A Kaikōura resident says it was hugely frustrating raw sewage ran through his back yard for six days before it was fixed.
The town's sewerage system was badly damaged in last week's quake, with most of the town still using portaloos.
Beach Road resident Nigel Sweeney said his garage dropped about a metre and a half towards the creek at the back of his property.
They realised the day after the quake that the sewerage line on their property was broken, he said.
"We came home from a meeting and noticed the horrible smell. Our garage was flooding with raw sewage, toilet paper, everything, it was like a river.
"It goes into the creek at the back of our house which flows through town and out to sea, so we tried to get it shut off but no one listened - until yesterday, thankfully," Mr Sweeney said.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
He called Civil Defence and the council but had to wait until yesterday to get a temporary sewerage line through his property, he said.
"We had a lady from the health department here yesterday, because of the fine weather and no school, kids are going swimming down at the beach and for six days this sewage has been flowing into the sea.
"We don't have sewerage or water, but we are in our house so it's all fine and dandy at the end of the day," Mr Sweeney said.