Owner of public relations company Communicate IT Shelley Grell has found the February quake has uncovered a fault of another sort altogether.

Lyttelton resident and property developer Janet Stott thinks the rebuild of the shattered town will embrace sustainability as people move toward a lower energy lifestyle.

Small businesses in the Christchurch beachside suburb of Sumner are without water, but waiting for customers.

The economy will now barely grow at all in 2011, because of a "noxious mix" of spiking global petrol and food prices along with the impact of the second Christchurch earthquake, says NZIER.

John Key indicated last night that Earthquake Commission levies could triple because of the damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake.

Standard & Poor's Rating Services says the government is likely to be called on to fund claims from the Christchurch earthquake.

If increased levies are needed to replenish Earthquake Commission funds then the Government would consider it, Prime Minister John Key says.

Smashing his way into his devastated home today, Christchurch man Ed Langston appeared somewhat resigned to having lost his house and business in Tuesday's deadly earthquake.

Credit rating companies say there is no immediate need to change the credit ratings of insurers because of the Christchurch earthquake but Moody's Investors Service said ratings pressure may develop over time on the banking sector.

IAG, the ASX-listed insurer that owns State Insurance and NZI, says the latest earthquake will cost it up to A$40 million.

New Zealand insurers face rate increases of more than 10 per cent for the renewal of their insurance this year, as Canterbury earthquake bill continues to mount.

The ACC's remarkable turnaround ...

Are new financial adviser regulations behind a stagnant New Zealand life insurance market?

Axa New Zealand boosted its earnings 24 per cent in the year to December 31.

Nick Smith has ruled out holding an independent review of ACC's procedures around elective surgery claims unless the corporation begins to lose large numbers of appeals against its decisions.