Schools get all-clear after big shake

Schools in Wairarapa have undergone damage inspections after the severe quake on Sunday, says Ministry of Education regional deputy secretary Katrina Casey.

Quake inspections were yet to discover more than minor damage, if any, at schools in Wellington or Marlborough in the wake of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake and the hundreds of aftershocks that had followed, Ms Casey said.

Multi-storied, heavy-roofed and masonry constructed school buildings in Wellington and Marlborough had been prioritised for structural assessments, while multi-storey Nelson block classrooms have been cleared at Makoura and Kuranui colleges in Wairarapa.

"To date, we have not been advised of any major damage at schools. The ministry has prioritised assessments of schools with heavy concrete structures."

The Nelson blocks at Makoura and Kuranui colleges were two-storey timber-framed structures and "earthquake resilient", Ms Casey said.

"In these cases, the ministry is asking schools to confirm that their water supply and infrastructure are functioning," she said.

Ms Casey said the ministry had provided a template for Wairarapa schools to complete and return by today, and "if any issues are identified by schools, they should contact their school property adviser".

She said the self-assessments and inspections were expected to "identify any issues that need to be addressed and we will work closely with schools to make sure that happens as quickly as possible".

"We're fortunate it's the school holidays, but want to make sure everything is being done before start of term next week to verify the state of buildings and address any issues," she said.

"At this stage, we are aware of masonry falling at Wellington High School, some stairwell damage at Wellington Girls' College and ceiling cracks at Wairau Valley School. But otherwise we have only been informed of cosmetic damage."

More detailed examinations of schools were launched on Tuesday, she said, and "pending anything else being found or further significant events", schools were expected to reopen next week for term 3 as planned.

Ms Casey said early childhood education providers in Marlborough and Wellington also had been contacted and only minor problems were reported.

All ministry offices that had been closed to allow for engineering checks of the buildings have now reopened.