The article only touches on the more troubling of NZ fault lines - if the Alpine Fault ruptures, or "unzips" as it is commonly referred to, then really bad things will happen. M8+ earthquakes and major changes to the rest of the South Island.

And this is somewhat likely in the next 50 years.

https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Earthqua...