Frustrations boiled over at a meeting in Christchurch on the time it is taking to work out what sort of foundations homes will require when earthquake repairs are carried out.
Ground core samples will be required on 28,000 properties identified as prone to liquefaction to establish what sort of foundations they will need.
More than 300 people packed the Avonside Primary School Hall on Thursday to hear officials explain the work required.
Core sampling in the worst affected areas is expected to be completed by early next year.
Until that's done, no rebuilding can take place, leaving many homeowners living in badly damaged homes.
Denis Cleall and his wife have just come through one of the worst winters they can remember, struggling to keep their damaged home warm.
Mr Cleall says they are still no closer to getting an answer on when work can begin on their house.
"It's been 18 months or more now and we're still no better off that a week after the earthquake. We could do with some answers."
