A series of tremors rattled the quake-prone New Zealand city of Christchurch on Monday, destroying buildings and sending boulders tumbling down hills.

International rescuers intensified their search for earthquake survivors in New Zealand, despite fading hopes of finding any more people alive.

New Zealand’s quake death toll was confirmed at 71 with more bodies still to be recovered, but it was not known how many people might still be trapped

New Zealand is to remain the home of <i>The Hobbit</i> after the government struck a $25-million deal with Warner Bros.