Latest from Natural Disasters

Aussies flee worst fires since 2009

Australia was burning again last night, with homes lost and flames licking at the outskirts of Melbourne as much of South Australia.

Family's king tide drama

Tired, panicking and gulping sea water, a grandfather struggled to hold on to his 8-year-old granddaughter in strong currents at an East Auckland beach yesterday.

Safe as houses until disaster strikes

Visiting expert points to Christchurch as example of cities or cultures that struggle to recover after catastrophe.

Pensioner wins apology from police

'It will be nice to have an apology.' Police are to compensate pensioner John Bennett for the way he was roughed up by armed officers in his own home two years ago.

Monsoon misery in Indonesia

Flooding has forced thousands to evacuate Indonesia's capital city once again, as monsoon rains wreaked havoc on Jakarta.

Hundreds of quake claims lodged

Hundreds of quake damage claims have been lodged as a result of the severe magnitude 6.2 tremor that damaged homes and cut power.

Quake claims flood in

Damage claims from yesterday's 6.2 quake are starting to be lodged with EQC, as more than 300 aftershocks hit the lower North Island - and a couple of biggies are expected.

Quake causes agricultural chemical spill

Yesterday's 6.2 magnitude earthquake caused an agricultural chemical spill on a Palmerston North farm, resulting in one man being sent to hospital.

Minor earthquake damage

Post-disaster rent controls proposed

The Human Rights Commission has called for the Government to consider rent-control measures following major natural disasters.

UN worries aid has not reached Philippine victims

NZ warning - be ready for the big one

Plastered across posters and T-shirts, inspiring a play, and named by a popular blog site as word of the year, "munted" became the catch-cry amid Christchurch's post-quake devastation.

Shattered towns put up shields against nature

In seaside Minami Sanriku, residents have been arguing over what to do with the ruined red steel structure in the centre of town.

John Hamilton: How New Zealand would respond to a tsunami

The Japan tsunami reinforced important messages for New Zealanders, writes John Hamilton. If a tsunami was generated far from the coast the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management would issue an official warning.

Graham Leonard: Tsunami triggers lurk off coast

The Japan earthquake and tsunami is relevant to New Zealand because we are also exposed to large tsunami triggered by near-shore subduction zone earthquakes.

Jolt that shook the world

In downtown Tokyo, state broadcaster NHK was airing the dull debates of a Parliament night sitting when all hell broke loose.

New Yorkers rebound a year on

Pride and patriotism hasn't succumbed here, even in the face of lost lives and livelihoods, and the daily battle to get things back to the way they were before October 29, 2012.

Richard Turner: Could a 'superstorm' happen in NZ

"Superstorm" Sandy was incredibly huge - the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with hurricane-force winds more than 1500km across at its widest point.