NZ doctor appeals to Indonesian authorities to return his impounded helicopter so he can help earthquake victims in Padang.

The official death toll from Wednesday's quake stood at 809 last night, but the Indonesian Red Cross believes up to 4,000 people are lying beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Authorities have made contact with three Australians who had been unaccounted for in the earthquake-ravaged Indonesian city of Padang, but concerns remain for four others who still have not been in touch with officials.

Farmers have described Greenpeace's occupation of an inbound cargo vessel as 'economic treason.'

Police make second arrest while expressing serious safety concerns for activists aboard a cargo ship off the Tauranga coast.

New Zealand is ready to offer assistance to Indonesia after a large earthquake killed at least 46 people and injured hundreds more.

A New Zealand man caught up in yesterday's powerful earthquake in Indonesia tells of his experience.

Schapelle Corby has gone insane and is "hanging on by a thread" says a top psychiatrist.

Schapelle Corby, sentenced to 20 years' jail after she was caught in Bali with 4.1kg of marijuana in a boogie board bag, may have her sentence reduced.

New legislation aimed at heading off home-grown terrorism in Australia places greater responsibility on religious groups and communities to identify at risk people.

Tim Mackay's family are thankful for messages of support from around the world, ahead of his funeral tomorrow.