Buildings in Wellington's central city continue to be assessed for structural damage in the wake of a powerful earthquake that hit the middle of the country yesterday. The 6.5 magnitude quake, which struck in the Cook Strait just after 5pm, shattered windows, damaged facades, cracked a road and caused reclaimed waterfront land to fall into the harbour.

Wellington rail services have resumed following inspections for earthquake-related damage.

Russell Duncan a NewstalkZB sales rep shows a clean pair of heels in the Wellington office as the 6.5 quake shakes up his afternoon.

Residents of Seddon react to the earthquake and aftershocks that continue to plague Wellington and the top of the South Island after yesterday's 6.5 magnitude jolt which struck in the Cook Strait at 5.09pm. More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since, including a 5.0 which hit 15km east of Seddon at 10.47 this morning.

Prime Minister says he's yet to get a briefing on how much yesterday's quake might have cost, but, in principle, the country can afford another big one.

NewstalkZB filmed inside the Seddon Town Hall which lost internal roofing during the 6.5 earthquake on Sunday.

Watch an animation of the last 48 hours of earthquakes from Wellington and Seddon from Saturday 9am to Monday 9am.

What you need to know today in the aftermath of yesterday's 6.5 quake which rattled the centre of the country.

The faultline causing earthquakes in Cook Strait has a history of producing "swarms" of quake.

"We've been here 25 years, and that's the biggest one by a mile." Wellington residents share their quake stories.

Streets are closed and buildings are damaged in Wellington after a 6.5 magnitude quake earlier today.

Wellington commuter lines will remain closed tomorrow morning with no peak train services or bus replacements operating.

CCTV footage from Four Square store in Kelburn during the 6.5 earthquake that was felt in Wellington.

People recount their experience of the 6.5 earthquake that was felt across New Zealand.

Map of the most recent earthquakes to hit New Zealand.

Wellington and the top of the South Island have been hit by a 6.5 magnitude quake this afternoon.

Wellington and the top of the South Island were hit by a 6.5 magnitude quake on Sunday afternoon. The quake, which was centred 30km east of Seddon, the site of all the seismic activity in the last couple of days, was 11km deep.

The magnitude 5.7 earthquake that rocked Wellington yesterday was followed by more than 20 aftershocks and GNS Science says more are to come.

More than 20 aftershocks have been felt since a "severe" magnitude 5.7 earthquake rocked Wellington and the upper South Island today, with more to come.

The Wellington region has been shaken by another strong quake this afternoon, after a 5.7 earthquake rocked the capital city this morning.

Builders are laying off staff and say they face economic ruin in Christchurch because insurance companies and Fletcher EQR are taking too long to approve earthquake work.

A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Antarctica, generating large waves but causing no injuries, seismic experts at Argentina's Orcadas base in Antarctica say.

Hawkes Bay residents were jolted by an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale, just before 10am this morning.

Napier property owners given a year to get earthquake risk assessments on their buildings are likely to have the deadline extended another two years because there aren't enough structural engineers to do the work.

Disaster tourism in Christchurch's worst-hit eastern suburbs has been slammed by residents as totally insensitive and exploitative, new research shows.