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.

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.

Residents in the street worst affected by September's earthquake may spend another two Christmases waiting for their homes to be rebuilt.

Canterbury's massive earthquake and aftershocks are likely to rank as the fifth most costly quake ever for insurers.

More than 80 per cent of Christchurch households have filed insurance claims for the Canterbury quake.

Communication with Canterbury quake victims could have been better, the Earthquake Commission said today.

When the earthquake-rattled people of Christchurch were in need, Suresh Patel stepped up.