A Christchurch woman says she was ripped off by earthquake victims she took into her home.

New home owners are finding themselves in limbo as insurers refuse to write any new policies for Christchurch's shaken homes.

The Hawkes Bay was struck by a magnitude-5.3 earthquake this afternoon.

APN News & Media, publisher of nzherald.co.nz, is today launching a nation-wide appeal for Christchurch earthquake victims.

Find out how Christchurch services are functioning following Saturday's 7.1 quake and this morning's violent 5.1 aftershock

About 600 properties face isolation as floodwaters continue to rise in northern Victoria, Australia.

Three Gisborne teenagers died after a two-vehicle smash on one of the country's worst accident blackspots last night.

Aftershocks are continuing to hit Canterbury with one measuring 4.1 the latest in a series today that also included a 5.1.

Mayor Bob Parker says Christchurch city is coping "amazingly well" with the continuing fall-out from Saturday morning's earthquake.

The state of emergency in Christchurch has been extended a further seven days following an aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale this morning.

The Govt may rush through legislation to enable rebuilding in the wake of Canterbury’s earthquake, with retrospective building consents.

A golden retriever puppy needed emergency surgery after cutting off the side of his nose running away in panic when the quake hit.

Police are investigating whether alcohol played a part in last night's two-vehicle crash on one of NZ's most notorious stretches of highway.

There is speculation that the fourth Bledisloe Cup test could be moved from Hong Kong to Europe due to poor ticket sales.