Resilience is variously described as individuals' and communities' capacity to 'bounce back' from adversity and, potentially, grow or be better off from the experience. It is a multi-faceted concept with spatial, socio-economic, cultural and political dimensions. New Zealand's research on resilience in the aftermath of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes continues to refine our understanding of the characteristics of resilient individuals and communities. This paper reports on the voices of people in Canterbury who are coping with and adapting to the aftermath over a prolonged period of recovery. They tell us what they see as the characteristics of resilience and the factors that enhance and undermine such resilience. The findings are part of a larger research programme: Understanding factors that build resilience in New Zealand, funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.