Dozens of people buying and selling homes in Christchurch face delays as buyers fail to finalise sales, forcing sellers to default on contracts.

EQC-trained building inspector Peter Wei examined four homes in Auckland to see what improvements could make them safer in a natural disaster.

They're doing it tough out there in the regional towns and cities, and it will get tougher yet, reports Bruce Morris.

Grey Lynn was a slum housing area of Auckland 80 or 90 years ago. Today it's the city's high-flyer, writes Bruce Morris.

Once again, there's no stopping Herne Bay.

It’s a fairly laid-back sort of place, says Ashley Campbell.

For many of us, Tokoroa is a place you drive through... quickly. But the timber town has heart, and house prices to make Auckland eyes water, writes Bruce Morris.

Rises and falls in house prices don't affect everyone, all the time, says registered valuer Glenda Whitehead.

Local loyalty shines through here, writes Ashley Campbell.

Bruce Morris sifts through the statistics to pinpoint the North Island’s most expensive streets... and others of more humble heritage.

The news is good - and bad - says the Bank of New Zealand's Tony Alexander.

Four leaders of the country's leading property agencies were asked to shed some light on patterns in the property market.

Struggling Allied Farmers says it has settled the about $27m sale of stage two of Queenstown's Five Mile property development early.

New home owners are finding themselves in limbo as insurers refuse to write any new policies for Christchurch's shaken homes.

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.

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

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

Property values in NZ have continued to decline gradually over the past few months as market sentiment remains cautious, according to the August report by QV.

Aftershocks are continuing to hit Canterbury with one measuring 4.1 the latest in a series today that also included a 5.1.

Mayor Bob Parker says Christchurch city is coping "amazingly well" with the continuing fall-out from Saturday morning's earthquake.

The Government has set aside $2.4 million for trauma counselling for Christchurch earthquake victims, Paula Bennett says.

The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended a further seven days following an aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale this morning.

An open source online map has been set up to help Cantabrians find help nearest to them.