Demolitions have begun in suburban Christchurch as rebuilding in the city after the earthquake gets underway.
The Insurance Council says up to 10,000 homes may have to be demolished because of earthquake damage.
Council chief executive Chris Ryan says the first homes to be pulled down are those where the land doesn't need remediation.
Owners of properties affected by liquefaction will be in for a longer wait.
Mr Ryan says the Earthquake Commission has also agreed to allow insurers to deal with badly damaged homes ahead of the commission's assessments, if it's clear repairs or a rebuild will exceed the $100,000 EQC cap.
The EQC says the arrangement, to speed up rebuilding, depends on paperwork being in order.
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