Bert and Pat Archbold are in their 90s, nearly blind and without water or power, but they are refusing to leave their Christchurch home.

Surrounded by her children in the garage of their Hampshire St home in the Christchurch suburb of Aranui, Mafutaga Manuleleua still feels unloved.

Searchers are close to entering the collapsed spire of Christchurch Cathedral, where up to 22 people are believed to have been killed during last week's 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

The thoughts of everyone should be with the families of the Christchurch earthquake victims following the change in the search focus today to recovering bodies, says an emotional mayor, Bob Parker.

John Key says a national memorial service will allow all NZers to mourn, with details of the service to be announced early next week.

Bus driver Andrew Craig helped all the passengers off his bus, crushed by debris from a fallen building, before he got out himself, mourners at his funeral were told today.

The Government's budget in May will show the cost of the Christchurch earthquake, Prime Minister John Key says.

A funeral service was held this afternoon to celebrate the life of Christchurch quake victim Jeff Pelesa Sanft.

In response to the tragic earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday, several events across New Zealand have been organised to raise money for relief funds.

Christchurch is "utterly" committed to holding its Rugby World Cup matches, and its citizens "will be far from pleased if they miss out on an event that has taken on a different meaning", Mayor Bob Parker said this morning.

The two buildings that claimed the greatest number of lives in the earthquake were built on soft soil.

The earthquake and last week's deadly tremor were on faultlines that did not exist on GNS Science's database.

Glenn Prattley's broken body is in Dunedin. His heart has been left behind in Christchurch.

Judge Tony Couch has sent a stern message to Christchurch. Behave in this crisis or face the consequences.

Kick them while they are down is no one's idea of how to administer first aid.

After two days of hot weather, the reeking sewage-laden silt has dried and the wind sends its dust billowing out.

Jett Mitchell hadn't slept in his own bed since the September earthquake and was receiving counselling on the fifth floor of the Canterbury Television building when the quake struck Christchurch.

It will take more than 10 years to rebuild Christchurch, says acting Economic Development Minister David Carter.