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.

Learn from Christchurch and subsidise businesses hit by the devastating Kaikoura earthquake, former mayor Sir Bob Parker has told the Government.

A number of schools have been closed due to flooding, affecting some students due to sit exams after afternoon.

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.

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 alpine tourist hotspot of Hanmer Springs, usually a thriving, buzzing place, resembles a ghost town.

Almost $40,000 has been donated to help a Christchurch family whose seaside home was burgled after they evacuated during yesterday's earthquake and tsunami warning.

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.

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

Kiwis have rallied behind the family burgled after fleeing their seaside home in Christchurch this morning, with almost $20,000 fundraised.

Students who sat a digital version of NCEA Level 1 English last week have been offered a derived grade following technical problems with the exam pilot.

The Clarence River has burst its banks, with residents being told to move to high ground immediately, as aftershocks continue to rock the country.

Three cows have been luckily - or unluckily - stranded on an island of land, surrounded by collapsed earth from landslides near Kaikoura.

Most schools will open tomorrow, following hundreds of closures after the quake.

Today's earthquake can trigger emotional trauma for Cantabrians even though there's been little physical damage in Christchurch, a psychologist says.