Latest from Government

<i>Bevan Rapson:</i> Mayoral contenders inject heat into an otherwise tepid campaign

Minority govt 'has risks for investors'

<i>Peter Wood:</i> Use quake lessons to build disaster resilience

Peter Wood writes on the importance of resuming commerce after an emergency.

<i>Editorial</i>: Odds stacked against Gillard from the start

Earthquake: Kaiapoi ‘will never be the same’

At least 22 commercial properties and 50 homes in the small quake-damaged North Canterbury town of Kaiapoi have been deemed unsafe, with its mayor admitting the town is changed forever.

Canterbury earthquake: Schools to stay shut

Most schools in the quake-devastated Canterbury region are not likely to open until Monday, the Education Minister says.

Canterbury earthquake bill may top $4 billion

The final bill for the Christchurch earthquake may reach $4 billion, almost double initial estimates, Treasury Secretary John Whitehead said afternoon.

Opposition parties want inquiry into SCF

<i>John Armstrong:</i> Politics permeate post quake actions

The political stakes have suddenly become very high as the enormity of the earthquake's impact becomes more and more apparent.

Lib Dems lose support

Earthquake cash flows for Christchurch

Stricken homeowners and workers will start receiving compensation and emergency payouts within days as Christchurch's earthquake bill threatens to exceed $2bn.

Moscow to help US stabilise Afghanistan

<i>Brian Rudman</i>: An inconvenient truth needs to be faced

When Maurice Williamson is moved to label critics of the sale of farmland to Chinese buyers "racist", you have to accept he's not just joking around.

<i>Cartoon</i>: The clean-up...

Independents put Gillard into Australia's top job

Julia Gillard has finally been confirmed as Australia's first elected female Prime Minister, more than two weeks after an election that has now given her a razor-thin majority.

<i>Bryan Gould</i>: Spare a thought for victims of unemployment crisis too