Breaking news: Earthquake rattles central New Zealand
Hi neighbours - keep safe out there! A strong earthquake 6.7 magnitude has struck central New Zealand.
It struck at a depth of 193km about 35km south-west of Taumarunui.
More than 9000 people reported feeling the quake within 10 minutes of it striking at 3.14pm. The quake was felt as far as the South Island.
We will keep you up to date with the latest. For updates and more info, click here.
So far:
- Parliament has been suspended until further notice on the advice of Civil Defence.
- Make sure you check on your neighbours - even though there may have not been any damage near you, your neighbours may still need your help.
- If you need to alert your neighbours urgently, then don't hesitate to send out an Urgent Alert to your community. You can find this function when you go to post a message on Neighbourly.
- Metlink Wellington said rail services would continue to run with some delays following the recent earthquake.
- Fire and Emergency NZ had no reports of injuries nor damage across the South Island.
- GNS Science have advised there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
Suellen’s sweet Christmas tradition
The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.
For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.
What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive dessert - a holiday highlight they all treasure.
Click read more for the recipe.