Latest fromEarthquakes

6.3 magnitude quake strikes off NZ coast
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken the east coast of the North Island and been followed by a group of smaller quakes overnight.

Shops and bars return to Chch CBD
Shops and bars will open in downtown Christchurch next month for the first time since the February 22 earthquake two years ago.

John Roughan: Faultline runs through risk evaluation
Recommendations of amendments to the Building Act to give owners of reinforced masonry buildings a deadline to bring up to earthquake standard or demolish them - which threatens many heritage buildings.

Christchurch red zone a rebuild zone
Work in post-disaster Christchurch has officially swung from recovery and demolition to rebuild, the Government said today.

Small business: Mark Dillon on earthquake lessons learnt
Our most immediate challenge was that the brewery which does our bottling, Harrington's Breweries in Ferrymead, lost power for two weeks due to the earthquake.

Aussie tourists switching off NZ - survey
New Zealand is losing its appeal to its most important source of overseas visitors - Australia, according to a survey.

The big building shake-up
The gigantic task of upgrading New Zealand's earthquake-prone building stock to a safe level has not yet sunk in, Housing and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Small business: Robyn Galloway on temporary relocation after earthquake
Robyn Galloway, Managing Director of Innovative Travel in Christchurch and Board Member for the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce on business survival and insurance after a disaster.

Five die in Solomon quake, tsunami
New Zealand has offered its support after a major earthquake and tsunami hit the Solomon Islands, leaving five people dead and dozens of homes damaged or destroyed.

Tsunami minor threat
A tsunami advisory for New Zealand has been cancelled, seven hours after an 8-magnitude earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands today.

Brian Rudman: Bureaucrats more destructive than quakes
It's time for a dose of fatalism and some common sense when it comes to dealing with earthquake-prone buildings across New Zealand in the wake of the Christchurch quakes.

Small business: Peter Townsend on business insurance
Peter Townsend, CEO of Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce on why business insurance is important.

Quake sets new direction
Christchurch's Cindy Gibb made a deal with her husband - one day she'd be able to travel the world to places where nursing skills were in short supply and work.

German firm gets rebuilding contracts
The entrance of a European building products giant into the Christchurch rebuild market will increase competition in the industry.