Wellington commuters face a long trip into town after two crashes.

The signs of summer are among us with pohutakawa trees flowering already and forecasters say the official first day of the season on Thursday will be calm and dry.

More than 30 luxury cars, one of them an F1 worth more than $20 million, are enjoying a different mode of transport this morning - cruising on the Interislander.

Dylan Moran is one of the residents who has vacated the building he lives in after discovering visible damage.

Christmas will be tough this year for 39 Lower Hutt Event Cinema workers who have just lost their jobs.

Plans for an expansion of the parliamentary complex in Wellington, which will involve two new buildings at a cost of at least $100 million, have been unveiled.

Early estimate puts Kaikoura Quake insured losses at US$3.5bn, with 50 per cent of the cost incurred in Wellington.

The Earthquake Commission [EQC] has received more than 11,000 claims since Kaikoura's monster quake.

As demolition starts on quake-hit 61 Molesworth Street, the family who were living there say they're struggling and helpless.

Final demolition work is set to begin today on an earthquake damaged Wellington office block.

A large demolition show expected to take place in Wellington central this morning, has been delayed.

Wellingtonians and people living on the top of the South Island were shaken awake as a strong quake rattled the centre of the country.

Wellington police have found an autistic 19-year-old, who was reported missing earlier this evening, "safe and sound in Paraparaumu".

COMMENT: Wellington at the moment resembles something between a war zone and a crime scene.

The Government's being urged to extend its earthquake support, to also help the thousands of Wellingtonians out of work.

The owners of Lower Hutt's Queensgate Mall have been ordered to urgently demolish an entire building in the complex.

The demolition of three buildings in Wellington will be brought forward in light of last week's 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Two of

Most of the country's political reporters are being evacuated from their building at Parliament due to damage caused by this month's 7.8 earthquakes.

Part-time workers, casuals and temps in Wellington are unable to get to their jobs, and have no safety net.

More than 25 police staff remain in Kaikoura and the surrounding area offering reassurance to locals and offering their assistance.

Earthquake damage at a retirement village has forced the company to demolish an entire block of 40 units.

Alternative work spaces are being arranged for hundreds of office workers kicked out of the Asteron building. The building, which

Demolition work on the quake-damaged building at 61 Molesworth Street in Wellington central is due to start today, hopefully after lunchtime.

Wanted man using social media to avoid police, says detective.

The company that let people live in a Wellington commercial building may face council prosecution.

Staff turned away from Wellington's Asteron building this morning after cracks found in stairwell.

The Asteron building, at 55 Featherston St, is the latest Wellington building to be evacuated due to earthquake safety concerns.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw has decided to run in Wellington Central again in 2017.

Wellington City Council has taken over management of the deconstruction of 61 Molesworth St from the building's owner Prime Property Group.

Calls to mental health helplines have spiked since the Kaikoura Earthquake.