09:05 The Director of Civil Defence Sarah Stuart-Black 

Quake Kaikoura coast road (shared on FB)

Quake Kaikoura coast road (shared on FB) Photo: Twitter

We update the situation nationwide with the head of civil defence.

 

9:10 St John National controller Norma Lane

St John has activated its National Crisis Coordination Centre and has local emergency operation centres set up in the South Island. It's working closely with the National Crisis Management Centre, including Civil Defence, government and emergency and health agencies.  

09:15 Marlborough Civil Defence Controller, Richard McNamara

Leader Road in Kaikoura was heavily damaged.

Leader Road in Kaikoura was heavily damaged. Photo: Nicola Rayner / @Nicola_RaynerNZ

CD controller in Marlborough gives an update on the evacuation and advice to residents in their region.

0925: Ward Resident, Farmer Paul Hickman

Resident Paul Hickman has says the damage in his small Marlborough town is extensive.

09:30 Mark Owen NTZA Wellington Manager

The latest on the damage to roads and state highway closures. Major bridges are closed because of suspected structural damage. Checks are being carried out today.

09:40 Principal GNS scientist Kelvin Berryman

Explains what is understood so far about the origins of the quake so far.

09:45 RNZ Education correspondent, John Gerritsen

Talks about the impact on schools today. Some NCEA  and scholarship exams were scheduled to take place. Each school decides for itself whether it should be open based on their buildings and potential structural damage.

09:55 Seddon residents, Len and Betty Gibson

Seddon again has been hard hit by the latest earthquakes.Locals Len and Betty explain what happened during the latest quakes.

10:05 Civil Defence minister, Gerry Brownlee

The minister in charge of Civil Defence has the latest on the situation. The communication with some of the hardest hit areas has been intermittent and difficult.

Media conference in the bunker at Parliament. Gerry Brownlee speaks to media.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

10:15 Thomas Adams meteorologist at Metservice

There are weather warnings in places which have been affected by the earthquakes. Thomas Adams explains what can be expected. High winds in Marlborough and Wellington are likely to further exacerbate the damage.

10:20 Alexa Cook RNZ reporter

Damage in a central Wellington store.

Damage in a central Wellington store. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook

Alexa Cook has been around the Wellington CBD to look at the damage. Structural experts are assessing buildings around the city and a number of people have been evacuated.

10:25 Tim Grafton CEO of the Insurance Council

Tim Grafton has advice to home owners about what they should do if they have damage to their properties. If it's not safe he's advising people to leave.

10:35 RNZ reporter, Anne-Marie May

An update on the situation around Wellington and areas hit hard by the earthquake. The marine threat warning is still in place from Napier through to Dunedin.

 

MP Stuart Smith in Kaikoura

MP Stuart Smith in Kaikoura Photo: supplied

10:40 Stuart Smith, MP for Kaikoura

National MP Stuart Smith has been travelling around the area surveying the damage done. He says that the roads have suffered extreme damage and bridges have been structurally compromised. 

10: 50 Kiwirail Group Manager of Networks Todd Moyle

KiwiRail operations have been impacted by the damaged caused by the earthquake. Rail services have been cancelled and ferry crossings on hold while terminals are checked and repaired. Todd Moyle explains what they are doing to resume normal services.

 

10:55 Marlborough Lines Company managing director, Ken Forrest

Around one thousand homes and businesses are without power in the Marlborough region and it's estimated it's going to take some time to get electricity restored because of the damage that's been done. Ken Forrest has the details of what the latest is.

11:05 Geonet Duty Seismologist, Caroline Little

The latest on what scientists know about the earthquakes. They have been meeting to try and assess where there might be further disruption. One of the faults surveyed from the air appears to have ruptured the surface of the earth.

11:20 Political commentators Matthew Hooton & Stephen Mills

Stephen Mills and Matthew Hooton talk about the outcome of the US presidential elections and what impact Trump's victory will have on New Zealand.

11:40 RNZ Christchurch Reporter Belinda McCammon

The quake stricken city has come through the latest round of earthquakes relatively unscathed. However there is disappointment that some homes were burgled after residents evacuated. The police say they will investigate.

11:45 Wellington City Mayor Justin Lester

Wellington's mayor Justin Lester is in the city's emergency management office. He says some buildings will remain evacuated until engineers can assess the damage done to the structures.

11:55 Urbanist Tommy Honey

Urbanist Tommy Honey looks at the issues facing city dwellers. He has some thoughts on the integrity of buildings in Wellington's CBD. He also has a look at driverless cars, retro subways, pedestrians and the pulse of the city.