Areas of New Zealand took no chances after tsunami warnings Civil Defence has admitted were "confusing"...

A tsunami warning issued for New Zealand following a 7.6 magnitude earthquake off the Kermadec Islands has been cancelled. But Civil Defence says there is a marine threat and people should stay away from the water.

Quake-ravaged Canterbury and Auckland are clearly the two major infrastructural challenges facing New Zealand.

The Earthquake Commission has paid out $1 billion in claims from the Canterbury earthquakes.

Rates across the country could rise due to increased insurance bills in the wake of the Christchurch quakes.

The All Blacks are booked to play a test in Christchurch next year, but that match and the Crusaders' home fixture list remains in limbo.

Taxpayers would pay most of the cost of repairing future earthquake damage to uninsured Christchurch infrastructure, a spokesman for Finance Minister Bill English says.

Decisions on the future of Christchurch's quake-hit schools will depend on the relocation plans of the city's red-zone residents.