Engineers will continue to inspect Wellington's quake-damaged buildings this morning.

Molesworth Street remains closed, with a high rise building there thought to be fractured and dangerous.

About 50 buildings in the city are still being checked for damage.

Earthquake engineering advisor David Hopkins told Rachel Smalley they have to check a number of things before they can declare a building is safe.

"What we have to do to stabilise the building and make it safe, what about repairs and what sort of lessons are there," he said.

Hopkins said they'll be checking if the shaking or the response of the building was higher than expected, or if there was something inadequate in the design and detailing.

He said there's always learnings for the engineering, design and construction processes.

LISTEN ABOVE: Earthquake engineering advisor David Hopkins spoke with Rachel Smalley