Research from the University of Otago shows only 3 per cent of deaths in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake were in people's homes - most of which were built from wood.
Many of the buildings that collapsed were made of unreinforced masonry, similar to in the Christchurch earthquake.
Senior Author Nick Wilson says the value of wood has repeatedly been shown in New Zealand earthquakes.
He says the lessons of the disasters weren't put into building regulations - and brick continued to be used.
