Tourism continues to boom in New Zealand with spending by domestic and international visitors approaching $26b for the past year.

Thieves damage artwork set up as tribute to quake-hit Kaikoura.

COMMENT: It appears Kaikoura's surfing community might actually end up benefiting from the region's post-earthquake coastline.

NZTA is prioritising clearing Lewis Pass, the main transport link between Picton and Christchurch since November's big earthquake.

More than 20,000 students asked for an emergency derived grade following the Kaikoura earthquake.

The wait is over - NCEA results are now available.

A large vegetation fire that came within five metres of a new Blenheim subdivision and forced the evacuation of 60 homes was deliberately lit, authorities have confirmed.

The Kaikoura earthquake badly hit tourism spending in the region but national figures are brighter.

A slip has closed State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura, as the impact of November's magnitude 7.8 earthquake continues.

Big swells predicted to surge up the eastern side of New Zealand from Kaikoura to north of Mahia Peninsula

Whale Watch is back on the water in Kaikoura.

Bay of Islands the place to be for summer sun today

2016 has won GeoNet's "dubious honour" of having the largest amount of recorded earthquakes in the network's history.

Springs Junction - the tiny settlement connecting State Highways 7 and 65 - now boasts two food caravans as well as a service station and cafe both operating 24/7.

Suspiciously quickly, the Government re-opened SH1 south of Kaikoura just before Christmas.

Steve Braunias looks back on a year of thinking dangerously.

Kiwi anglers will be able to log their catch this summer - and contribute to data around our fish stocks - thanks to a free app.

Funding boost comes after scrutiny of the official response to the Kaikoura earthquake, particularly how quickly a tsunami alert was issued.

The main road into Kaikoura from the south has been opened to daytime traffic in time for Christmas.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw flies with Santa into earthquake-battered Kaikoura today.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has had another up-close look at damage to SH1 as he prepares to make an announcement about reopening the road to Kaikoura's south.

Preparations are under way to tear down carpark building damaged in Wellington quake.

Geonet say there is a 98 per cent chance of an aftershock of 6 to 6.9 magnitude in the next year.

Finance Minister Steven Joyce outlines his attitude to Auckland's woes, Super Fund and tax.

Scientists are still trying to understand the strange tsunami activity that occurred in last month's 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake - and have called upon people to help them.

Quake ravaged Kaikoura is doing its best to embrace the Christmas spirit.

DHBs paid $1.5 million to senior doctors for additional duties arising from junior colleagues' strike.

Local runanga have halted slip-clearing operations on earthquake-damaged State Highway 1 and the rail link north of Kaikoura.

The inland road to Kaikoura will open to the public for unrestricted use next week.

Acting Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says he doesn't regret a heated exchange with a farmer in Kaikoura yesterday.