Gerry Brownlee has rejected claims he told Canterbury residents that selling their quake-damaged homes would be the best way to withdraw equity.

Tony Stuart awoke today wondering how much more damage his house could absorb after the latest aftershock in Canterbury.

There have been almost 3500 claims so far from the Boxing Day earthquake that struck Canterbury, the Earthquake Commission said today.

Catching up with Xavier Trousselot-Rhodes - the lad who fell out of his house as the earth heaved.

Catching up with Angela Wasley

Tomorrow night's New Year's Eve celebrations in Cathedral Square will go ahead as planned, after quake-hit buildings were deemed safe.

The decision on whether Cathedral Square is safe enough to hold the traditional New Year's Eve celebrations after aftershocks on Boxing Day damaged buildings will be made tomorrow.

Central Christchurch retailers hit by the Boxing Day aftershock say it wiped out three months of economic recovery.

Health services are offering advice on coping with anxiety after violent aftershocks shook Christchurch on Boxing Day and early today.

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has received 150 new claims following the latest swarm of aftershocks to hit Christchurch and is treating them as a separate earthquake.

Most of central Christchurch has been reopened to business after yesterday's cluster of aftershocks caused part of the CBD to cordoned off. Quakes continued to hit the city overnight.

A series of explosive aftershocks near central Christchurch collapsed walls, trapped people in buildings and cut power yesterday.

Fire crews in Christchurch are inspecting buildings damaged by today's series of aftershocks.

Reports and photos of the magnitude 4.9 earthquake from Twitter and Facebook.

Photos after the 4.9 magnitude aftershock in Canterbury on December 26.