The head of Canterbury Tourism is urging people to keep their travel plans to the region after Monday's earthquake. Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen was reassuring visitors the disruption is confined to Kaikoura. "The South Island remains a safe place to visit. Christchurch has been unaffected and is now regarded as one of the safest cities in the world, following a five-year infrastructure rebuild and strengthening upgrades, Allen said. "Further aftershocks can be expected, but we are well-prepared for earthquakes and set up to assist visitors."

Source: New Zealand Herald November 16, 2016 01:17 UTC