New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) has received more than 300,000 claims from the two Christchurch earthquakes and the aftershocks.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says that of 302,440 claims received at April 26, 184,399 relate to the first quake and subsequent aftershocks on October 19, November 14, December 26, January 20 and February 4.

Mr Brownlee says 118,041 claims have been received from the February 22 earthquake and April 16 aftershock. The EQC has classified the April 16 quake as a new event for insurance purposes and has given July 18 as the claims deadline. 

Claims for the February quake must be lodged with the commission by May 23.

The EQC has paid out over $NZ840 million ($620 million) in claims and is receiving around 1300 new claims a day.

The EQC and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority are working with other agencies to provide a comprehensive picture of the state of the land in Canterbury province, “the detail of which will be used as the basis for further EQC claims payments”.

The EQC insures residential land and the work by geotechnical engineers will determine whether it is economic to remediate badly damaged land or whether householders should be paid to relocate.

Some parts of Christchurch have dropped so much it is likely residents will have to move suburbs.