AMI, Christchurch's largest residential insurer, could be uninsured as soon as Friday as officials scramble to put reinsurance in place in the event of a fourth quake.

Rates across the country could rise due to increased insurance bills in the wake of the Christchurch quakes.

Taxpayers would pay most of the cost of repairing future earthquake damage to uninsured Christchurch infrastructure, a spokesman for Finance Minister Bill English says.

The actual physical rebuild of Christchurch won't be complex but will remain frustratingly on hold until the aftershocks come to an end, says Fletcher Building CEO Jonathan Ling.

Floods, hurricanes, droughts - will climate change mean more wild weather ahead? That's a risk the insurance industry is taking very seriously, reports Peter Huck.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says up to 12,000 homes could be demolished in Christchurch, but is refusing to reveal when the city's much-awaited land reports will be revealed.

The High Court has been asked to sort out who is legally responsible for insurance...

Stacks of shipping containers line Christchurch roads, protecting lives in yesterday's aftershocks, but causing a nationwide shortage.

Insurance company Tower is taking the Earthquake Commission (EQC) to court over how much it will pay out on Christchurch earthquake claims.