Live updates after 7.8 earthquake: More evacuations in Wellington

• The Reading Cinema carpark in Courtenay Central in Wellington faces "imminent risk of collapse"
• Road to Kaikoura 'very rough' following earthquakes

• Fed Farmers 'virtual farmy army' helpline offers assistance after earthquakes

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• Military helicopters to fly over remote areas cut off by quakes
• Insurance expert has words of warning for quake homeowners

• The government has opened an 0800 helpline for people needing financial and other support following the earthquake. The Ministry of Social Development is running it and staff are authorised to grant civil defence payments for food, bedding, clothing, accommodation and loss of income.

The 0800 779 997 helpline will run seven days a week from 7am to 9pm until further notice.

**Image 1 of 24:** Inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel after the devastating 7.5 earthquake hit New Zealand overnight, causing widespread damage. Photo / Belinda Feek

**Image 1 of 24:** Inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel after the devastating 7.5 earthquake hit New Zealand overnight, causing widespread damage. Photo / Belinda Feek

**Image 2 of 24:** Damage from this morning's massive earthquake is seen in the Canterbury town of Waiau. Photo / Newstalk ZB Chelsea Daniels

**Image 2 of 24:** Damage from this morning's massive earthquake is seen in the Canterbury town of Waiau. Photo / Newstalk ZB Chelsea Daniels

**Image 3 of 24:** Damage caused by this morning's 7.5 earthquake at CentrePort in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 3 of 24:** Damage caused by this morning's 7.5 earthquake at CentrePort in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 4 of 24:** Inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel after the devastating 7.5 earthquake hit New Zealand overnight, causing widespread damage. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 4 of 24:** Inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel after the devastating 7.5 earthquake hit New Zealand overnight, causing widespread damage. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 5 of 24:** The road remains closed from Waipara to Picton. Photo / Facebook

**Image 5 of 24:** The road remains closed from Waipara to Picton. Photo / Facebook

**Image 6 of 24:** Earthquake damage on State Highway One and the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 6 of 24:** Earthquake damage on State Highway One and the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 7 of 24:** The Waiau swimming pool is totally destroyed folowing the earthquake. Photo / Sam Smith

**Image 7 of 24:** The Waiau swimming pool is totally destroyed folowing the earthquake. Photo / Sam Smith

**Image 8 of 24:** Earthquake damage to Leader Rd in Hurunui. Photo / Kurt Bayer

**Image 8 of 24:** Earthquake damage to Leader Rd in Hurunui. Photo / Kurt Bayer

**Image 9 of 24:** Earthquake damage on State Highway 1 and the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 9 of 24:** Earthquake damage on State Highway 1 and the main trunk railway line north of Kaikoura. Photo / Mark Mitchell

**Image 10 of 24:** Supermarket in Wellington left in a mess after earthquake. Photo / Matt Luani

**Image 10 of 24:** Supermarket in Wellington left in a mess after earthquake. Photo / Matt Luani

**Image 11 of 24:** Kaikoura road damaged caused by the earthquake. Photo / Daniel Bullen Twitter

**Image 11 of 24:** Kaikoura road damaged caused by the earthquake. Photo / Daniel Bullen Twitter

**Image 12 of 24:** Waiau School principal Mary Kimber amongst the devastation in the school house where she lives, after an earthquake stuck New Zealand overnight. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 12 of 24:** Waiau School principal Mary Kimber amongst the devastation in the school house where she lives, after an earthquake stuck New Zealand overnight. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 13 of 24:** Bent train tracks south of Kaikoura. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 13 of 24:** Bent train tracks south of Kaikoura. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 14 of 24:** Damage to State Highway 70 to Waiau. Photo / Supplied

**Image 14 of 24:** Damage to State Highway 70 to Waiau. Photo / Supplied

**Image 15 of 24:** Quake damage in Waiau. Photo / Newstalk ZB

**Image 15 of 24:** Quake damage in Waiau. Photo / Newstalk ZB

**Image 16 of 24:** Brick fence built in the 30's collapsed. Photo / Lyall Bay

**Image 16 of 24:** Brick fence built in the 30's collapsed. Photo / Lyall Bay

**Image 17 of 24:** Kaikoura road damaged caused by the earthquake. Photo / Daniel Bullen Twitter

**Image 18 of 24:** Tessa Prentice, 20, outside her family's quake-damaged home at Claverly in North Canterbury. Photo / Tessa Prentice

**Image 18 of 24:** Tessa Prentice, 20, outside her family's quake-damaged home at Claverly in North Canterbury. Photo / Tessa Prentice

**Image 19 of 24:** A large fissure runs along Kaikoura Road after a major earthquake struck New Zealand's south Island. Photo / AP

**Image 19 of 24:** A large fissure runs along Kaikoura Road after a major earthquake struck New Zealand's south Island. Photo / AP

**Image 20 of 24:** State Highway 70 to Waiau. Photo / Sam Smith

**Image 20 of 24:** State Highway 70 to Waiau. Photo / Sam Smith

**Image 21 of 24:** Damaged caused by New Zealand earthquake, in Wellington. Photo / Jay Nelson Twitter

**Image 21 of 24:** Damaged caused by New Zealand earthquake, in Wellington. Photo / Jay Nelson Twitter

**Image 22 of 24:** Kaikoura remains completely cut off this morning following the devastating earthquake that has been felt across the country. Photo / Facebook

**Image 22 of 24:** Kaikoura remains completely cut off this morning following the devastating earthquake that has been felt across the country. Photo / Facebook

**Image 23 of 24:** The truck loading ramp at the Interisland Ferry wharf lays dropped and broken, in Wellington. Photo / AP

**Image 23 of 24:** The truck loading ramp at the Interisland Ferry wharf lays dropped and broken, in Wellington. Photo / AP

**Image 24 of 24:** Damage to historic church in Waiau. Photo / Mike Scott

**Image 24 of 24:** Damage to historic church in Waiau. Photo / Mike Scott

Image 1 of 24: Inside the Waiau Lodge Hotel after the devastating 7.5 earthquake hit New Zealand overnight, causing widespread damage. Photo / Belinda Feek

The Prime Minister said the damage to the Kaikoura region is worse than he thought. Key and Brownlee estimate the clean-up will run into the hundreds of millions and clearing the debris and blocked roads could take months.

We speak to Red Cross spokesman Gemma Snowdon about how we can help with the earth quake relief.

• For yesterday's Live Blog click here.

New Zealand Herald

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