New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has sought to reassure the public by saying there is no need to declare a national emergency following an earthquake.

“As you are aware, a national emergency hasn’t been called. So all 16 of the regions around the country have activated their civil defence requirements and been monitoring their own local situation,” Key said.

“In terms of the areas that are most affected, that’s clearly on the east coast, around that sort of Kaikoura area and inland around Culverden and the likes. We have had very limited communications there because that’s been cut off. An NH90 [military helicopter] is going to be going down to Kaikoura very rapidly.”  

“There is another that will be in Wellington. St. John’s [ambulance service] have been flying people in. Soon as we can get a much better assessment of the actual damage, then we can work out the next steps from here.”