Today marks six months since a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked the coastal South Island town of Kaikoura, claiming two lives.

It struck near Culverden at a depth of 15 kilometres. Many residents evacuated the town and the surrounding area after damaged roads effectively cut the region off from the outside world.

Locals are upset that some smaller towns have been left behind in the rush to revive a town known for its tourist attractions and scenery.

Waiau, for example, lost its only pub, bowling club, Scouts den, swimming pool, and kindergarten when the quake tore through the town.

Dairy owner Brenda Smith relates that she hears from a number of different communities passing through with their own stories of the quake.

"Even in Seddon - they're the ones hurting as well," Smith said. "That's what gets me."

"Kaikoura has all this money provided, but what about everyone else?"

Up until last weekend, a convenience store was the only place with a liquor licence in the quake-damaged area, but a new pub is bringing everyone together.

"Six months down the track, we've missed having that place to go to, where you'd just sit and talk. It's been missed," Smith said.

Another of those who has by the affected the shake was Gary Sutton, who owns Dexarelli's Pizzaria in Kaikoura.

He was forced to close his business for three weeks following the quake, and didn't want to re-open his store, until the government offered a subsidy.

"It inspired me to get going again," Sutton said. "It wasn't an easy couple of weeks but I ended up having a reasonable summer because all my opposition were not open."

Sutton had to move out of his rental home into a camper van following the quake, and lived there for three months before he was "lucky" to get into a small house he is now preparing to buy.

Sutton considers himself fortunate as he doesn't have to provide for anyone else.

"I get up out of bed every morning and treat each day as it comes," he said. "There's not much you can really plan on at the moment."