Carol Morton, who lived in Sumner, and Margaret Withell, who lived in Merivale, separately left Christchurch three days after the February 2010 quake.
They did not know each other living in Christchurch, but had ended up living next door to each other in Oamaru and are now the best of friends.
Carol and Cliff Butson left Bishopdale in April 2012, having got sick of the ongoing shakes.
The Collins, who owned the Fishmongers gourmet fish and chip shop and the flat above the Christchurch business, left in February 2011, after their premises had been destroyed a year before.
''We all pretty much wanted to get out of the city and into the country,'' Mr Collins said.
''We didn't want to deal with all the aftershocks.''
With an insurance payout from the September 2010 event, Mr Collins saw an opportunity to get into another business when the expired lease on a former cafe building in Kakanui went on the market.
They bought the Coast Cafe and, on the first anniversary of that quake organised a free dinner as a get-together event for people who had shifted to North Otago from Christchurch.
That event was attended by 73 people.
Mr Collins felt the smaller number at last night's event was a positive indication that Christchurch people had settled in North Otago and now regarded it as their home territory.
It could also have been something to do with the cafe charging for last night's meal, given the first event was free of charge, he joked. The Coast Cafe and Restaurant is thriving and the Collins family have no intentions of leaving.
As chef, Mr Collins puts about 55 to 60 hours a week into the cafe and employs six permanent part-time staff.
Mrs Collins has a management role at Oamaru Hospital and helps out in the cafe from time to time.
''It's a great little place here in Kakanui. The local people have really supported the business. It's a very good business now,'' Mr Collins said.
''We have no plans to leave in the immediate future.''
Additional reporting by the Christchurch Star.
