Natasha Sarah Hadfield, the owner of Wick's Fish in Worchester Street, has been confirmed as one of the victims of last week's earthquake.

A former Christchurch Anglican minister has escaped conviction for charges relating to an unlawful wedding.

A "cowardly" man left a woman bleeding from serious arm injuries after his dog attacked her in Kaiapoi near Christchurch this morning.

Christchurch man Philip Ellis says he was "a bit upset" to hear a judge has ruled his 2006 wedding was conducted unlawfully and two men involved were convicted of offences under the Marriage Act.

A range of measures has been announced today by the Government to help Cantabrians rebuild their homes after the September 4 earthquake.

Sewage will flow into the Kaiapoi River for at least another month and it could take a year to rebuild all the area's quake-damaged sewerage systems.

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says the city has moved from a state of emergency "to a state of urgency" and significant problems remain.

Richie McCaw was in Kaiapoi yesterday filming an advertisement to help earthquake victims.

Canterbury homeowners can expect to get payouts for contents damage starting this week.

Everyone in Canterbury has been touched by the earthquake devastation - and TV personalities and sports stars are no exception.

A second big earthquake in three days sent lower North Island residents scrambling for cover.