A burst water main in Wellington central city has been repaired after creating a spectacular geyser this afternoon.

Why conduct a media tour of the jewel of the Delhi Commonwealth Games - the main stadium - in the fading light of dusk?

Long diversions remain in place for heavy vehicles travelling on State Highway One south of Kaikoura, after a major slip on Friday night.

The heavy rain that caused slips and surface flooding in the lower North Island is expected to stop this afternoon but many roads in the area are still closed.

Services and infrastructure in Christchurch have been seriously affected by this morning's quake. Here is the current situation.

Organisers of the country's largest motorway closure are praying they have scared enough Aucklanders off the roads this weekend to avoid the city grinding to a halt.