My son in Wellington was woken by it, but at the time he wasn't aware what had actually caused him to wake up. He sent me a news link which says there is speculation that it might have been 3 quakes in very close proximity.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4094986/Officers-flown-in-to-protect-Christchurch

Should the same happen in Wellington, he would be part of the civil defence force (he works for the council). He said that the majority of the buildings to suffer were built from stone or brick (which doesn't flex) and that the alluvial land which Christchurch is built upon caused liquefaction, and that some buildings actually sank.
The people of New Zealand are as prepared as anyone could be for such events, given that nobody can ever tell the when/where/depth/strength of any earthquakes! As has been previously said - it's the penalty for living on the Ring of Fire.

Andrea