Many builders, carpenters and bricklayers came Murchison to help repair
the damage that the earthquake had wreaked. 

As bulldozers and earthmoving machinery had
not yet reached New Zealand, the slips had to
be cleared by pick and shovel and dray and
motor trucks.  Roads and bridges needed to be
repaired and rebuilt all over the district.

Most of the farmers spent most of the winter
working to open up the roads and for that they
were paid.  Some of the farming land had to be abandoned while other land
was cleared again.  Momentary compensation from the Murchison
Earthquake Relief Fund, though not completely satisfactory, certainly
helped and in most cases farming went ahead.  For a year or two after the
earthquake the output of the Dairy Factory was well down but it steadily
climbed back and continued to rise

The general business activity engendered a wave of prosperity which
resulted in steady and continued progress.  It could even be said that the
earthquake "cushioned" the effects of the 1930s Depression and for a
time at least there was work for all.  Many of the new workers stayed on
and became valued members of the community.

The Murchison Football team also benefited by the influx of men, such
as Dr Potaka, Mr Williams the PWD engineer and his off-sider Jimmy
Smith into the district and in 1930 the Murchison team beat the Nelson
Representative team