A woman who was among the group of rafters camping by the Clarence River when Monday's earthquake struck has spoken about their "fortunate"

Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of condolence to the Governor-General of New Zealand.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the cost of the earthquakes was still to emerge, but it would be in the billions of dollars.

English tourist had just turned in for the night when the earthquake struck. Now the terrified visitor is desperate to get home.

As Canterbury Civil Defence declared a region-wide state of emergency, people from around South Island banned together to support those affected by quake.

WATCH: A family is devastated after their cottage on the Banks Peninsula was knocked off its foundations and partly destroyed by a tsunami wave.

Two cattle and a calf which survived yesterday's earthquake should be allowed to retire and live out their days in a sanctuary, animal rights group Peta says.

Police investigating looting during yesterday's quake evacuations say eight burglaries took place and they have stepped up patrols since then.

The ground heaved and trees cracked - rescued tourists caught up in the North Canterbury quake tell their stories to Chris Morris.

Union wants to avoid adding to community's stress.

Restoring highway access to Kaikoura will take months, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

Relieved tourists have been flown by helicopter from Kaikoura to a Red Cross Centre in North Canterbury this morning.

New laws against looters are not necessary, says police minister.

Defence Force sends hundreds of staff plus planes and ships to earthquake-affected south.

Our photographers and reporters share some of the images captured after yesterday's quakes.

Mid Canterbury farmers are on standby to take dairy cows from quake-affected North Canterbury dairy farmers.

Helicopters from US and Malaysia will help out in Kaikoura, says PM John Key.

Farmers are sharing cow sheds and generators as they try to carry out the daily business of running their farms.

The first word comes of the fate of three cows trapped after yesterday's quake.

Richie McCaw, who has been airlifting stranded tourists out of Kaikoura, says the devastation from the air looks "pretty crazy".

Aftershocks continue around Kaikoura this morning.

A helicopter pilot says he could smell the fresh earth uncovered by the Kaikoura earthquake hundreds of metres in the air as he flew above the scene.

A Dutch tourist waiting to be evacuated from Kaikoura says the people of the earthquake-damaged-town are her heroes.

On an impulse, Jamie Brosnahan and Jonathon O'Neill spent Sunday night in Kaikoura. The Rotorua couple were heading for Hanmer Springs

An English couple was brought to tears describing their nightmare New Zealand holiday.

Public transport is running again in Wellington today and some roads in the South Island should start to reopen.

'Long, scary night' for family as the earth continues to roll.

Three cows left standing on an island of land have drawn international attention.

A historic homestead is in tatters and the four other properties on a north Canterbury sheep and beef farm were damaged in today's