Kerre Woodham: Shock and awe in the South

Rubble lies in the street after a powerful earthquake struck Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images

Thank heavens the residents of Christchurch emerged relatively unscathed after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in the early hours of yesterday.

Although the city looks like it has been flattened by a squadron of bomber planes, the miracle is that only two poor souls are known to have been seriously injured.

My daughter and her fiance went down to Christchurch earlier in the week to visit her other family, so I was straight on the phone to check the Southerners were okay.

They live on a farm block and are self-sufficient when it comes to power and water, so they were fine apart from the shock of their rude awakening.

Kate said it felt exactly like the earthquake simulator at Te Papa. The only injury was her little sister's disappointment at her best friend's party being cancelled.

Once I'd heard their voices and everyone had been accounted for, life could go on. I took the dog for a walk and everyone I met was exclaiming over the earthquake.

The lovely naturopath from Grey Lynn says it's a sign Earth Mother is angry with us.

The man with the beagle said it was the Alpine fault. Whatever the reason, it's a powerful reminder to us all that in the case of natural disasters, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.

And that we must all be prepared.