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

Government forces including transport ship Canterbury will be mobilised to get about 1000 tourists out of earthquake hit Kaikoura.

The 111 emergency line service wasn't switched over when the Spark office, where the calls are handled, was evacuated.

An upgraded 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck 20km south-east of Hanmer Springs.

A Wellington resident is "terrified" after her bedroom ceiling collapsed on her and her boyfriend during this morning's earthquake.

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

Mark Fletcher was driving a 50-tonne truck towards Wellington when he found himself struggling to keep it in a straight line. "I

Join Tristram Clayton as he wraps up last nights devastating earthquake.

LIVE BLOG: Aftershocks have continued to rumble through the night, and Civil Defence is warning people to stay prepared for further rattles.

Police say they will do everything in their power to find the thieves who targeted homes in Canterbury following this morning's earthquake. "I

People forced out of their homes and hotels in Wellington following this morning's severe 7.5 earthquake have all found somewhere to go.

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

STL driver Dennis Dunn caused some alarm when he was feared buried but has been found safe and well between two large landslips.

COMMENT: Among the bricks and shattered glass, we feared the worst. It appeared as if a hand grenade had been tossed inside the stylish colonial cottage.

International scientists are intrigued at the complexity of the suspected twin quakes that rattled New Zealand overnight.

Power is gradually being restored in Kaikoura, but sewerage systems and water supplies are still down and it could be days before they are back up and running, Civil Defence says.

Kaikoura and other South Island towns have been essentially cut off, with the famous SH1 road and rail tunnels blocked by slips.

Blood poured down Lindsay Collins' face as he raced down the stairs of his century-old Waiau pub.

STL driver Dennis Dunn caused some alarm when he was feared buried but has been found safe and well between two large landslips.

Prime Minister Key and Minister Gerry Brownlee estimate the clean-up will run into the hundreds of millions and clearing the debris could take months.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for tough new laws around looting after three houses were burgled in the aftermath of this morning's quake.

Joining Tristram Clayton from inside his quake ravaged Wellington apartment is NZ Herald New Zealand political journalist Barry Soper.

The Sky Tower will be lit in black and white tonight, as a mark of solidarity with the rest of the country following today's earthquakes. Acting

An Australian family in New Zealand for a holiday are astounded at the "generosity" of Wellingtonians following the earthquake. Sandra

There's a 12 per cent chance of a big quake hitting before midnight. That's the prediction from government scientists GeoNet.