Hundreds of people have lodged injury claims following last month's massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake.

Prime Minister Bill English is making his first official visit today - to earthquake ravaged Kaikoura.

Bill English's first official visit takes him to Kaikoura, where he is impressed by recovery efforts.

The Government has committed to rebuilding State Highway 1 to Kaikoura - at a cost of more than $1 billion.

People whose houses were damaged in last month's earthquake can apply for a $1000 Red Cross grant.

Hokitika woman Lisa Tumahai yesterday stepped into the top role of the billion-dollar Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

The quake struck just after midnight on November 14, causing massive fault line ruptures and slips, damaging buildings and closing key roads.

As 2016 draws to a close, the NZ Science Media Centre picked some of the biggest national and international science stories that made headlines

Just "three or four" slips remain across State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura at this stage and teams are working hard to clear them.

More than a dozen aftershocks have rattled the country since midnight last night.

The Govtt will re-double its promotion of the "Alpine Pacific Triangle" to get tourists back to quake-hit Kaikoura, Hanmer and Christchurch.

Kaikoura has another $2.7 million to help it rebuild after being hit hard by the devastating earthquake last month.

New 3D fly-through footage of the Kaikoura coastline is being used to assess key areas of damage.

A major expedition to the submarine Kaikoura Canyon is assessing whether the November 14 quake elevated tsunami risks to coastal settlements.

The Green Party has released its updated drug law reform policy, which would regulate access to cannabis and allow for medicinal cannabis.

The most detailed satellite imagery showing the impact of the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake on November 14 has been released.

The subsidy will continue for another eight weeks and extends to businesses in Hanmer Springs and wider Hurunui District.

A virtual shopping service to help Kaikoura's quake-hit retailers is flourishing.

Canterbury's Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to drive with caution while the Lewis Pass alternate highway (State Highway 7)

A new satellite-based tool published by Landcare Research has provided one of the clearest views yet of what changes last month's 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake wrought on the landscape.

Nearly a dozen dams formed by landslides in the devastating Kaikoura quake are being closely monitored for fear of collapsing.

Motorists travelling the alternative route between Christchurch and Picton have been caught up in heavy congestion today, as traffic pressure mounts on the post-quake thoroughfare.

The "drag queen disco" protest outside Destiny Church today was a great success, says the organiser.

According to Tamaki, Harry Potter is a tool to recruit people toward evil.

Amazing NASA photos have revealed new land off the coast of Kaikoura, raised out of ocean the by last month's 7.8 magnitude earthquake

From Monday milk tankers and other essential freight will be given access in and out of Kaikoura.

More New Zealand transport companies have started billing a surcharge as a result of last month's earthquake.

Kaikoura's fur seals famously splashed and frolicked in a pool at the foot of a waterfall. And then the earthquake came.

In a meeting with residents last night, Civil Defence staff confirmed two thirds of the village can't return to their homes just yet.

A second baby blue penguin has been welcomed to Picton's EcoWorld.