AUSTRALIANS “doing it tough” paying high interest rates should spare a thought for some of their neighbours across the Tasman who are paying mortgages and rates but are uncertain if they will be allowed to continue living in their homes, says Murwillum- bah resident Pat Robson.

Mr Robson, who lived for 63 years in the now earthquake-wracked south New Zealand city of Christchurch before retiring to Australia, has spoken about the trials and hardship of his relatives and friends still in the city.

He has done so in the hope that simply letting others know of their plight will strengthen their resolve to battle on.

“It's some sort of moral help if they know their nearest neighbours know... if it's known the traumas and dramas they are going through,” said Mr Robson said.

Christchurch has continued to be hit by hund- reds of quakes this week, following 6- and 5.5- magnitude tremors on Monday and another 5- magnitude tremor on Wednesday.

Mr Robson said relatives had told him by phone the tremors continue throughout the night, and some now spend

every night in clothes as they try to sleep, with an escape route prepared.

“They are really doing it tough. And it's bloody cold, especially at night,” he said.

“They haven't got any tap water and most of the time they don't have electricity.

“To get anywhere around Christchurch literally takes hours going around streets that are closed.

“Some of the suburbs look like suburbs of Venice because of the liquefaction. And they are back in a situation where they have to take sewage out and put it in a red bin to be taken away.

“Some people have not been told officially they will not be able to build again. They are still paying rates and mortgages for houses they will not be able to rebuild.”

Mr Robson said others were prevented from even re-entering homes or buildings where they had personal belongings.

“If a home is red-stickered, you can't go in there and get anything,” he said.

“Recently, one bloke went to jail because he defied the ban. He went in to get stuff while his house was being pushed down.

“There's hundreds of different stories of what's happening to people that are quite horrific.

“It helps if other people know.”