An analysis of damage costs to low-rise non-domestic brick buildings in the MM8 intensity zone of the Mw 7.1 Wairarapa earthquake of 24 June 1942 has evaluated the vulnerability of such buildings in New Zealand for the first time. The buildings studied were mostly of unreinforced brick of average workmanship and material quality, i.e. the second most vulnerable class of New Zealand buildings. Approximate vulnerabilities were also determined for partly reinforced and partly retrofitted buildings, and for one and two-storey buildings. The costs of damage were derived from insurance claims and local government records. The indicators of vulnerability that were determined were the statistical distributions and mean values of damage ratios, and the percentage of buildings damaged. Comparisons have also been made with results from studies of other earthquakes.