A couple from Bushey, caught up in the New Zealand earthquake, have said they cannot believe how well they were treated by residents during the disaster.

Chris and Jean Brewerton, who have since returned home, were about to fly to the North Island in February when the quake struck.

Instead they were evacuated to the Sudima Hotel where they spent the night.

"We instantly became refugees. We spent a difficult night on the moving conference room floors of the Sudima Hotel with several hundred other travellers and airport staff as we collectively worried about the uncertainty of those trapped in buildings in Christchurch, our own safety and our prospects of escaping the disaster area," Mr Brewerton told Star Canterbury.

But he added thanks to the general manager, Warren Barnes, and his staff working tirelessly, they along with "fellow refugees" were kept as comfortable as possible.

Mr Brewerton continued: "They fed us, restocked washrooms, provided blankets and liaised with Christchurch Airport authority and Air New Zealand to provide accurate and up to date information to us and to give us re-assurance at a very worrying time.

"We felt many aftershocks trying to sleep on the floor and our nerves were raw by morning.

"We also were sickened and saddened to hear of the death toll and the damage as the initial reports came on the radio and television in the lounge of the hotel."

The Brewertons have since donated to the Red Cross earthquake appeal, and also praised Air New Zealand for helping them escape Christchurch to Wellington.

He said: "One week later, we found ourselves on White Island garbed in safety hats and gas masks joining in New Zealand’s national observance of a two minutes silence to remember.

"We felt guilty for being among the lucky ones to escape, but we have not been frightened from re-visiting."

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake registered 6.3 and struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island on February 22.

At least 166 people were confirmed dead, making the earthquake the second-deadliest natural disaster recorded in New Zealand