The Chinese Embassy has asked the Government to give special compensation to Chinese families who lost children in last month's Christchurch earthquake.

A freezing London night didn't dampen the spirits of Kiwis with thoughts of home, writes Stephen Jewell

Katherine Irvine has found people from all walks of life doing what they can to contribute to the earthquake appeal.

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

As well as the earthquake's human toll, Christchurch's retail heart has been particularly hard hit by the earthquake.

Authorities in Nelson are working hard to accommodate fleeing Christchurch residents.

Main Civil Defence updates following the Christchurch Earthquake

There are many ways that you can help in the wake of yesterday's devastating Christchurch earthquake.

Overwhelming offers of help for Christchurch are impeding the systems of non-government organisations trying to help there, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Hundreds of people displaced by Tuesday's earthquake have set up camp at Christchurch welfare centres and more are flooding in.

The NZ Civil Defence team helping residents of flood-stricken Queensland has been forced to return to the town of Condamine, as more floods again hit the town they had just left.

NZ is among the world's top three countries for its humanitarian response to international crises, an aid watchdog says.