New Zealand held a two-minute silence nationwide at 12.51 p.m. Tuesday, exactly a week after a deadly earthquake ruined the South Island city of Christchurch.

New Zealand held a two-minute silence nationwide at 12.51 p.m. on March 1, 2011, exactly a week after a deadly earthquake ruined the South Island city of Christchurch. [Xinhua]

Cathedral bells tolled around New Zealand in remembrance of those who died in the magnitude 6.3 tremor which killed at least 154 people, with the final death toll feared as high as "around 240".

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, his wife Bronagh, Opposition Labor Party leader Phil Goff, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker observed the silence at the heart of the shattered city.

For 10 minutes after the silence, the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul near Parliament also rang its bells to mark those who lost their lives.

A service on the steps of Parliament building was attended by Governor-General Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, Members of Parliament and overseas diplomats.

Catholic Cathedrals in Auckland, Dunedin and other cities also toll their bells.

The public gathered at Wellington's Civic Square to observe the silence in support of the people of Christchurch.