Prime Minister John Key has promised fast-track help to keep Kaikoura businesses on their feet.

The PM and Kaikoura's mayor have dismissed Brain Tamaki's comments blaming the devastating earthquakes on "gays, murderers and sinners".

West Coast police today advised motorists to take extra care when driving through the Lewis Pass and Maruia Valley on SH7 and SH65 as traffic numbers build up.

Employers whose staff are struggling to cope following Monday's earthquake are being given advice on how to best support their employees.

The head of Canterbury Tourism is urging people to keep their travel plans to the region after Monday's earthquake. Christchurch

Destiny Church's Brian Tamaki has blamed earthquakes on gays, sinners, and murderers.

New aerial photos show there is much work to be done after Monday's 7.8 quake.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says the cost of the earthquakes was still to emerge, but it would be in the billions of dollars.

Civil Defence aims to rescue 600 stranded tourists from Kaikoura today.

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

The alpine tourist hotspot of Hanmer Springs, usually a thriving, buzzing place, resembles a ghost town.

Almost $40,000 has been donated to help a Christchurch family whose seaside home was burgled after they evacuated during yesterday's earthquake and tsunami warning.

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.

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

Kiwis have rallied behind the family burgled after fleeing their seaside home in Christchurch this morning, with almost $20,000 fundraised.

Students who sat a digital version of NCEA Level 1 English last week have been offered a derived grade following technical problems with the exam pilot.

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

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

GNS Science seismologist Dr John Ristau has answered your earthquake questions in a live chat.

Sez Nathan and her family watched as the walls of their Waiau home crumbled around them in the early hours of this morning.

Police are investigating three burglaries following this morning's earthquake in Christchurch.

Images are starting to come out of Kaikoura where widespread damage and one death has occurred.

As New Zealand wakes up to reports of the series of earthquakes to have shaken the country overnight the rest of the world is also coming to grips with the news.

Scientists investigating the mechanics of the earthquake say it faulted in the same way the February 22, 2011, Christchurch Earthquake did.

A family who fled their New Brighton home with their disabled child have returned to find the property looted.

Newstalk ZB listeners share their stories of the night.

The earthquake in the early hours of this morning brought back memories of the September 2010 and February 2011 quakes for Donna Mills.

A Waiau local says roads around the epicentre of this morning's quake are blocked by massive landslides and deep cracks that stretch for miles.

Heavy rain and wind is forecast to batter the upper South Island and lower North Island this afternoon.

A major medical marijuana trial is underway in New Zealand - testing the effects of a new cannabis gel on epilepsy patients.