Before the earthquakes he had two houses side by side, one of double brick he was turning into a bed and breakfast and one of wood in which he lived.
After the stress of running a restaurant in Akaroa for 17 years, Mr Lau had been looking forward to a quieter life in his new business.
However, the B&B succumbed in the February earthquake, just a week before it was due to open.
Mr Lau was left with a beautifully landscaped section and a patch of silt where the B&B once stood.
His ironically named C'est La Vie Boutique Accommodation is now nothing more than a beautifully presented website, www.cestlavie.co.nz.
Mr Lau's land is in the orange zone.
He does not know yet if he will be allowed to stay in his wooden house and start again on his business.
He says he would prefer to leave.
