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

The director of GeoNet has detailed responding to the "monster" magnitude 7.5 earthquake that rocked the country early Monday morning.

A fleet of international warships are bypassing Auckland's historic naval celebrations and heading for Kaikoura to assist with the earthquake response.

Kaikoura's tourism industry fears for the future after this week's quake raised the seabed by at least a metre.

Civil Defence said the national support effort will continue tomorrow following Monday morning's 7.5 magnitude earthquake near Kaikoura.

Vital supplies are being flown in as Kaikoura has less than 24 hours of drinking water left.

Most phone services affected by yesterday's earthquake have now been fixed, Vodafone says.

A mercy mission into rural quake-hit Marlborough has led to donations for farming communities and offers of help.

NO EXAM: John Paul College students Adam Schweizer (left), 17, and Jessica Macdonald, 17, whose chemistry exam was postponed because

Red Cross is providing psychological support to communities affected by this week's earthquake, as people prepare to spend another night in welfare centres.

Join Bernadine Oliver-Kerby as she talks to Sir Bob Parker, former mayor of Christchurch. Few know the massive task of rebuilding and simply coping with a disaster of this magnitude than Sir Parker who was mayor during devastating quakes of 2011 and 2012.

Associate Professor Sarb Johal of Massey University's School of Psychology shares some tips on how to cope with quake-related stress and anxiety.

Join Tristram Clayton as he talks to Newstalk ZB's political reporter Barry Soper for the latest update from Wellington.

St John is standing down its National Crisis Co-ordination Centre (NCCC) overnight, however a national on-call team will remain available.

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.

Tourism operators say there have been no reports of cancellations following the earthquakes but the industry is in damage control because of potential damage to NZ's image.

The probability of another huge quake over magnitude 7 in the next 24 hours has been put at 4 per cent - but at 14 per cent in the next week and 22 per cent across the next 30 days.

WATCH: When Ben Todd saw water rising towards his family home he knew there was only one thing to do.

As a Wellingtonian you know you're living in a very hip city that's destined to one day go "poof" in a puff of concrete dust, writes Polly Gillespie.

Hunting and Fishing's Anton Evans remains stoic despite the damage and his business grinding to a hault.

Newlyweds Edward and Lesley-Anne were staying positive despite being in the thick of earthquakes and after shocks in Kaikoura

The Takahanga Marae opened its doors to help stranded tourists and stricken locals.

Houses in small community are so badly quake-damaged that locals are considering using diggers to bring them down today.

People queued for more than an hour after New World opened its doors today.

People with quake-damaged homes are being urged to look after themselves ahead of their properties.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake cracked concrete and broke windows at the Wellington stadium.

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

Two strong aftershocks have rattled the top of the South Island around 2.30pm today.

The boss of Statistics NZ has posted a message saying she has been left questioning how such a new building could be so badly affected by yesterday morning's quakes.