Christchurch was "inevitably going to be brought to its knees" by an earthquake because of the nature of the ground it stands on, a scientist says.

"It's essentially a ghost town. You can see utter devastation," said Prime Minister John Key.

"It's a reminder to us all that in the case of natural disasters, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when."

"It was like a giant had picked up our house and was just shaking it, shaking and shaking," said one resident.

They were partying, working, sleeping - then came 90 minutes of terror they will never forget. This is their story.

Organisers of the country's largest motorway closure are praying they have scared enough Aucklanders off the roads this weekend to avoid the city grinding to a halt.

A man has been charged with driving while disqualified after his car crashed into a couple in Christchurch last night, killing them.

The couple killed when a fleeing motorist ploughed into their car during a police pursuit last night have been named.

Police have been cleared of any wrongdoing over the death of a 22-year-old motorcyclist after a pursuit last year, the IPCA has found.

Two innocent people were killed after a car involved in a police chase ran a red light.

Two people are dead after a car smash involving a car being chased by police.

Jessica and Damon Ward today appealed for people to take five minutes to check all around their properties in case their "curious little boy" had got lost and taken shelter.

A police dive squad is again scouring the Waimata River as the search for missing four-year-old Gisborne boy Lucas Ward enters its third day.

The frantic mother of a Gisborne preschooler was last night clinging to the hope her boy is alive, more than 40 hours after he vanished.

Gisborne residents are being urged to search their properties for Lucas Ward, 4.

The police dive squad is searching a Gisborne river close to the home where a four-year-old boy disappeared yesterday.

Lucas Ward's family 'just turned around and he wasn't there', police say. Photo / NZPA

A truck and trailer unit carrying chemicals and general goods has rolled and blocked southland lanes on State Highway 1.