Latest fromNatural Disasters

Relocated Cup games would be 'a gold mine' for Auckland
Auckland is likely to make a huge economic gain should the Christchurch Rugby World Cup games be relocated, Auckland interest groups say.

NZ USAR team ready to start Japan search
New Zealand's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team in Japan are settled in the northern part of the country and about to start work helping to find survivors of Friday's magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami.

Christchurch to be stripped of RWC games - report
A secret report into the state of Christchurch's AMI Stadium reportedly reveals it won't be able to host RWC games, a British news website says.

Japan jolt 8000 times more violent than Christchurch's
The Japan quake was 8000 times stronger than Christchurch's and unzipped a faultline half the size of the North Island, a NZ scientist says.

Japan tsunami: Tears of anxiety - and of elation
Yoshimi Okazaki lost her home and job in the Christchurch quake. Now her loved ones are missing in the devastating Japanese quake and tsunami.

Christchurch thoughts with Japan - Parker
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the thoughts of his quake-stricken city are with Japan following Friday's magnitude 9.0 earthquake which devastated much of the country and left thousands dead.

Three injured, seven missing after plant explosion
Japanese officials have confirmed a second hydrogen explosion has occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, while a warning of a second tsunami has been cancelled.