UPDATED 7.17AM The naval ship carrying 450 people evacuated from earthquake-devastated Kaikoura yesterday have arrived in Christchurch.

The HMNZS Canterbury steamed into Lyttelton Port at 1.30am.

LISTEN ABOVE: Canterbury Civil Defence Controller Brett Aldridge and Newstalk ZB reporter Sam Olley speak with Rachel Smalley

After disembarking the weary passengers were taken by bus to the Horncastle Arena in Addington.

The Canterbury Regional Emergency Management Group said passengers were in good spirits and the whole operation when smoothly.

Civil Defence welfare officer Claire Phillips said 90 percent of the 450 passengers on the HMNZ Canterbury were young backpackers who were in the seaside holiday town when the magnitude 7.8 quake struck.

Apart from one child, the rest were older holidaymakers.

Phillips, who accompanied the stranded tourists on their trip south, said it had been a remarkable journey with passengers in high spirits and philosophical about their plight.

“We’ve been very, very well looked after and people have been pretty relaxed and pleased with how things have gone,’’ said Phillips.

“Many of the people on the boat tonight were from overseas, our guests in the country, and I think we’ve done them proud and looked after them.’’

Over the past two days 1000 international tourists have been taken by air and sea out of the earthquake-ravaged region

“The evacuation has been a complete success. We achieved our immediate priority, which is to evacuate as many displaced people as possible from Kaikoura,” said Acting Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Air Commodore Darryn Webb.

The defence force would now swing into a disaster relief mode focusing on delivering vital aid supplies to quake-damaged communities.

There are now around 500 personnel, at least 11 aircraft and four vessels to support the Government’s earthquake response.

Warships from Australia, Canada and the United States, which are currently in the country to take part in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary, have been diverted to support the national relief effort following Monday’s powerful earthquake.

The ships – HMAS Darwin, HMCS Vancouver and USS Sampson – were expected to begin arriving in Kaikoura last night.

British High Commissioner Jonathan Sinclair said the evacuated tourists were very grateful to the defence force.

He posted photos on social media showing people queuing to seek help from officials representing a number of countries.

Very good organisation by @CanterburyEM & @ChristchurchCC processing tourists at Horncastle Arena @LianneDalziel pic.twitter.com/PWlFPPSeJE

— Jonathan Sinclair (@JWRSinclair) November 16, 2016

Sinclair said Horncastle Arena was beginning to thin out by 5.30am.

The hundreds of rescued tourists were now heading for bed or travelling elsewhere.

He said many British people were continuing their holidays in New Zealand.

Sinclair, there to meet the 100 or so Britons trapped by Monday’s quake, said the passengers were bussed to the arena where they were registered and sent to tables for accommodation around the city.

Officials were there on hand for consular help with travel or insurance issues.

There were around 100 Britons who had been brought out by the vessel.

He said while everyone was praising efforts of the defence force special praise was being reserved for the quake-hit Kaikoura locals who had opened their doors to strangers.  

“A handful obviously have been a bit shook up by the earthquake but what’s striking overall is just the admiration and praise for everybody in Kaikoura for the care they showed and they looked after  the foreigners in their midst.”

He said the vast majority of Brits wanted to continue their holidays.

The HMNZS Canterbury would be reloaded this morning with fresh supplies including food, water and chemical toilets before returning to Kaikoura later today.