A combination of unlucky geography, poverty, poor government and widespread gun use have exacerbated the effects of Typhoon Haiyan.

NZ will send an air force Hercules to help in the storm-hit Philippines, but Prime Minister John Key's official visit to Manila next week has been postponed.

Relief operations in the typhoon-devastated Tacloban region picked up pace yesterday.

Walking with just one broken rubber flip-flop, Marcel Stutz, a farmer, led his young children and wife past putrefying corpses down an avenue that would take them to the airport and to safety.

Food, water and medical aid has been sent to the Philippines - but few in the worst-hit areas are receiving any help.

Misery united Parliament yesterday - until politics intervened, writes Audrey Young on Greens co-leader Russel Norman's climate change speech.

From a music marathon to food and garage sales, local Filipino community groups are rallying to raise funds for victims affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Kiwis are being asked to help with efforts to get food and water to thousands of people in the Philippines, following the deadly typhoon that has devastated the region.

The Government has given a further $2 million to help the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

The United Nations was "expecting the worst'' over the final body count from Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines killing tens of thousands.

At least 10,000 have been killed in one Philippine city alone following Typhoon Haiyan, with officials warning desperate people are looting just to stay alive.

While Typhoon Haiyan appears to be the deadliest natural disaster on record to hit the Philippines, the country is no stranger to major storms.

"We did everything but we can't reach anyone." Many Kiwis are facing an anxious wait for news from loved ones.

As many as 10,000 people are believed dead in one Philippine city alone after one of the worst storms ever recorded unleashed ferocious winds and giant waves that washed away homes and schools.

New Zealand has contributed $150,000 towards relief efforts in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines and more support could be on its way.

One of the strongest storms on record slammed into the central Philippines, killing at least four people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.

Problems highlighted by the Auditor-General in the way EQC dealt with homeowners affected by the Canterbury earthquakes have already been dealt with, the Government says.

Auckland has only 10 service stations wired up to provide fuel to emergency services quickly if electricity is cut in a natural disaster.

Former Labour MP Chris Carter says he was lucky to escape possible death after a suicide car bomb exploded metres away from his Afghanistan home.

A large tsunami generated very close to the coast of New Zealand would arrive before warning sirens could be activated, a new report has found.

A large tsunami generated very close to the coast of New Zealand would arrive before warning sirens could be activated, a new report has found.

A Christchurch pensioner "roughed up'' by armed police while protecting his quake-hit property has welcomed watchdog findings which slams the officers' actions.