The earthquake wrought destruction to the region and Darfield, being just 10km from the epicentre, catapulted the sleepy Canterbury Plains town into world news.
Here, in the Selwyn District, the earthquake is the talk of the town. Everyone has a story to tell.
Today as most businesses reopened the main street bustled with locals coming in for a chat and visitors driving out to look at the damage.
Travelling down the straight country roads, with the sun shining and snow-capped mountain ranges gleaming in the distance, devastation was hard to find.
The odd fallen chimney and loose bricks was visible from the main road but those expecting to see flattened houses and crushed cars were mistaken - Darfield, population about 1500, fared better than inner-city Christchurch and Kaiapoi.
There was little damage obvious from the outside but still the stream of onlookers proved good for business.
At Darfield Cafe and Bakery, customers queued almost out of the shop.
Barista Tania Henriks said people were no longer concerned for broken televisions or computers.
"The town feels subdued, people are taking a moment to realise how lucky we are and to be grateful that we came out okay." But it remained unnerving with the numerous after-shocks. "Every creak in the house stands out a bit more."
Nearby Highfield Road has become a mini-attraction with carloads of people and children checking out the battered and twisted road and paddocks where the fault-line ran through.
Helen Horton had brought her fours boys out to the site.
The earthquake had been terrifying: "It was freaky... I just thought I can't get to all four, I was like a drill sergeant, yelling 'Get up, get here, get going'."
They waited under a doorway in the dark for hours, until a neighbour checked on them.
Just 500 metres down the road, potato grower Gavin Henderson was still cleaning up after his stock-sheds and home were turned upside down.
"Highfield Road has never been so popular," he said of the sightseers.
The earthquake was the most frightening moment of his life.
"The force was so hard it even shook the water out the toilets onto the floor."
The house withstood the force but a car was not so lucky when crates of potatoes were tossed onto its bonnet, crushing it.
Darfield fire chief Alan Kittelty said firefighters had been busy since the quake struck, but high winds had compounded the damage.
Gusts of up to 115kmh had toppled power lines, chimneys and trees.
"We've got some tired guys out there."
In Darfield township there had been damaged bricks and blocks, some structural damage to buildings and lost power for Saturday, Mr Kittelty said.
"Compared to Christchurch city we came off pretty lightly, even though we are so close to the epicentre."
A clean-up at Darfield High School continued, with a burst pipe turning one room into a "paddling pool".
There was no structural damage, though many teachers and students had been affected at home.
"The big uncertainty is how the kids will respond when they get back," principal James Morris said, adding he did not expect all teachers and students to be back on deck by Wednesday.
Selwyn District Mayor Kelvin Coe said damaged roads and bridges -- except two -- would be operational by the end of the week.
Seven houses in the district had been condemned and damage reported from 61 buildings.
The council had to find alternative accommodation for just six people.
Most damaged houses could still be occupied, Mr Coe said.
