Mayor Bob Parker is unsure about the comparison with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, but the earthquake that struck Christchurch could help him keep his job.

Christchurch was "inevitably going to be brought to its knees" by an earthquake because of the nature of the ground it stands on, a scientist says.

"It's essentially a ghost town. You can see utter devastation," said Prime Minister John Key.

"It was like a giant had picked up our house and was just shaking it, shaking and shaking," said one resident.

Services and infrastructure in Christchurch have been seriously affected by this morning's quake. Here is the current situation.

A Christchurch city councillor won't stand at the next election after a ratepayer-funded US trip to study sandcastles.

A city councillor is keeping her head below the parapet after taking a $4000 ratepayer funded trip to California to study sandcastles.

He's dealt with plenty of sticks and stones in his long political career, but Jim Anderton may yet find that names will hurt him.

Boy racers could be banned from many Papakura streets if a proposed bylaw goes ahead.

Jim Anderton says he will run against Christchurch incumbent Bob Parker as 'the People's Mayor' in October.

A fire that gutted the Christchurch "House of Horrors" is a "turning point" for the community, Mayor Bob Parker says.