Helicopters from US and Malaysia will help out in Kaikoura, says PM John Key.

New Zealand Post is warning that some mail will be delayed in areas hit by this week's earthquakes.

Several cars drove past an unwell and elderly quake victim, dressed in her pyjamas as she struggled to higher ground with her walking

Tourism leaders fear the image of New Zealand as a destination will be harmed by the earthquakes.

Preliminary modelling suggests that the earthquake was caused by a rupture of a northeast-striking fault t, but this may be a more complex event.

Richie McCaw, who has been airlifting stranded tourists out of Kaikoura, says the devastation from the air looks "pretty crazy".

Aftershocks continue around Kaikoura this morning.

A helicopter pilot says he could smell the fresh earth uncovered by the Kaikoura earthquake hundreds of metres in the air as he flew above the scene.

Tourists will be ranked according to need as the evacuation of Kaikoura begins.

Tourists endure rough night in welfare centre and cars but rescue flights under way today.

JS141116NADQUAKE115.JPG A planned surf lesson for a group of international students at Sandy Bay went ahead yesterday after instructors

An English couple was brought to tears describing their nightmare New Zealand holiday.

The HMNZS Canterbury is expected to arrive in Kaikoura tomorrow.

'Long, scary night' for family as the earth continues to roll.

Engineers hard at work to restore road access to seaside hamlet.

Three cows left standing on an island of land have drawn international attention.

The evacuation, via sea, of tourists stranded in Kaikoura is still a day away.

HMNZS Canterbury is sailing to Kaikoura loaded with aid supplies and will bring back tourists and residents.

The Clarence River has burst its banks, with residents being told to move to high ground immediately, as aftershocks continue to rock the country.

A search is underway for six kayakers after kayaks and other gear was found abandoned on the flooded Clarence River just before 5pm. A

Three cows have been luckily - or unluckily - stranded on an island of land, surrounded by collapsed earth from landslides near Kaikoura.

Most schools will open tomorrow, following hundreds of closures after the quake.

STL driver Dennis Dunn caused some alarm when he was feared buried but has been found safe and well between two large landslips.

Today's earthquake can trigger emotional trauma for Cantabrians even though there's been little physical damage in Christchurch, a psychologist says.

COMMENT: Among the bricks and shattered glass, we feared the worst. It appeared as if a hand grenade had been tossed inside the stylish colonial cottage.

Power is gradually being restored in Kaikoura, but sewerage systems and water supplies are still down and it could be days before they are back up and running, Civil Defence says.

Blood poured down Lindsay Collins' face as he raced down the stairs of his century-old Waiau pub.

STL driver Dennis Dunn caused some alarm when he was feared buried but has been found safe and well between two large landslips.

Prime Minister Key and Minister Gerry Brownlee estimate the clean-up will run into the hundreds of millions and clearing the debris could take months.

There's a 12 per cent chance of a big quake hitting before midnight. That's the prediction from government scientists GeoNet.