The small North Canterbury township of Waiau is feared to be worst hit following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the early hours of this morning.
Power is out and phone lines are down but the information coming into Cheviot police and fire is that it has received widespread damage.
The violent shaking ripped open the roads and badly damaged the main bridge, which as reportedly sunk by as much as 400mm.
There are reports of casualties in Kaikoura but details are yet to be confirmed. St John is sending its command unit towards Kaikoura and additional paramedics tare being flown to Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura by rescue helicopter as a precautionary measure.
Elsewhere damage has also been reported in Cheviot and Wellington.
The largest shake hit just after 12am and has been upgraded to 7.5 magnitude and ongoing aftershocks, many over magnitude 5, are being felt.
