In a recent study the present authors examined the damage ratios for houses and household contents in the Inangahua, New Zealand, earthquake for intensities MM7-MM10, as affected by microzoning and structural types. The present study modestly revises this work, and extends it to include the localities of Nelson (MM6.4) and Murchison (MM8.1). Four ground classes and two foundation types, i.e. unbraced piles and concrete perimeter wall foundations were considered, and also number of storeys and wall cladding. Some complexities and difficulties of reliable microzoning are revealed and discussed.