The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says the latest spate of strong aftershocks in Christchurch will not delay the decision on whether orange-zoned residents can stay in their homes.
After a rough end to the year including a large earthquake just two days before Christmas, the New Year got off to a shaky start with two strong jolts early on Monday followed by at least 18 smaller aftershocks.
The quakes are continuing, with one felt at 4.30am on Tuesday.
If a property is zoned orange, it means further assessment is still required.
Libby Chambers lives in the orange-zoned suburb of Avonside and worries the latest spate will hold up a decision beyond the February deadline her and her partner have been given.
Ms Chambers is hoping to be red-zoned for the sake of their four-month-old son, who is suffering respiratory problems from the dust blown up from piles of silt caused by liquefaction, allowing them to go elsewhere.
Down the road, Alan Cooke wonders how long it will be before the large aftershocks subside and how much more his 100-year-old house can take. He says the latest quakes have been nerve-wracking and frustrating.
But the chief executive for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says there are still about 900 properties to assess and engineers are working as quickly as they can.
Roger Sutton told Radio New Zealand's Summer Report programme on Tuesday he appreciates the wait must be frustrating, but the authority wants to ensure it makes the right decision about a home.
"Because if people do move out of these areas, then it's going to be very traumatic and difficult for them as well.
"At the same time, if we let them rebuild and there are further quakes ... and they get further property damage they're going to be pretty grumpy with us, as are their insurers. So we have to find that balance."
Mr Sutton says he expects zoning decisions to be made in February as planned.
Helping people cope important - counsellor
A counsellor specialising in the stress caused by earthquakes says psychologists need to stop downplaying their significance and focus instead on helping people to cope with them better.
John McEwen says that instead of minimising the quakes, psychologists should instead acknowledge they may be with us for some time and educate people about the nature of their responses to them.
Mr McEwen teaches clients a range of methods for coping, including exercise to work off the adrenaline that builds up when there is a quake.
