Christchurch Earthquake

There are positive signs to the Christchurch rebuild on several fronts, as its employers lead the way in the country's surge in hiring expectations and Christchurch retail and hospitality spending outstrips national levels.

The time for arguing and court cases should be over, and the Anglican Church should be left to go ahead and build its new cathedral in the centre of Christchurch.

Three years ago this week the first of the big Canterbury earthquakes occurred, the start of the life-changing events for the province and its people, and one of the biggest challenges to face New Zealand and its government in its history.

The Government will pay $2.9 billion towards Christchurch city centre's $4.8 billion post-earthquake big ticket blueprint projects, it's been announced today.

Shortly after hosting a successful ''Canterbury Quakes'' touring exhibition, the Otago Museum is donating $10,000 to help with the restoration and storage of earthquake-damaged heritage artefacts in Canterbury.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker is adamant his council will meet a two-week deadline to speed up its consenting process, as the Government threatens to step in if it does not.

A new Housing New Zealand home will be built in Christchurch every day until the end of 2015, the Government announced today.

A Canterbury landmark destroyed by earthquakes will be rebuilt using a $1 million donation.

The estimated cost of the Canterbury rebuild has been increased by $10 billion to $40 billion, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Almost 200 Christchurch businesses have been opened or reopened since January and the population is growing as the Canterbury city continues its recovery from the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.