Quake victims: Waiting to hear if they stay - or go

For Bexley resident Kim Monaghan, last week's aftershocks were the last straw. Photo / David Alexander

Kim Monaghan believes she lost her father to the Christchurch earthquakes. Today she waits to hear if her home and her mother's home will be lost as well.

Mrs Monaghan lives with her husband, Vaughan, next door to her mother, Brenda Knight, in a lane near the Avon River in the quake-ravaged suburb of Bexley. The suburb is expected to suffer heavy losses when the Government makes announcements about the future of Christchurch's land today.

"We've just got to wait and see," Mrs Monaghan said.

"We don't know if they're going to bulldoze us down this year, next year or the year after. We just need to know what's happening - that's all we've always wanted."

Her flat is in reasonable condition, but the land is in a bad state.

"I mean, we've got a big water hole in our backyard... It's two and a half metres deep and it's still going down."

Mrs Monaghan sent her 10-year-old daughter, Cheyenne, out of town after the killer February 22 quake for some respite, while she and her husband battled on with the liquefaction and intermittent power and water supply.

About a month ago, her father, Michael Knight, died aged 69 - Mrs Monaghan is convinced the stress of dealing with insurers and the Earthquake Commission cut his life short.

The two big quakes on Monday last week were the "last straw" for her.

"I just sat on the floor with the dog and bawled my eyes out. And that's the first time I've done it."

Further down the lane, pensioner May Macdonald, 68, admits she has also shed a few tears at the prospect of her property being written off.

"It's not the Government's fault. If they can't rebuild on the land, I've just got to accept it. I've had a cry because I love it here. I love my house. I love the view to the river. The neighbours are lovely - they all help each other."

Most of her neighbours seemed to have accepted their fate, she said, but one had stated she would "have to be carried out in a box".

Mrs Macdonald has lived in her home for two years but has been a resident in the area for the past 30. She heard the land she lives on has "absolutely had it", but there have been many rumours.

"As long as they give us a good package, because my life savings are tied up in this house. I'm a Christian, so I'm just trusting in God now."

Mrs Monaghan said she wanted to be paid what her house was worth before the first quake in September, and given assistance to shift.

"If they give us what we are owed, and they find us a decent place, decent land - we'll go."