Series of aftershocks shake Christchurch

A series of aftershocks have shaken Christchurch while a 4.5 magnitude earthquake has jolted the Hawke's Bay overnight.

The latest aftershock to hit Canterbury was a 3.9 magnitude quake, which struck 10km north-east of Darfield at a depth of 8km at 2.42am.

Earlier, a 4.1 magnitude tremor struck within 5km of Lyttelton at a depth of 8km at 10.07pm last night. That quake followed a 2.9 magnitude quake 10km north-east of Darfield at a depth of 15km at 8.15pm, and a 3.9 magnitude quake 10km east of Lyttelton at a depth of 9km at 7.16pm.

In the Hawke's Bay, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck 40km south-east of Waipukurau at a depth of 20km at 10.28pm.

- NZ Herald staff