A visit by one of Kaikoura's world-famous whales has lifted the spirits of the town's quake-struck residents today.

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.

Prime Minister John Key writes exclusively for the Herald on Sunday after the Kaikoura earthquake.

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

British woman Kaikoura Stuart has a message for the people of the town she was named after.

Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Gerry Brownlee said he is disgusted with the people who have looted earthquake victims' homes and a train.

The earthquake that struck Kaikoura this week could cost the insurance industry as much as $5.3 billion.

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

They've received so many food and water parcels, Ivan says he can't take a shower because it's filled with bottles.

This could be the perfect postcard of rural New Zealand ... but this rural idyll has become the Ground Zero of Monday's mammoth magnitude-7.8 earthquake.

Nelson plasterer's bright idea sees plane land in quake-torn area laden with KFC, McDonald's burgers and pizza.

As Kaikoura reels from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Murchison is buzzing.

A 27 truck military convoy battled poor weather and the threat of more landslides to deliver 8860ltrs of fuel and 10,000ltrs of water to Kaikoura today.

Five people have been arrested on charges including supplying methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.

Farmers and the fishing industry get $5 million relief package.

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

"We are expecting a difficult crossing tomorrow so we're making sure everyone is well refreshed and rested."

The Defence Force has now evacuated more than 800 people from Kaikoura.

The road into Waiau will be "average" for some time, locals say, but the community is already rebuilding their lives after Monday's devastating earthquake.

A Civil Defence helicopter made a nappy run to a remote part of Marlborough to bring supplies to a family with a young baby who have been cut off.

An alternative inland route for ferry traffic has been established running from Picton to Christchurch, via Murchison and the Lewis Pass.

Power, water and road access is slowly being restored to earthquake-hit areas of the South Island as crews work around the clock.

Businesses in quake-hit areas will be paid to keep on staff for at least eight weeks, the Govt says.

Why have there been so many landslides after this earthquake? Could we have known this would happen? Experts shed some light on Kaikoura's devastation.

Questions are being asked about why key government buildings in Wellington have been impacted so badly, as concerns about more buildings emerge.

Kaikoura locals are beginning to join the exodus out of their quake ravaged settlement. With 1000 tourists successfully evacuated

The escalation of the Kaikoura Earthquake in magnitude from 7.5 to 7.8 now puts its power on a par with the equivalent energy release of 400 atomic bombs detonating.

The changes to the freight routes in and out of Canterbury have seen an 18 per cent increase in cost.

Civil Defence is warning that a 150m high dam is at risk of failure after heavy rain.

Fears today's storm will hamper clean-up efforts in regions devastated by this week's earthquake.