The Earthquake Commission is reassuring Cantabrians that they have plenty of time to lodge a claim for any damage resulting from Friday's 5.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
Chief Executive Ian Simpson says peoples' priority should be to ensure their family and friends are safe.
He says there is also no need for people to rush back from holiday as home owners with private insurance have three months to lodge a damage claim with EQC.
Mr Simpson said EQC had staffed its call centres to deal with any calls.
He says EQC does not anticipate another major assessment programme will be needed.
However, it has a field staff of 200 assessors and estimators it could deploy, if needed, from the middle of January 2012.
