'Earthquake baby' heads to primary school

'Miracle baby' Dianthe Barnard is excited at the thought of starting school.

Dianthe Rose Barnard was born as the earth rolled and shook, but the little girl's first day of school is less likely to have a shaky start.

The "miracle baby" was born on September 4, 2010, as a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch — the first major event in what would become a year of tragedy-laden seismic activity for the region.

As her mother Maruschke Barnard's hospital bed swayed, Dianthe's head crowned at 4.35am. She was born six minutes later.

The family moved to Darfield — 50km west of Christchurch — after the deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake of February 22, 2011, and have since welcomed another addition to the family, Aliana Grace, 3.

And now, the big sister who relishes telling everyone she's "the earthquake baby" will have her feet firmly on the ground as she heads off on her first big adventure alone.

On September 7, Dianthe will get dressed in school uniform and sit down in a classroom at Darfield Primary School.

Parents Maruschke and Evert plan to take the day off work to wave their daughter goodbye at the classroom door.

Dianthe was "very excited", but the nerves are starting to set in for both parents.

"She can't wait, she keeps hopping up and down like a little kangaroo when I tell her. She's very excited," Maruschke said.

"She is a busy little girl. She is so smart and it has been a whirlwind with everything going on."

Dianthe has already met her teacher, and "quite loves her already".

She can't wait to learn everything, says her mother.

The 4-year-old has already started learning te reo Maori, and has picked up Afrikaans words her South African parents speak at home.

"She loves learning so she is looking forward to learning all the new stuff.

"She keeps asking me questions about everything," Maruschke said.

"She asks me why the trees are growing and what does this word mean? She tells me the big words and tries to pronounce them."

Dianthe's favourites are "fantastic" and "incredible" — just what her first day at school should be.