Hilary wants viewers to keep an eye out for the missing ute.

An emotional Hilary Barry has blasted "scumbags" who looted quake-evacuated Canterbury homes on Monday morning.

Responding to reports of three burglaries at homes left unattended by families fleeing the tsunami risk, Barry rallied her Breakfast viewers to look out for a grey Mazda truck stolen by looters from the home of Christchurch man Matt Mill.

She declared: "These people are absolute scumbags ... absolute lowlifes".

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ Matt Mill's New Brighton home was ransacked by thieves after his family evacuated.

Barry said she was close to tears at the news, adding: "It is shameful, absolutely shameful. I don't want to take away from the absolute community that there is in Christchurch ... but it breaks your heart."

READ MORE:

* Live quake coverage

* Burglars hit evacuated family

* Photos: Large quake strikes NZ

* University and scholarship exams cancelled after earthquake

She said to viewers to help find the missing Mazda, saying: "Keep an eye out, let's work together and track them down."

An emotional Hilary Barry reacts to reports of looting.

Mill told Stuff his family evacuated their New Brighton home about 2.30am, following tsunami warnings.

They returned home about 6.30am to discover their home had been ransacked, with electronics, his truck, and a transmitter for his young daughter's hearing aid stolen.

TVNZ wwas broadcasting an extended edition of Breakfast to cover the earthquake, with Barry and Melissa Stokes fronting the show until 1pm.