The Prime Minister said the damage to the Kaikoura region is worse than he thought.
Key and Brownlee estimate the clean-up will run into the hundreds of millions and clearing the debris and blocked roads could take months.
• Aftershocks have continued to rumble through the night. As of 5am, there have been 278 since 7 o'clock last night and 807 since the 7.5 Kaikoura earthquake, GeoNet says
• Kaikoura locals especially are being warned by Civil Defence to stay prepared for further rattles
• In Wellington, people are being told to use commonsense when in the central city today.
• Some buildings are still being assessed and areas, particularly around Featherston Street, are still cordoned off
• Last night the council said it wasn't clear what public transport would be working in the city today after earlier mass cancellations. People are being urged to car-share where they can
• 600 people stayed at a local marae in Kaikoura. HMNZS Canterbury is on its way from Auckland to also help evacuate 1100 stranded tourists. It is expected to start this job first light tomorrow
• Kaikoura is severely damaged with problems around communications, roads, water and sewage. Last night the Marlborough District Council said there was three days' water left
The Elms Homestead in Kaikoura collapsed following the magnitude 7.5 earthquake at 12.02am, and rescuers spent hours searching for the three residents.
A Fire Service spokesman said one of the woman was able to escape the large home themselves, while the other was rescued. The man did not survive.
Well-known locals Pam and Louis Edgar live at the property with Louis' 100-year-old mother, Margaret.
The women have "lost everything," said a relative.
Relatives are desperately trying to get into Kaikoura which has been cut off by large slips blocking the only access roads.
Helicopters are currently being used to evacuate people from the coastal settlement, which still has no power.
At least two people have died and several others have suffered non-fatal heart attacks and minor injuries following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
Emergency services have confirmed one death at the Elms Homestead in Kaikoura. Three people live at the historic home. One person was able to escape, one was rescued and third has died. Relatives of the family are having trouble contacting emergency services due to congested phone lines and power cuts.
A second person has died of a heart attack at a property in Mt Lyford and there are reports of several people suffering non-fatal heart attacks in the hours following the main quake.
St John has activated its National Crisis Coordination Centre and has set up local Emergency Operation Centres in the South Island. A spokeswoman said St John staff, resources and emergency equipment have been relocated to higher ground, and resource is being moved to affected areas in order to maintain response capability. Casualty numbers and injury numbers are unknown at this stage.
Speaking from the Beehive's civil defence bunker, Prime Minister John Key said all 16 regions had activated civil defence requirements. Tsunami warnings replace in place for much of the East Coast where ways of up to 2m have already stuck.
If you are in a low lying area on the East Coast of the North, South or Chatham Islands move immediately to higher ground. #eqnz
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) November 13, 2016
Key said it was important for people to keep following safety advice.
He said New Zealand was in "great shape" to meet any costs from the quakes, but expected there would be significant repairs needed. He also confirm the two deaths.
Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said the pressing need was to get communications gear in to cut off areas and that would be the first task for the helicopters.
He said there weren't reports of many homes or other buildings brought down.
While there had been reports of items falling from shelves, some cracks in buildings and smashed windows in Wellington the true extent of property damage is being revealed as emergency service workers begin assess infrastructure and homes in the light of day.
Pictures are coming in of large slips and badly damaged roads in the Hurunui District. The small North Canterbury town Waiau, where a bridge has been badly damaged, is shut off.
Kaikoura has also been cut off but reports of bad damage are hard to substantiate due to power cuts, blocked roads and a congested mobile network. Military helicopters would be going there to assess damage and make contact. The Fire Service is also sending a seven-strong Urban Search And Rescue squad from Christchurch by helicopter.
Assessment teams are also being sent to Waiau and Blenheim.
In Wellington the TSB Arena and BNZ Centre have sustained the most damage. There is damage to wharves and the Inter Islander terminal, and the Tory Channel remained closed.
Shipping workers were forced to flee the Kings Wharf freight shipping terminal in Wellington, after cracks began appearing and water spurting from beneath them.
"It was just panic stations," said the man who did not wish to be named.
"Water was coming up from the wharf, we had about five seconds to evacuate."
The man said he and seven of his colleagues all ran out together, and huddled to protect themselves in case glass or debris fell from nearby buildings.
In Marlborough, emergency services are bracing themselves for an influx of calls as people see the extend of the damage.
Rural fire chief Richard McNamara said there was a number of vehicles stuck on State Highway 1, and a helicopter was waiting to survey the road in daylight.
"There will be a few people spending the night in their cars, I would say."
He urged people not to travel unless it was urgent, because there was already congestion.
Tsunami therat is for the eastern coast of the south island. anyone near the east coast of the south island should move to high ground #eqnzpic.twitter.com/C3GG01el1l
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) November 13, 2016
That was a very large shake. We are now looking into the shake and will be with you all shortly with info. #eqnz. https://t.co/2EHSBuUps1
