Hundreds lodge ACC injury claims after November 14 earthquake

Hundreds of people have lodged ACC injury claims following last month's massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake.

Hundreds of people have lodged injury claims following last month's massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake.

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) figures released to the Herald show it has received 526 claims relating to the November 14 tremor.

Most claims are either for soft tissue injuries, lacerations, punctures, or stings, as well as fractures or dislocations.

The total claim costs to date (ex GST) amounts to $47,145, ACC says.

Mt Lyford resident Jo-Anne Mackinnon and Louis Edgar, of Kaikoura, died in the quake.

Earlier this month, the Herald revealed that the total cost of the disaster could reach up to $3 billion.

Treasury secretary Gabriel Makhlouf said some of the $2b-$3b cost of the devastating quake would be covered by insurance or existing resources.

He said the event "definitely had an effect on the economy and the Government's fiscal position" - but it was unlikely to damage the national tourism industry.

A month after the deadly quake shattered Kaikoura shortly after midnight, the tourist destination is still struggling.

The violent shaking caused massive fault line ruptures and slips, damaging buildings and closing all access roads to the seaside town.

While the Inland Rd has been opened up to residents and services on a controlled convoy basis, State Highway 1 north and south of the town remains closed.

The SH1 route linking Christchurch and Kaikoura should reopen next week, the New Zealand Transport Authority says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today said SH1 and the rail corridor along the coastal route to the north and south of Kaikoura would be rebuilt in about 12 months.