A Christchurch property investor who hired a crane to get his car keys and clothes from his 13th floor penthouse in the cordoned off Christchurch CBD is under investigation by Civil Defence.

A high profile property investor who was able to hire a crane to get car keys and clothes from his 13th floor penthouse has angered central Christchurch business owners...

Man tipped to head recovery body won't work with Brownlee, broadcaster says

A "worst-case scenario" tsunami for Auckland would swamp the Viaduct and make Devonport an island, a council report shows.

More than 510 businesses, or 2000 people, have been granted access to buildings within the cordoned area.

Civil Defence plans to create "safe corridors" to buildings within Christchurch's quake-ravaged central business district.

Police have named another seven victims of last month's Christchurch earthquake.

More than 10 per cent of buildings demolished in Christchurch following last month's quake were levelled without the knowledge of their owners.

A group of about 30 Christchurch business people protesting over not being allowed into their CBD businesses have met with Civil Defence officials this afternoon after angry protesters broke through the red zone cordons yesterday.

Civil Defence could have communicated better with frustrated business owners in Christchurch, its minister John Carter says.

People in northern and eastern areas of the North Island are being advised to take precautions as heavy rains threaten to sweep across those regions tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.

As police release more names of people who died in Christchurch's devastating earthquake, they say the toll is likely to be 182 but it could take months for the last bodies to be identified.

Thirty angry Christchurch business owners marched to Civil Defence HQ to demand to be allowed back into their central city properties to retrieve belongings before they are bulldozed down.

Prince William was today stunned by the damage in quake-hit Christchurch, where he thanked Civil Defence and USAR workers for their "stirling" efforts.

Prince William has thanked civil defence workers for the "wonderful" job they are doing in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

Prince William has been stunned by the scale of devastation inflicted by last month's earthquake in Christchurch, after touring the "red zone" in the central city this afternoon.

About 30 Christchurch business owners were given the chance this morning to retrieve what they could from their premises inside the cordon around the most quake-damaged parts of the central city.

It is unlikely more bodies will be found in quake-ravaged central Christchurch but the confirmed death toll is still expected to climb as the coroner works on identifying individuals from badly damaged remains, police say.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the thoughts of his quake-stricken city are with Japan following Friday's magnitude 9.0 earthquake which devastated much of the country and left thousands dead.