The shortest of days have turned into the longest of nights for Christchurch families desperate to know their fate.
But yesterday's confirmation the Government would effectively buy 5100 of the worst-affected insured properties - those in so-called "residential red zones" - has been welcomed.
The majority of those properties are around the Avon River from Bexley in the east through to Avondale, Dallington and Avonside as you head towards the decimated city centre.
And for every suburban street where you find little or no sign of damage, you turn another corner to find workers, machinery, or a sign pronouncing "No Entry".
Mundys Rd, in Dallington, has not been one of the lucky ones.
Just a stone's throw from the Avon River, Belinda and Dave Egan thought their brick property of the past 13 years might have been spared.
"We were shocked; we really believed we would not have been in the red zone," Mrs Egan (47), who works at the Canterbury District Health Board along with her husband, said.
"However, when you see things like this" - she points at a large sink hole that opened up in their backyard last week - "it makes sense."
Owners of properties in red zones, such as the Egans, now have two options - accept the Crown's offer to buy them out at current rating value, or deal with their own insurer while the Crown buys their land only.
Having spent more than $100,000 on their property since their 2007 valuation, the Egans said they were likely to pursue the latter to get their money back.
That decision was likely to result in a longer timeframe, and the family were unsure what they would do once insurance no longer covered the rent of their townhouse in eight months' time.
The couple's children had lived in the Dallington area all their lives and the suburb was changing beyond all recognition, with the February earthquake and resulting aftershocks claiming their former home, school and church.
Living without grey-water waste facilities since February, the couple maintained they were lucky by Christchurch standards.
"If we had sewage, we would have stayed," Mr Egan (48) said, as he pointed out the liquefaction lying under their home.
The Egans said they were committed to staying in Christchurch but were concerned how others in the country viewed the city.
"We are very conscious of the fact people will be getting tired of Christchurch ... but just to let them know we are very grateful," Mr Egan said.
"There is an overload of Christchurch earthquake news ... we get sick of it and we turn the television off."
Expecting the arrival yesterday of their first child were Charles and Jemma Rangi, of Avonside, one of the worst-hit suburbs.
Unlike others in the area, the couple discovered they were not in the red zone, despite their property being listed as "severe", with major repiling work needed and problems with liquefaction.
The couple bought the home in December 2009 for $330,000, but if they were paid out to the 2007 valuation, they could expect $30,000 extra.
"We don't want to leave Avonside; it is a good community, the neighbours have been really good, and the earthquake has bought us all closer together," Mr Rangi (35) said.
The couple said they did not want the suburb to become a wasteland, and hoped properties that were destroyed would be converted into parks for the use of future generations.
The plan
• 5000 homes will not be rebuilt; owners can choose to sell the whole property or just the land to the Government at the rateable value.
• Net costs to the Government to buy all 5000 properties estimated at $485 million to $635 million.
• Costs are expected to be met from the Government's $5.5 billion Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund.
• Greater Christchurch land divided into four residential zones - red, orange, green and white.
