A family who fled their New Brighton home with their disabled child have returned to find the property looted.

Newstalk ZB listeners share their stories of the night.

Scholarship exams have been cancelled, but NCEA exams can go ahead in schools if they are not earthquake damaged, NZQA says.

The earthquake in the early hours of this morning brought back memories of the September 2010 and February 2011 quakes for Donna Mills.

Christchurch residents have escaped the worst of the quake.

A Waiau local says roads around the epicentre of this morning's quake are blocked by massive landslides and deep cracks that stretch for miles.

Heavy rain and wind is forecast to batter the upper South Island and lower North Island this afternoon.

Many people evacuated from Kaiapoi due to the tsunami risk have hunkered down in their vehicles at the Pak n'Save carpark in Rangiora.

Primary responsibility for civil defence emergency management at a local level rests with your local council.

The driver of the 4WD which got stuck in a North Canterbury river was breath-tested at the scene, and was over the limit, according to police.

A major medical marijuana trial is underway in New Zealand - testing the effects of a new cannabis gel on epilepsy patients.

This helicopter tour over the South Island was a star-studded affair.

Lotto players in Auckland, Paraparaumu, Nelson and Dunedin got a pleasant surprise tonight.

Thousands of punters turned out for Cup Day in Christchurch today.

The injured man has been taken to Christchurch Hospital

The motorcyclist killed in a crash on the Lindis Pass on Sunday was Stephen Ross Philip of Christchurch. Police named the 56-year-old

Police officer says in 23 years of policing, confrontational Gun City owner "would have been one of worst people he's ever dealt with".

Christchurch man allegedly gave marijuana to the 13-year-old boys at his house so they would be stoned enough to sleep with him.

A passenger has described the dramatic scenes when a bomb threat was made against a plane from Palmerston North to Christchurch this afternoon.

Only five days into November, 10 people have already died on our roads, and police fear another 60 to 70 people could be killed before the end of the year.

A man who led police on a dangerous 50km rampage through roadblocks, road works, a golf course and private houses has been jailed for three years.

Christchurch police are being investigated for pouring hundreds of litres of booze into a drain.

Nestled in berry country, this sunny town is bursting with Edwardian elegance, discovers Elisabeth Easther.

Relief could be on the way.

Three men appeared in court today after a series of drug raids across Christchurch by police yesterday.

Cash, methamphetamine, vehicles, synthetic drugs and at least one firearm were seized following a major police bust in Christchurch.

Exhumation is a "very difficult and very unpleasant" process that is deeply upsetting for family members, the trial into whether the body of Jamie Pooley should be dug up has heard.

The tiny dishes of this Lyttelton eatery grew on locals, says Jesse Mulligan.

There were plenty of celebrations on this side of the Tasman for the 156th Melbourne Cup.

A Christchurch man doesn't want to lay charges after being shot in the eye when he told a gunman "you may as well shoot me".