Earthquake recovery
We know that high-magnitude earthquakes can have devastating effects on farms and farmland. Here’s what you need to know about staying compliant during the clean-up, how to deal with liquefaction, getting help, and learning more about the quake risk to your farm.
Waitaha Canterbury is located in the collision zone of two major tectonic plates - the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate. The forces involved in this plate movement are huge. They cause the rock in the Earth’s crust to fold and fracture, particularly near the plate edges.
Recovery often involves a major clean-up and a lot of repairs. Find out what regulations apply and the work you can carry out safely and legally before you get stuck in.
What rules apply after an earthquake?
Loss of power, disruption to waterways, destruction to fencing and transport problems all have flow on effects on farm.
Sometimes after a major earthquake, such as the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, emergency regulations may be put in place to allow additional work that would normally require a resource consent.
Since August 2025, councils can enact emergency response regulations under s331AA to apply to an area where a state of national or local emergency has been declared or a local or national transition period has been notified.
Find out when emergency response regulations can be enacted and what they mean for recovery work. Learn about the regulations
If emergency response regulations have not been enacted, follow these tips to find out how to stay compliant when working in waterways protecting your drinking water, managing stock access to waterways, dealing with milk and effluent waste, and any outdoor burning.
Some irrigation schemes are specifically permitted to undertake emergency works under s331AA of the Resource Management Act. If you are a member of an irrigation scheme contact them and see what local support they can offer or plans they have in place.
Need help? If you’re unsure whether a repair is permitted, it’s best to talk to us early. This can help avoid delays, enforcement action, or having to redo work later contact our advisory team.
Managing liquefaction after an earthquake
Liquefaction is a major headache. As well as affecting your soil, it’s treated as a contaminant when discharged to water. Most importantly, it can contaminate your drinking water supplies. Checking for any impacts on your bore is a crucial first step towards recovery.
Every site is different. What works in one paddock may not be suitable next door.
Before starting any clean‑up or repair work:
- Treat affected ground as unstable — avoid driving heavy machinery over soft or sunken areas.
- Keep people, stock and vehicles away from ground cracks or slumping.
- Be cautious around drains, stopbanks, culverts and waterways, where liquefaction can cause hidden collapse.
- Watch for damage to pipes, effluent systems or fuel tanks, which could lead to discharges.
When conditions are safe and you’re ready to start repairs:
- Take photos and document everything you do.
- Start light: scraping, smoothing or redistributing thin layers of silt may be enough in lightly affected areas.
- Avoid pushing liquefied material into waterways, drains or wetlands - liquefaction silt is treated as a contaminant if it enters waterways.
- Delay major earthworks until the ground has drained and firmed up.
- Keep machinery off wet ground as much as possible to reduce rutting and compaction.
When you may need a resource consent:
- Large‑scale scraping, filling or reshaping land may need consent.
- Pumping or washing silt‑laden water into drains, streams, or onto neighbouring land may require consent.
- Clearing or repairing damaged drains or watercourses can trigger consent requirements.
- Avoid straightening, deepening or diverting waterways without checking first.
Irrigation scheme emergency works
Some irrigation schemes are specifically permitted to undertake emergency works under s331AA of the Resource Management Act, if you are a member of an irrigation scheme to contact them and see what local support they can offer or plans they have in place.
Explore related tools and resources
Prepare for an earthquake: Learn how to prepare before an earthquake, what to do during an event, and how to recover safely afterwards. Get earthquake advice