A group who lost their only children in the Christchurch quake feel failed by two Govts.

Nearly 800 people reported feeling the 4.8-magnitude aftershock that has struck near Culverden in North Canterburty this afternoon.

Chinese parents who lost their only child in Christchurch earthquake are pleading with govt to grant them lifelong visas so they can visit children's graves.

If ever there was a compassionate ground to grant visitors a permanent visa to NZ it is surely those who lost children in Christchurch earthquake.

Some Wellington building owners have asked for more time to test their buildings after last year's quake.

Christchurch and Japanese academics are developing new drone technologies that would be able to locate people buried in wreckage following natural disasters.

By Anneke SmithLOOKING BACK: Jim Moran and Raymon Barrett, the oldest and youngest survivors of the 1931 quake, cut the cake alongside

Scientists have ruled out any suggestion this morning's 5.2 quake was linked to the mass whale stranding at Farewell Spit.

Kiwi scientists could soon have a new way to safely get an up-close look at erupting volcanoes: send in the drone.

The young son of murder victim Alexsis Tovizi is among scores of traumatised children in desperate need of counselling after last November's earthquake.

The quake was just 5km deep and 120km west of Te Anau.

COMMENT: Many people seem to freeze like a possum in the headlights at the idea of reading their insurance policy.

The earthquake struck in the Bay of Plenty this evening, 15km south-west of Te Kaha. GeoNet reported the shake as "moderate'' in intensity.

There was nothing unusual about the late-night 5.1 quake that shook Marlborough and the lower North Island on Wednesday, says a scientist.

Earthquakes could have contributed to the contamination of Havelock North's water.

One of New Zealand's most-identifiable buildings closed for at least two years.

Beds and houses shook uncontrollably in the late-night quake, scaring thousands of people.

A 5.1 magnitude quake has struck north-east of Kaikoura late tonight.

A strong, shallow earthquake has shaken the West Coast early today.

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck 40km south west of Wellington on Friday night. The 25km deep quake was recorded at 10.22pm. Almost

Insurers IAG and Tower are headed to court to challenge the Earthquake Commission's payouts for Canterbury earthquake claimants.

Tourism continues to boom in New Zealand with spending by domestic and international visitors approaching $26b for the past year.

A 5 magnitude earthquake has struck in the Bay of Plenty. Geonet reported the quake at 15km west of Te Kaha about 10am with a depth

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, however there is no tsunami warning for New Zealand.

No tsunami warning has been issued.

Four quakes of magnitude 5.2 and higher struck near the hill town of Amatrice, 100km northeast of Rome.

It took about two hours to convince authorities something was wrong after the first calls that an avalanche buried a four-star spa hotel in central Italy, leaving at least 30 people missing.

A group of uninsured homeowners in Christchurch have lost their bid to avoid costs for a legal battle with the Government.

More than 20,000 students asked for an emergency derived grade following the Kaikoura earthquake.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake has hit off the coast of Fiji this evening, the second strong shake to rattle the earth near the island nation this year.