The Earthquake Commission says it has been receiving up to 2500 claims daily this week, as a deadline nears.
The commission says home owners have heeded advice to lodge a claim, even if it appears their property escaped largely unscathed.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the commission's cover is an insurance, and property owners are responsible for lodging their own claims.
He says the deadline ends at midnight on Saturday and will not be extended.
Until a few days ago there were about 200 properties in zones B and C - the more damaged areas - for which claims had not been lodged. But 6000 claims have been submitted since then.
The commission has received 146,000 claims to date.
The magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck on 4 September.
