People, including Defence Force firefighters, and equipment is being deployed to help contain the wildfires.

It's a long, hot slog fighting a fire as big and complex as the one in the Hawke's Bay in the blazing heat. But it's also satisfying work.

Unison restored power to about 700 customers last night after it was cut during the blaze along Waimarama Rd. Unison relationship

About 60 people - including police, firefighters and defence personnel - are continuing to search for an elderly Auckland woman who has been missing for six days.

A West Coast Civil Defence warning of a possible big earthquake on the Coast was a "misinterpretation of the facts" caused by lack of training and understanding, says an independent report.

An earlier tsunami warning has been lifted following the magnitude 7.2 quake which struck off the coast Fiji.

Power is expected to be restored before nightfall for Gisborne residents, the electricity company says.

A string of light earthquakes have hit several parts of the country since Seddon was rattled by a 4.7 magnitude quake last night.

Wellington City Council's recovery manager officially has the power to make building owners share the results of their building inspections with the council.

Nearly all routes in and out of Kaikoura are closed today as high winds across the South Island mean small planes and helicopters are grounded, Civil Defence says.

The demolition of three buildings in Wellington will be brought forward in light of last week's 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Two of

Canterbury Civil Defence hopes to reopen one lane of the Inland Rd into Kaikoura tomorrow afternoon.

Civil Defence said "contrary to some reports there is no 'imminent threat' to the West Coast from earthquakes".

Kaikoura Civil Defence controller Murray Sinclair says he would rather have one or two members of the Goose Bay community be upset, than risk anyone's lives.

More than 25 police staff remain in Kaikoura and the surrounding area offering reassurance to locals and offering their assistance.

Several hundred people have gathered to pay their respects to Kaikoura man Louis Edgar, who perished in last week's earthquake, is to be held this afternoon.

The weather is closing in on a small Kaikoura township that sits under a new dam that may soon burst.

Mt Lyford residents have limited use of Kaikoura's Inland Rd.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has been accused of vilifying a Geonet scientist who spoke out about the need for a better tsunami warning system in New Zealand.

Around 50 per cent of buildings in Kaikoura have had their rapid assessment completed.

Prime Minister John Key writes exclusively for the Herald on Sunday after the Kaikoura earthquake.

Rural residents are frustrated at being forgotten almost a week after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake shattered Kaikoura.

John Key says the Government expects to announce measures for a national disaster warning system which will "blast a message out to everyone".

Statistics New Zealand has hit out at claims its quake-damaged headquarters could be demolished.

The historic Hurunui Hotel has been red-stickered after Monday's quake but publican Sean Madden is confident it will be allowed to reopen soon.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has defended the Wellington City Council's decision to declare the CBD safe so quickly after Monday's quake.

Water flooded 140m inland south of Kaikoura, damaging one home at Little Pigeon Bay.

Attention will be turning towards rural and vulnerable households says Civil Defence in its latest briefing.

A Civil Defence overhaul is inevitable following confusion over tsunami warnings after Monday's earthquake, the Government says.

Eight properties in Marlborough have been identified as being too badly damaged to be entered.