UPDATED 8.38PM An urgent precautionary evacuation of residents from a small community near earthquake-hit Kaikoura has been completed, Civil Defence says.

The evacuation on Wednesday began after people in Goose Bay were called to a public meeting at 2.30pm.

They were told to leave the area immediately due to fears a dam formed by a landslip could burst because of continued seismic activity and forecast bad weather.

Kaikoura Civil Defence controller Murray SInclair said residents were understandably upset initially, but the majority were philosophical by the end of the meeting.

He says there are about 35 houses in Goose Bay, which is 7km south of Kaikoura, but several are holiday homes.

"We've ended up evacuating 17 people, none of whom needed emergency accommodation," he said.

"Of these, the majority are going to a nearby holiday park. A few have gone to Christchurch, one person has gone on a planned trip overseas and two have gone to Kaikoura to stay with friends."

Mr Sinclair said he was pleased with how the evacuation had gone.

He said residents were told to prepare to be away for at least 10 days while the situation was monitored.

"When you've got to go, you've got to go"

Goose Bay resident John Mahony told the Herald having to evacuate was a "pain in the neck".

"But you've got to do what you've got to do, when you've got to go you've got to go."

He was told at the meeting that fears the dam will flood their homes has meant they have to leave.

"Basically we were told that we have to go because this thing might burst."

Residents are frustrated at having to leave, Mahony said.

"A lot of us live 100m up the hill from the creek, and we're a bit pissed off we can't stay but hey, we'll go."

He said they've been given no definite time-frame for when they will be able to return home.

"They don't know, they've got no idea really. It could be a couple of days, could be a couple of weeks, whenever.

"We're just sitting around a bit and answering the phone because that's going flat out and packing up a bit."

He was planning on taking "just a few clothes, that's all you need really, and a toothbrush".

​Mahony plans on staying with mates nearby.

"We're just going 500m around the corner to a friends place, so we're not going far. And there's a few people who are going to camp at the harbour a few kilometres up the coast."