Yesterday's earthquake off the coast of Japan brought back memories of the 2011 disaster for many locals.

Wellington's Lambton House building was partially evacuated after a technician found a "potentially hazardous" substance in a lift well.

When a thunderstorm hit Melbourne yesterday, it triggered a rare phenomenon seen only four times in the last 30 years.

Civil Defence has "serious concerns" for the safety of anyone in or near the Conway River.

Last Monday's earthquake should be a wake-up call about the risks commercial building owners overlook when it comes to non-structural items, say experts.

The earthquake-shattered main road linking Picton and Christchurch will "definitely" be closed for at least the next six months, the Transport Minister says.

Opening access to SH1 on the south side of Kaikoura will happen "quite a way before we open up to the north", Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has told Kaikoura.

A 6.9 earthquake has hit Japan and there are evacuation warnings in effect. Tristram Clayton is joined by journalist Motoko Kakubayashi for the latest from Japan.

Asbestos contamination and a highly unstable building have destroyed any chance of personal belongings being saved from 61 Molesworth St in Wellington.

COMMENT: Blaming quakes on sexual behaviour is a disgraceful insult as our hearts go out to shaken communities.

A free public transport service will roll out tomorrow in Kaikoura to help rural residents get to town.

"It's really frustrating. We've been up and down the road since the quake happened, we know the risk. We don't need this cordon and convoy."

How has Kaikoura's world-famous wildlife responded to the 7.8 earthquake? Science reporter Jamie Morton looked at what we know so far.

Work to demolish a quake-damaged Wellington office tower is expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting.

The probability of another 7.0-plus quake striking have fallen further, GeoNet reported today, but large aftershocks are still likely across a large area of New Zealand.

Thousands of central Wellington workers face an uncertain week as the clean-up from Monday's devastating 7.8 earthquake clean-up.

Few places in the world can boast the natural wonders of Kaikoura. That all changed in one shaking, shocking minute last Monday morning.

Kara Lynn left Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake and has now had a new fault line open up near her Sherwood property following Monday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

Peter Dunne has echoed calls from the public to strip Destiny Church of its tax-exempt status.

Thousands of workers and residents of Wellington's CBD have been displaced, as engineers continue to detect damage incurred to buildings.

COMMENT: I'm heartened by outpourings of aroha and kindness in a time of need.

COMMENT: I was in the basement vault last night counting my money when I heard a deep rumbling in Earth. "Hannah," I called out, "it's those gays again!"

Even after the quakes, eruptions and tsunami scares of the past decade, NZ still has lessons to learn about preparedness, writes Jamie Morton.

The Kaikoura earthquake has shaken the lives of hundreds of thousands of kiwis across central New Zealand but it’s also had a major impact on business and the travel plans of many thousands more. Join Tristram Clayton as he talks to Andy Jack from FCM Travel Solutions to find out what can be done to lessen the impact of such a major event on those travelling in and out of these affected regions.

What happens to buildings when large earthquakes hit? What makes some structures more resilient than others? An expert explains.

Just a few days ago, Waiau was cut off from civilisation.

The toll Monday's earthquake has had on Wellington is coming to light after at least four more buildings in the central city were evacuated yesterday.

COMMENT: On the morning of Monday November 14, 2016, the best little city in the world got ripped apart.

Lying on the ground next to Kaikoura Highschool's gymnasium wall was a pile of fractured concret bricks.