Famous Cantabrians' quake experiences | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Renowned Christchurch children's author Margaret Mahy, OBE, was on the move in Beckenham when the quake struck.

"I was in a car going down Colombo St. I thought a wheel had come off but the driver, my helper and chauffeur Lisa Anson, said 'no, it's an earthquake'."

The 75-year-old former librarian said they immediately headed back home to Governors Bay via Dyers Pass.

"We were a bit apprehensive. We didn't know if the road was open or if we could get through. The earthquake was quite jolty.

"Rocks were down along the road, but we managed to get home to the dog and the cat.

"There were books off the shelves and that, but we didn't have any damage.

"The earthquake reminds us that no matter how much we think we're in charge of the world, the earth is in charge of us."

More FM breakfast host Gary McCormick had just walked out of the radio station building onto Victoria St.

"Some of our people were having a coffee at Niche cafe. I waved at them gaily and I'd taken about three steps when I heard the rumbling.

"I started to run away from the tall buildings but the rocking threw me to the ground and I landed on my hip. I got up and thought I'd broken my hip.

"The ground was rocking away and people were screaming and running everywhere.

"I could see the dust rising in the central city and I thought 'this can't be good'.

"We went back to the radio station. Everyone was okay and we were told to go home.

"I had to get back to Lyttelton the long way via Dyers Pass. The twins were only 10 days old. We gathered them up and took off inland to Terrace Downs.

"My good friend Jonny Hendrikson, who owns Terrace Down, phoned and said to take my family there."

McCormick said he felt "betrayed" by the February quake.

"We'd got through September okay. It just left me angry. I rang Si (Barnett) and swore down the phone at him.

"It was such a grey day and such a vicious jolt."

Fellow More FM breakfast host Simon Barnett recalls having lunch with his wife, Jodi, at their Mt Pleasant home.

"I can't remember what we were having. We both jumped up and sheltered under an alcove.

"I knew instantly this wasn't an ordinary earthquake -- it was something massive.

"Everything smashed ... the TV console and wall units fell over. The noise was so intense. It was a cacophony of noise. You couldn't identify what was making the noise. Everything seemed to be smashing at once.

"Everything in our pantry emptied out. The floor in our kitchen was awash with every imaginable liquid.

"I saw the dust cloud over Redcliffs School. Initially, I thought houses were on fire, but I realised it was dust from where the hillside came down.

"We probably did the worst thing and went outside onto our lawn. Other neighbours were gathering outside. It was like a scene from a science fiction movie."

Barnett said their house at the vase of a hill was badly damaged and is beyond repair. He and his wife and children were evacuated for three months, but were now back living in the house.

"We're waiting to see about the land."

Christchurch actor Mark Hadlow had just finished lunch in his trailer at the Miramar Studios in Wellington where The Hobbit was being filmed.

"My cast liaison person rushed in and said there's been a terrible earthquake in Christchurch," he said.

"For the next 20 minutes I didn't know if my wife, Jane, was alive. I couldn't get through on my cellphone. I had no idea what was going on."

Jane was managing the Trelise Cooper fashion shop in High St and Hadlow said when he turned on his TV the first images he saw of Christchurch was of wrecked buildings along High St.

"Jane's shop was right next to the old ANZ Bank chambers that fell down."

He said Jane's son Benjamin, partner Jennifer and their seven-week-old baby Cameron were staying in the Hadlows' Fendalton house and he couldn't raise them on the phone.

"It was pretty harrowing. Finally, about 1.25pm I managed to get Jane. She was on her way to our place with a work colleague, but the traffic was so bad she had to get out of the car and walk for about an hour."

Hadlow said Benjamin was at a supermarket in Fendalton when the quake struck but managed to get home to his family unscathed.

"The studio people in Wellington, Peter Jackson and Fran, were absolutely marvellous. The film company dropped everything to ensure the safety of everybody's families in Christchurch.

"They flew me down to Christchurch as soon as they could arrange a flight. It was so good to be reunited with my family.

"Suddenly it became very clear to me how unimportant the film really was."