GeoNet reports two "light" earthquakes today in the North Island.

A strong earthquake which was felt across the lower North Island has prompted closer monitoring of seismic activity in the area.

A small shake has been felt by some in Wellington and the South Island this morning.

In February, it will be five years since the collapse of the deficient Canterbury Television building in Christchurch.

The police probe into the deadly collapse of the Canterbury Television building in the 2011 quake could still not be concluded by the tragedy's fifth anniversary.

A facelift for Christchurch's landmark Bridge of Remembrance, damaged in the earthquakes, will be ready in time for next year's Anzac Day celebrations.

IAG New Zealand chief executive Jacki Johnson arrived in New Zealand from Australia in 2010 right after the first Christchurch earthquake.

Tower, the general insurer, posted an annual loss as it prepares for more expensive claims from the Canterbury spate of earthquakes

A 6.8-magnitude quake has struck the Solomon Islands this morning.

More than 100 people reported feeling a 4.5 magnitude earthquake within 10 minutes of it striking near Haast today.

Eight quakes rocked the areas around Turangi and Tokoroa between 3.14am and 3.43am

It follows a 4.4 magnitude jolt in Wellington last night.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck about 46km northeast of Port Olry in Vanuatu.

A nationwide 'shake-out' was held this morning - a drill to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Aftershocks are continuing to rattle the lower North Island, with a magnitude 4.3 quake hitting this afternoon.

The 24km-deep quake struck 15km east of Pongaroa and experts warned the shakes could continue for weeks.

GeoNet said the "severe" intensity quake struck 15km east of Pongaroa, on the east coast near the border between Wairarapa and Manawatu, at 9.05pm.

People in Glenorchy, Frankton and Milford Sound reported feeling the quake, which GeoNet classed as moderate.

A New Zealander living in Santiago said she was having afternoon tea with friends when the quake hit.

Five years ago a 7.1 jolt changed Canterbury, forever.

Recovery is going "pretty well", the Prime Minister says: "I can see the progress that is being made, but I can also understand their frustrations".

The University of Canterbury is offering scholarships to help inspire research into the effects of the devastating 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.

Buildings with verandas and other features that could collapse into busy areas will need to be earthquake-strengthened in half the time, the Government has announced.

A team of New Zealand earthquake engineers has been sent to Nepal to assist with its earthquake rebuild - costing the Government $1 million.

It is highly unlikely any Gisborne residents would have been woken up by a "severe" earthquake this morning, an expert says.

Seismologists have downgraded a strong quake that rocked the Solomon Islands in the Pacific this morning.

Two complaints by the Earthquake Commission have been upheld against two newspaper advertisements published by a consumer advocate.

Queensland's southeast has been rocked by a magnitude-5.3 earthquake.

A huge earthquake has struck the western Indonesian province of Papua this morning.