Christchurch Earthquake

Anniversary of first big Canterbury quake

15:41 pm on 4 September 2012

The people of Canterbury are remembering the first earthquake that shook them awake on 4 September two years ago.

The magnitude 7.1 quake occurred at 4.36am, causing widespread damage but no fatalities.

Some 11,200 quakes have been recorded since then, including a magnitude 6.3 earthquake on 22 February last year that killed 185 people and damaged much of central Christchurch.

The town of Kaiapoi was hit particularly hard on 4 September 2010. The Waimakari Earthquake Support Service says 974 houses were subsequently red-zoned, meaning the land is unsuitable to be rebuilt on.

Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers says the area, which includes Kaiapoi, needs answers from the Government about the future of red-zone land.

Mr Ayres told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme it is difficult to plan for infrastructure around Kaiapoi without knowing the Government's intentions for the land.

Listen to more

Listen to David Ayers