The drop, cover and hold message was practised around the country today at 9.26am today, but in Christchurch some laughed at the need to take part in an earthquake drill.

About half of the businesses which left the Christchurch CBD after the Canterbury earthquakes are not likely to return, research has found.

NZ Shakeout 2012 is Wednesday 26th. We should all know what to do in an earthquake, and that's 'drop, cover, hold.' Watch this video as Peter Elliott explains what to do when an earthquake happens. Video courtesy NZGetThru.

Two large North Island earthquakes reported by GeoNet this morning didn't actually happen - leaving the agency apologising for any alarm caused.

Free Auckland Civil Defence application now available to smartphone users.

On February 22, 2011 the heart of Christchurch was shattered and a country was thrown into shock.

Emergency meetings have been held by schools groups trying to get to the bottom of yesterday's confused reveal of a shake-up of Christchurch's schools system.

Abandoned quake-damaged neighbourhoods in Christchurch are proving rich pickings for criminals, with burglars risking entry to unstable buildings.

The Government has been given a fail mark for its handling of a $1b education announcement for post-earthquake Christchurch today, which proposed closing 13 schools.

The royal commission of inquiry hearings into the Canterbury earthquakes disaster closed today with the chairman giving a final acknowledgment to bereaved families.

A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake has rocked much of the West Coast and Otago this morning.