Hamish McNeilly

A salad may have saved her life, but Claire Oxnam has grave fears for her colleagues after the Canterbury Television (CTV) building was reduced to rubble and caught fire after yesterday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake.

Just six hours after David Daniels set off from St Kilda Beach, Dunedin, with the bold plan to circumnavigate the South Island in his modified boat, he was rescued off Brighton.

His family in Sendai may have survived the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, but a former Dunedin man has grave fears for the devastated city he once called home.

The role of firefighters and their equipment is markedly different from 150 years ago, but the intent remains the same - to help those in need.

While Otago hoteliers are set for a boost from the Rugby World Cup, a prediction that the local industry would be affected in the wake of Christchurch's earthquake is proving correct.

A Former pa and whaling station site is set to become the first wahi tapu in Otago and Southland to be registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Classical music emanating from a collapsed cafe is just one of the haunting images of the Christchurch earthquake that will remain with Dunedin policeman Inspector Alastair Dickie.

Christchurch was a "critical gateway" for South Island visitors, and it was too soon to speculate how last week's earthquake would affect the tourism industry.

Assisting Christchurch with recovery was likely to be a "major" focus for South Island powerhouse iwi, Ngai Tahu, in the years ahead, its chairman Mark Solomon said.

An army marches on its stomach, and those volunteers helping people affected by the Christchurch earthquake want your help.

A massive exodus of Christchurch residents and tourists from the quake-torn city is resulting in transport operators providing extra capacity to Southern destinations.

Annabelle Jackman was driving to Christchurch to pick up her wedding dress when Tuesday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck.