To Gnu, and other concerned posters. When we insure our buildings in NZ, included in the price is 'The Earthquake and War Damage Levy.
This was organised after the Napier earthquake in 1931 where 256 people died and the centre of that art nouveau small city suffered as ChCh did, losing many characterful buildings, which were NOT built with earthquakes in mind.

That 1931 earthquake was a lesson to our Government, and the building codes introduced with that in mind no doubt saved lives.
The timing of this latest one is also saved many from death and injury, as it happened before most anyone got out of bed. The narrow escapes were mostly in old houses with brick chimneystacks, and the serious downtown damage was done to old commercial buildings, built with old European practices.
I like the way they look, but I wouldn't work in one

One church lost its tower, which almost cut it in two.

The fund of the earthquake levy must be HUGE. I hope.