It is Monday morning here and I have just returned from taking my visiting brother and his wife to the ferry headed for the South Island. Apparently there were some spectacular landslips along the cliffs near Christchurch and a bit of liquefaction of soils, but not much damage and no significant injuries.

The responsible Government minister Gerry Brownlee has pointed out that since the really big one of 2011, it is predicted by earthquake scientists that there will be a series of aftershocks which may continue for as much as 30 years and yesterdays was but one of these.