To all those who thought my comments arrogant and disrespectful please see the following article. This is what I was trying to imply by saying that not everyone is terrified. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake/4118210/Doctors-issue-hype-warning The more that people are talked up into being "terrified" the more they scare themselves, and worse, the more they scare their children. The greatest gift you can give to your children at the moment is to show calmness and coping skills in the face of difficult times. So, try to relax, have a chat with friends, family, neighbours and most importantly, try to get some sleep as tiredness will make your decision making unreliable. Note, I'm not trying to be arrogant, I'm trying to pass on some calmness to others. Thanks.

#8, I would think nothing, considering no people were lost and that there are so many near miss stories. Like one I heard of a man who 1hr before the quake hit, felt to pick up his baby from its portacot(who wasnt crying) and take it into his bed. After the quake, the man checked the baby's cot and the tv was sitting in it. It wouldve killed the baby.

Settle people...ok not everyone is terrified but a hell of a lot of people are shaken & jumpy. I tell myself I am lucky to be alive, have very little damage etc. Intellectually we can know all that & still jump every time a shakes rolls in. Dont underestimate what broken sleep or lack of sleep can do to people. Thomas Malone I am so sorry you are embarrassed. Where do you live?

For the rest of NZ what has happened to Christchurch can be a huge opportunity to learn. Everyone has pretty much heard how well CD and those leading the response have performed. Basically thats what they tell us. Not forgetting that this is what they are trained to do. I'm more inclined to listen to the people of areas most affected. They are and will be the litness test for the rest of the country. The biggest mistake would be for the "experts" to ignore their voices and their stories of survival. We owe it to each and every resident to listen and learn.

MP Amy Adams's comments are embarrassing to read. One lemur died, this was the extent of the casualties. If people in Haiti (230,000 deaths, 300,000 wonded, 1 million homeless) saw this farce and the manner with which the media and the people of Christchurch are talking it up, they would be astonished.

It is an inconvenience and not a disaster.

If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen Or else quit with your crying

@jo2lo #2

I felt like you for the first couple of days, but in the last two days it has just been awful. So jumpy at any little noise like trucks going past or planes flying over. My work is shut till at least Monday so I cannot get back into a normal routine and my husband is in the emergency services so he is away from 8 in the morning till 8 at night. I am going to my parents out of Canterbury so I can get a few decent nights sleep

jo2lo #2

finally, a bit of perspective

Frazzled, frayed and terrified is definitely an acurate description for the majority of Cantabrians. The lack of sleep and constantly being on edge is really starting to take its toll. I've seen grown men who have always come across as really staunch turn pale and start shaking like a leaf when an aftershock hits. I live by myself and was terrified when the big one hit, but I can imagine it would be 100 times worse for people with children.

I do also kind of agree with jo2lo #2 - a lot of us are coping by sharing stories and concerns with our neighbours and friends. Coming to work is really helping and it must be hard for people who can't go back to work yet, or who don't even know if they have a workplace to go back to. Also hearing nice stories helps - like how all the uni students have been going around the city helping with the clean up, and how a lot of companies from around NZ are sending in equipment and experts to get the region back up and running quickly.

"I think there's a sense that the earthquake was something that happened for about a minute-and-a-half early Saturday morning,"

Based on what I wonder? I cannot imagine anyone not living under a rock having such a view! It is painfully clear that this is very much an ongoing catastrophe with no clear end in sight. Please give those of us not in Christchurch a bit more credit please Ms Adams and focus your attention on the needs of the people of Christchurch instead of telling them that the rest of us think it's no big deal - it can't be helpful!

To the people of Christchurch - if only thoughts and good wishes could still the earth! The fact they can't won't stop 'em coming though. Take care of each other and know that you matter very much to many of the rest of us.