The body of Janet Meller has probably been lying in the morgue at Burnham for 11 days - but her partner doesn't know for sure.

The Christchurch quake as turned some ordinary people into heroes, writes Kerre Woodham.

People listen to each other over and over as they recall the stories of escape, of bravery, of fear.

Labour MP Lianne Dalziel's is a discordant voice at a time when few dare criticise the emergency response.

Christchurch was last night slammed by its biggest aftershock since the day of the devastating February 22 earthquake.

The Christchurch boy killed a day before his 15th birthday when the earthquake struck has been farewelled.

A large aftershock has hit quake-weary Christchurch this evening, with fears it may have caused more damage.

The names of six more people who police have confirmed died in the February 22 Christchurch earthquake have been released.

Search teams who were bracing for grim news had a "surreal" moment when they discovered no bodies buried in the ChristChurch Cathedral spire that had collapsed during last week's devastating earthquake.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says if he had his way, most of Christchurch's heritage buildings would be bowled tomorrow.

An Australian searcher who helped remove victims from the earthquake-ravaged Canterbury TV building says bringing closure to families was his way of coping with the devastation.

Marcel Mihulka had carefully planned a romantic candlelit proposal at a hot spa overlooking Queenstown's Shotover River.

Teens who struggled to buy tickets won their fight to get their money back after their swimming event in Christchurch was cancelled.

Central Auckland would suffer only a few casualties if struck by an earthquake similar to the Lyttelton shake.