Engineers say its "unusual" shorter buildings - some of which are old and earthquake-prone - didn't suffer as much damage.

The Prime Minister's bodyguards directed traffic around a high rise close to collapse, slips caused traffic chaos and homes were evacuated in capital.

The boss of Statistics NZ has posted a message saying she has been left questioning how such a new building could be so badly affected by yesterday morning's quakes.

Police crime data will be easily accessible to the public from the end of the month with the launch of online tool policedata.co.nz.

There are reports that a floor in Statistics House has pancaked onto the one below. Staff won't be returning for up to a year.

The nation's tourism boom drove up retail spending and demand for restaurants, takeaway shops, and accommodation.

New Zealand's consumer prices rose at a faster pace than reported in the September quarter, with Stats NZ discovering they made an error.

Brett Morrison moved after two lots of intruders went through his Papamoa rental Two burglaries in the space of two weeks was enough

The country's trade deficit expanded to $1.44 billion in September, from $1.14b a year earlier, according to Statistics NZ.

COMMENT: A look at this week's new population projections should give Phil Goff and his council a sobering reminder of the massive task ahead of them.

Kiwis took 1.09 million overseas holiday trips in the year to September. This was 71,200 more holiday trips than in the previous

Groceries were cheaper in September, impacted by cheaper bananas, lamb and chicken.

New Zealand accommodation providers saw record highs for an August month this year, driven by a surge in international visitors.

New Zealand retail spending on electronic cards gained in September as the hospitality sector bounced back.

Residential building consents fell for a second month, according to new figures from Statistics New Zealand.

Kiwis are opening their wallets with retail spending up for the June quarter, rising at the fastest pace in close to a decade.

For a small nation, New Zealand grabs its fair share of medals.

New Zealand fruit exports have been the shining star of commodities over the past year.

The value of all residential buildings based on those consents is $11.4 billion.

Wealth distribution in New Zealand is at its most uneven in more than a decade.

New Zealanders cut their retail spending on credit and debit cards for the first time in 13 months in May.

First quarter sales volumes rose at the slowest pace for three quarters.

Food prices rose in April as Kiwis paid more for vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers.

New Zealand's jobless rate rose in the first quarter as the nation's labour force recorded its biggest increase in 12 years.

Jobseeker beneficiaries in Canterbury have jumped by 18pc in the past year as the massive rebuild winds down.

A new annual migration record was set for a 20th month in March, as more people moved across the Tasman from Australia.

Stats NZ figures show 2379 new dwellings were consented last month, the highest for a February since 2004 and up 35 per cent on the same month a year ago.