New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission says it has received 12,149 claims arising from the Cook Strait series.

The deadline has now passed for claims relating to the quakes in July and August.

Although two-thirds of claims are from the Greater Wellington area, the worst damage – including all 15 over-cap claims – occurred in and around the town of Seddon in the northern South Island.

The commission has so far assessed half of all claims and paid out on 636, costing $NZ6.4 million ($5.68 million).