Latest from Natural Disasters

Christchurch quake: Govt waits for grim news of deaths

The Government was this afternoon waiting for details of deaths in Christchurch and a second emergency cabinet meeting will be held tonight.

Christchurch quake: People likely to be trapped in cathedral (+ photos)

Nightmare looms for under-insured Cantabrians

Christchurch quake: Emergency Cabinet meeting

Christchurch quake: Looking back at the first quake

Reinsurance rates to rise as earthquake bill soars

New Zealand insurers face rate increases of more than 10 per cent for the renewal of their insurance this year, as Canterbury earthquake bill continues to mount.

Quake package 'huge weight lifted'

A Govt package for displaced homeowners is the 'first really positive thing' since the Canterbury quake, a resident says.

Govt to help quake residents with accommodation

Cantabrians forced out of their earthquake-damaged homes are set to get financial assistance and help finding accommodation from the Govt.

Insurance fraud low from quake victims says insurer

Kiwis denied Yasi payments

Expat New Zealanders hit by Tropical Cyclone Yasi have joined a growing number of disaster victims denied recovery payments by the Australian Government.

Aust Govt to fund memorials for flood victims

Toads hitchhike on floods

Australia: The Great Shrinking Land

In a rare moment of unity, Australia's political leaders joined to mourn the victims of a catastrophic summer.

'Sheer blind luck' decides whose home is destroyed

Bushfire victim Paul Bosveld saw the remains of his home and said he was 'going to travel through life a bit lighter from now on'.

Bushfires raze almost 70 homes

Firefighters worked throughout the night to control a fierce bushfire, which razed 68 homes near Perth.

Perth bushfires destroy 59 homes

Bushfires that destroyed at least 59 Perth homes and forced hundreds of people to flee for their lives continued to burn last night.