The PM and Kaikoura's mayor have dismissed Brain Tamaki's comments blaming the devastating earthquakes on "gays, murderers and sinners".

What's it like to be part of the team at GNS Science when a big quake hits? Seismologist Dr Helen Anderson shares an insight.

Tonnes of food, water and supplies are being driven into earthquake-hit Waiau by big-hearted Cantabrians.

A block of apartments at a Wellington retirement village has been evacuated due to fears of suspected structural damage.

Seals are likely to have been killed but it isn't yet clear if the popular Ohau Point seal colony has been destroyed by the Kaikoura earthquake.

Elderly residents of a retirement village in the upmarket suburb of Khandallah are among those who have been evacuated.

Employers whose staff are struggling to cope following Monday's earthquake are being given advice on how to best support their employees.

Supermarket shelves in the earthquake-stricken region of North Canterbury will remain stocked if the Ports of Auckland has any say in it.

Queenstown residents would probably face a similar scenario to the one in Kaikoura should the Alpine Fault rupture.

Join Bernadine Oliver-Kerby as she talks to political reporter Isaac Davison in Wellington. A big part of Wellington’s CBD is in a holding pattern at the moment after Monday’s quake.

Financial aid is pouring in for earthquake victims with more than $50,000 already raised in the Red Cross appeal.

Quake-hit customers and businesses have been offered mortgage relief and access to savings.

The latest earthquake again prompted reports of animals behaving strangely just before the main shock hit. What does science say?

New aerial photos show there is much work to be done after Monday's 7.8 quake.

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

It appears our volcanoes have slept through the Kaikoura quake, with monitoring equipment showing only a few tremors over recent days.

Some dairy farmers in the South Island might have to dispose of their milk due to road closures and other issues.

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

Wellington retailers are likely to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in the wake of the earthquakes and terrible weather.

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.

John Key says parts of State Highway One may be damaged beyond repair after Monday's quake.

Civil Defence aims to rescue 600 stranded tourists from Kaikoura today.

Quake-ravaged regions are bracing for a fresh weather onslaught with heavy rain and bitterly cold gales set to batter central New Zealand in the next 48 hours.

Donald Trump has called John Key and offered his sympathies over the earthquake and spoke about the TPP, and Sir Bob Charles.

Roads in and around Wellington remain closed or partially open due to flooding and slips.

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

More than 1700 tremors have rocked central New Zealand since Monday - but this constant shaking is normal says scientists.

COMMENT: John Key plans to take his opportunity to ask questions about Trans Pacific Partnership.

Incredible images illustrate just how devastating the earthquake was to the country.