Latest fromNatural Disasters

Map: Christchurch earthquake - worst hit areas
View a map of the damage caused by Saturday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks in Christchurch.

Appeal for info on solo pensioners after earthquake
Welfare staff are unable to contact thousands of solo pensioners in Canterbury and the Government is urging anyone looking after them to get in touch.

Earthquake children to get war zone trauma support
Children traumatised after the Christchurch earthquake will get the same support as those in war-torn Afghanistan and quake ravaged Haiti.

Be flexible with earthquake victims, English tells IRD, banks
Finance Minister Bill English has asked banks and the Inland Revenue Department to be flexible with Christchurch earthquake victims.

Key: Trip 'not prudent' in wake of earthquake
John Key has cancelled his scheduled trip to Europe in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.

Supermarket chains count earthquake damage cost
Supermarket chains are counting millions of dollars in damaged stock as they ship in groceries to cover shortages and access lost to distribution centres.

Earthquake aftershocks disturb Christchurch
Aftershocks rocking Christchurch have damaged an earthquake welfare centre and forced its closure.

All Black coach likely to lose home after earthquake
All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen and his family face an uncertain future in their Tai Tapu home, after the Christchurch earthquake.

Fault lay quiet for at least 16,000 years
The fault that ruptured the surface of Canterbury paddocks and produced the magnitude 7.1 earthquake has been quiet for at least 16,000 years.

Student army takes to the streets after the Christchurch earthquake
Students are using social networking skills to pull together a volunteer army of more than 1300.

When solid ground is shaken to mush
Large tracts of silty, low-lying land compounded the effects of the Christchurch earthquake, as whole streets were transformed from firm land to sludge.

Parents call for help for kids terrified by Christchurch earthquake
As aftershocks continue in Canterbury, exhausted parents are pleading for help with children too terrified to be on their own.

Heartbreak in the earthquake rubble
Devastated shop owners in Christchurch had to flee as aftershocks interrupted their damage checks.