Cabinet agreed today to give $1m to support the Red Cross effort in Japan, Prime Minister John Key announced this afternoon, and also confirmed four NZers were still in Libya.

An 80-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy have been rescued from a badly damaged house in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, nine days after the magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami ravaged the area, the Japan Times reports.

The Crusaders have confirmed they will play the Sharks at Twickenham and the Bulls in Timaru in their next two home games.

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

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.

In response to the tragic earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday, several events across New Zealand have been organised to raise money for relief funds.

More than a week after the devastating earthquake police are still treating the situation as a rescue mission.

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.