At 4.55 am of September 4, Christchurch was rocked by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which caused widespread damage and left thousands without power and water as night falls.
The second biggest city was also hit by a series of major aftershocks.
Prime Minister John Key, who saw first-hand the devastation across Christchurch, said it was a miracle more people weren't killed.
"It's a miracle there where so few casualties*."
Much of the ruined city remains cordoned off* by police following the devastating earthquake.