On Tuesday night, afraid to to stay in their damaged Barbadoes St flat in central Christchurch, they walked in heavy rain about 3km through the ravaged streets to the Hagley Park evacuation centre.
On Wednesday, they walked back home, then nearby to stay the night with a friend.
On Thursday, they walked about 12km to Mr Leader's sister's house in the northeastern suburb of Parklands and back to their house to collect a change of clothing and some groceries.
They then trudged another 10km east to the Cowles Stadium welfare centre, Aranui, pulling a shopping trundler behind them.
Yesterday, they were resting, still shaken by their experiences and uncertain about the future but happy to have bedding, food and company.
"We decided we wanted to be with other people," Mr Leader (59) said.
The couple, both invalid beneficiaries, said they did not own a car and were used to walking.
"We've gone a long way. It's not bad for a 63-year-old, is it?"
Their rented flat, one of several in a block, was moderately damaged, and they expect repairs to be four to five weeks away.
Mrs Leader was resting on her bed when the earthquake struck.
A piece of masonry about the size of a concrete block fell through the ceiling, crashing next to her head.
She screamed and ran for the front door, collapsing into the arms of a neighbour as she escaped outside.
"Every aftershock reminds me of that moment," she said.
"I'm still shaking. I don't want to live in Christchurch any more."
Jeffery Huffaine (58), a beneficiary from Phillipstown, central Christchurch, said the home he had owned for more than 30 years would probably have to be condemned.
"It is 111 years old and the walls have cracked."
He did not know where he would live and planned to stay at the welfare centre as long as he could.
They were among about 180 people who slept the night in Cowles Stadium.
Foam mattresses, air beds and bedding from the city's emergency operations centres were arranged all over the stadium floor.
Some evacuees chose to set up beds on the tiered seating area.
Some are babies, some the elderly.
Many are in family groups and a few are in wheelchairs.
Most arrived with bags of clothing, and some with sleeping bags and blankets.
One man turned up pulling a garden trolley loaded with a suitcase and bedding.
In one corner, St John staffed a medical zone.
Outside, water tankers provided for those remaining in their own homes, and agencies such as Work and Income, Red Cross and the Salvation Army were on hand to assist with inquiries.
Centre co-ordinator Nick Sears, of the Christchurch Coastguard, said evacuee numbers had fluctuated.
Some people had come for a short time, while others had nowhere else to go.
A few, too spooked to sleep inside because of aftershocks, were in tents on the adjacent reserve.
Medical staff were available to assess arriving evacuees, and those with existing medical conditions or injuries had been transported to hospital or more suitable facilities, Mr Sears said.
The Salvation Army was serving food to about 800 evacuees and staff yesterday, 450 at Burnside and 300 at Aranui, the church's Christchurch food co-ordinator Major Rex Cross, said.
Centres were also operating at Lyttelton, Spreydon, Rangiora and Rolleston, but the Salvation Army had not been asked to supply food there, he said.
Maj Cross was supervising the distribution of breakfast when the Otago Daily Times visited the Aranui centre - cereal, porridge, toast, fruit and hot drinks.
Thursday night's dinner was lamb chops or lasagna, with mashed potatoes and vegetables, and mudcake, strawberries and cream for dessert.
All food was cooked by Continental Caterers at its Rangiora kitchen and trucked to the city.
The Salvation Army provided the company with whatever donations it had been given.
Some of the food being used this week had been donated after the September earthquake.
"We had chickens ... five tonnes of fish, 120kg of salmon and other staples which we still had in store," Maj Cross said.
"Someone rang me this morning offering 1000 loaves of bread. We are fortunate this community and New Zealand has a spirit of helping out brothers and sisters in need."
