland Council.

Peter Townsend, CEO of Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce on why business insurance is important.

Christchurch's Cindy Gibb made a deal with her husband - one day she'd be able to travel the world to places where nursing skills were in short supply and work.

Taranaki was rocked by two large earthquakes in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Boxing Day got off to a shaky start on the East Coast with two minor earthquakes occurring in the early hours of the morning.

Kim Dotcom and a spate of natural disasters have been among the most popular topics with New Zealand Herald readers this year.

Three weeks before the ceremony and the [Olympic Stadium] was packed with thousands of people all doing things impressively.

The aftershocks have all but stopped, but few in Christchurch dare mention the easing of the earth's fury.