haydenaurion: I'm just now hearing an earthquake happened there (the news here sucks which is why i'm just now hearing) and i'm trying to find out how bad it is as my sister and her husband live there and i'm unable to contact them to see if they are alright. I've heard there are no serious injuries or deaths reported and the power is out, but i'd like some further info from any Kiwi GOGers if possible, it would put me at ease. Thank you in advance.

langurmonkey: Not from New Zealand but RT says
"No major damage or casualties have been reported, but the tremors were felt everywhere, as evident in this footage from a CCTV camera inside a Wellington store."
http://rt.com/news/new-zealand-quake-wellington-556/

Hope this makes you feel better.

scottypippen: Local news is making a big deal of it, but the main thing is that there is no reports of any serious injuries or death. There has been some decent damage to buildings, roads, e.t.c. and public transport was cancelled at the time. The local phone network got overloaded as everyone tried to contact family and friends.
My parents were at Seddon near the epicenter and report a hell of a shakeup, but they were the ones who told me media built it up a bit.
Hope this helps you out.