Once-in-a-century flooding has caused hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage in southwest Queensland.

Once-in-a-century flooding has caused hundreds of millions of dollars damage in southwest Queensland,.

The head of Chile's oceanographic service has been sacked following the earthquake and tsunami that killed about 800 people last week.

Six locations around the country saw peak wave heights of more than a metre generated by last week's devastating earthquake near Chile.

NZ diplomatic staff have made contact with about 250 Kiwis in Chile after the country was rocked by an 8.8 earthquake on Saturday.

A seemingly calm and still Avon-Heathcote Estuary, in Christchurch, is turned into a churning mess by one of Sunday's tsunami.

Lifeguards say they do not want the power to arrest people who ignore beach closures, despite calls for them to be given enforcement powers.

New Zealanders with relatives in Chile faced an anxious wait for news of their loved ones after the huge earthquake disrupted communications.

New Zealand's tsunami alert has been cancelled but people in coastal areas of the country are still advised to take caution.

Hundreds of New Zealanders who raced to beaches to watch a potentially catastrophic tsunami were 'stupid', says Civil Defence Minister John Carter.

New Zealanders weren't going to allow a 'peewee' tsunami alert to ruin the last official day of summer yesterday and many ignored warnings.