John Key hopeful the worst is over in Christchurch

Gerry Brownlee and Prime Minister John Key in Christchurch in August 2011. Photo / File

John Key is hopeful the worst is over in Christchurch, so he can spend Christmas in Auckland with his family.

The Prime Minister was considering heading south after the new swarm of aftershocks, but decided the city is in good hands and there is not much he can personally do.

The Prime Minister will stay in Auckland for Christmas, before heading to Hawaii with his family next week.

He was planning to travel to Christchurch but says there was not much he could do.

Mr Key says if required, he will go, but he believes the most important thing is to tell Christchurch the nation is behind it 100 per cent.

He says everyone was hoping the quakes were over and he understands it will be frightening for many Cantabrians.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says that there is a real determination not to let the events of the past 24 hours ruin the city's Christmas.

He says crews have worked overnight and will be working all today to restore services to the city.

Mr Parker says it has been a hellish year and he is determined to get as much fixed by tonight as possible, so staff, apart from a skeleton team, can spend Christmas with their families.

There have been 37 earthquakes, ranging from 3.1 to 6.0 on the Richter scale, since 1.58pm yesterday. Four have measured 5.0 and over.