A supervolcano forming north of New Zealand could spell the end of the world - but there is no need to panic, it won't happen for at least 100 million years.

A tsunami advisory for New Zealand has been cancelled, seven hours after an 8-magnitude earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands today.

Most of the debris has been cleared and repairs have begun, but residents of a tornado-ravaged Auckland street have long gone.

Anne Bolland wept yesterday as swirling brown floodwaters advanced on her home in the low-lying Brisbane suburb of Milton.

Thousands of homes are underwater in Queensland and New South Wales as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald beats a devastating path down the coast, leaving authorities to prepare for another day of evacuations while floodwaters have already isolated hundreds of homes.

Christchurch's Cindy Gibb made a deal with her husband - one day she'd be able to travel the world to places where nursing skills were in short supply and work.

Queensland is gripped in another extraordinary flood crisis, as cities and towns across the state go under.

Firefighters were "planning for the worst" last night as a huge scrub fire burned across Great Barrier Island, forcing the evacuation of homes, businesses and a medical centre.

Hydrothermal activity at White Island has increased and experts say there is "significant concern" the volcano could erupt with little or no warning.

Skies around the country have been looking noticeably more hazy orange and bronze-coloured in the past few days as smoke from Australia's scorching bushfires reaches us.

The past few years have not been great for those in the business of predicting natural disasters, writes Chris De Freitas. Think of the doomsday forecasts of Christian radio broadcaster Harold Camping and that of the much hyped Mayan calendar.

Farmers and conservationists are bracing for the effects of the bushfires still raging down the eastern states.

This year has seen dizzying highs, devastating lows, Mother Nature at her most furious, a mesmerising court case and panic as Marmite production ceased.

Kim Dotcom and a spate of natural disasters have been among the most popular topics with New Zealand Herald readers this year.

Further New Zealand support for cyclone-battered Samoa and Fiji has been announced, bringing the combined total to $820,000 so far.

Samoans in New Zealand are still anxiously waiting to hear how their loved ones fared after Cyclone Evan hit.

Two ships were grounded and houses thrown through the air as winds of up to 270km/h uprooted trees and homes force hit Fiji during Tropical Cyclone Evan.

The first Kiwis to return from cyclone-ravaged Samoa have told of their narrow escapes from the devastation.

The category three tropical cyclone currently lashing Samoa could develop into a category five monster by the time it reaches Fiji.

We track deadly Cyclone Evan as he leaves Samoa and aims to take a massive and direct hit to Fiji as monster category 4 tropical storm. We have the latest maps, forecasts and tracking for this storm, which some models show will drift close to NZ in the days before Christmas.

Cyclone Evan, which has already reportedly claimed the lives of three people, continues to batter Samoa today and is expected to intensify with winds up to 145km/h. Last night there were reports of widespread flash floods, blocked roads, damaged buildings and evacuations.

Tropical Cyclone Evan is making its presence felt as it sweeps through the Pacific Islands, hitting Samoa and Fiji with winds of up to 185km/h, leaving a trail of debris behind it.

Doomsayers believe December 21, 2012, marks the end of an ancient Mayan calendar - and, therefore, the onset of world-ending natural or extraterrestrial catastrophes.

Lessons will be learned, future lives saved, but for families of Canterbury Television building earthquake victims there will never be closure.