There are calls for Franz Josef emergency service buildings on top of the Alpine fault to be urgently moved after research has shown the probability of a devastating quake striking the South Island over the next 50 years has more than doubled.
The study suggests a big quake could block South Island highways in more than 120 places, leave 10,000 people cut off, and cost the economy about $10 billion.
Eleisha Foon has more.
