Displaced Canterbury pupils enrolled at Queenstown Lakes district schools are beginning to discuss the trauma of their earthquake experience with fellow pupils and school counsellors.
"It was amazing; some of the stories have been horrific. It's overwhelming what they've been through; they just need to talk. You feel helpless - some of them are facing going back to nothing, it's heartbreaking," Queenstown Lakes District Council-appointed Mount Aspiring College-based education liaison officer Johanna Vermeulen said.
Mrs Vermeulen - who has seen pupils come in with "nothing but the clothes on their back" - has been brought in to deal with pupils displaced by the February 22 earthquake.
In the immediate aftermath of the quake, the Wanaka school's roll swelled by about 150 pupils.
On Wednesday, Mrs Vermeulen said 124 Canterbury pupils were still enrolled at the school - the group had been placed in five classes with others displaced by the earthquake.
Schools in both Queenstown and Wanaka have reported large numbers of new pupils, with 490 enrolled district-wide as of Monday.
Mrs Vermeulen said Mount Aspiring College teachers dealing with the pupils had been appropriately trained and after a week of letting them "settle in" the pupils were beginning to tell their stories.
Recently, she had worked with a group of year 9 and 10 pupils who had discussed some of their experiences as a result of the quake.
However, Mrs Vermeulen said most of the pupils were "really happy and really enjoying school because they're really happy and settled here".
She said some of the Canterbury pupils had competed in last week's school swimming sports and had even set records.
Feedback from parents had been positive, with reports that their children were generally happy and coping well.
QLDC communications officer Jo Blick said the council was helping community agencies and social services to "do what they need to do to assist the situation for as long as it continues."
