New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) is drilling for soil samples as part of the claims settlement process following the Kaikoura earthquake in November.

The drilling in the Lyell Creek area today and tomorrow follows visual assessments in January and last month of land damage to properties in the area.

“The tests will enable the EQC to better understand the soil composition in the area and the nature of land movement that has occurred,” GM Customer and Claims Trish Keith said.

“This information will help the EQC settle land claims for homeowners in the area and for them to get their full entitlement.”

The EQC has no plans to carry out soil tests in other parts of Kaikoura at this stage, Ms Keith says.

The government-owned insurer covers land within eight metres of a house and land within 60 metres that supports access to the home from the boundary.

The EQC received Kaikoura quake 26,875 claims by a February 14 deadline, with 10% of the total involving land damage.