KEY POINTS:
Around 350 insurance claims from as far south as the Western Bay of Plenty have been lodged following the earthquakes that rocked Auckland late last month - and more are expected.
The value of the claims to date total about $1.3 million, with the majority for damage to interior walls, floors or ceilings. Others included claims for damage to exterior walls and foundations.
Earthquake Commission claims manager Keith Long said the largest claim was estimated to cost $25,000.
He said claims continued to be made, with around a dozen new ones lodged yesterday.
Auckland was rocked by three earthquakes on February 21, the strongest measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale.
It was the largest earthquake in the city since 1970.
Home security alarms were triggered by the shake and some people rushed outside onto the street.
Herald online readers reported lifts shutting down in inner-city office blocks, and tremors were also felt outside the region, including at Waihi Beach.
Reader Char Gordon wrote: "The earthquake at 9.02pm shook my house and even smashed a large window in my daughter's bedroom! Thankfully it didn't harm anyone."
Mr Long said the claims would be investigated by insurance loss adjudicators to determine if the damage reported was caused by the earthquake.
He said the most destructive earthquake in recent history was the 6.3-magnitude one in Edgecumbe in 1987. There were 6000 claims made following that earthquake, totalling $311 million.
Quake claims
147 from Auckland City
101 from North Shore
47 from Papakura
27 from Manukau
21 from Rodney
2 from Thames/Coromandel
1 from Western Bay of Plenty
