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.

Marlborough Civil Defence may evacuate six more people from the Clarence River area this morning.

Tourists will be ranked according to need as the evacuation of Kaikoura begins.

John Key reassures the country that the government is in a good position to pay for the latest natural disaster.

There’s been another night of aftershocks rattling the nerves of residents already on edge after yesterday’s 7.5 Kaikoura quake. As of six this morning there have been 832 aftershocks

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

Predicting large earthquakes is not as simple as looking to the moon or watching the pet cat. A post online predicting an earthquake

Wellington CBD is open for business, but workers should check with their employers before heading into town for work.

JS141116NADQUAKE115.JPG A planned surf lesson for a group of international students at Sandy Bay went ahead yesterday after instructors

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

The HMNZS Canterbury is expected to arrive in Kaikoura tomorrow.

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.

Engineers hard at work to restore road access to seaside hamlet.

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

Thousands of people remained trapped in Kaikoura last night without water, sewerage systems and phone reception after a massive quake struck South Island.

Herald journalist Andrew Stone describes the terrifying aftermath of the quake.

The evacuation, via sea, of tourists stranded in Kaikoura is still a day away.

Their ceiling has collapsed, there is no running water or power, every bottle, glass and plate in their restaurant is broken - and a bottle of pinot noir has already been opened.

As the dust was settling, it was becoming clear how good fortune had touched many. It was also apparent the damage caused.

HMNZS Canterbury is sailing to Kaikoura loaded with aid supplies and will bring back tourists and residents.

The New Zealand sharemarket held up well today, but the worst could be yet to come as aftershocks threaten the country.

A Kaikoura farmer has described the eerie feeling of entering a road tunnel on State Highway One south of the quake-damaged town.

Most of Spark's South Island broadband and landline network is hanging by a thread. A cable running along the island's east coast

A cluster of sharp aftershocks have rattled people around the country this evening, including three "severe" quakes near Seddon and another by Kaikoura.

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

A 100-year-old woman pulled alive from the rubble of her farmhouse had lived on the homestead for 64 years. Margaret Edgar was asleep