Christchurch City Council structural engineers are re-examining buildings around Cathedral Square to see whether traditional New Year's Eve celebrations can still go ahead in the Square.
A decision on whether the event can go ahead would be made later this afternoon, city Environment Group general manager Jane Parfitt said.
Other locations had been ruled out.
"We are working hard to ensure this event can go ahead but we want to ensure that if it is held, that people can enjoy their New Year's celebrations safely."
Meanwhile a Christchurch shopping mall closed by a series of aftershocks that hit the central city on Boxing Day reopened today as the Earthquake Commission revealed it had fired assessors after claimants complained about being treated poorly.
EQC chief operating officer Lance Dixon said yesterday a small number of New Zealand and Australian loss adjusters and estimators had been sent home after not showing the expected empathy when dealing with quake victims, The Press reported
Several quake-hit residents said they were in tears after their homes were inspected.
Mr Dixon said all complaints were taken seriously, and some had resulted in dismissals.
A complaints form has been set up on the EQC website.
The city centre retail hub, Cashel Street, reopened this morning after around two dozen aftershocks - the largest a magnitude 4.9 - shook the city on Boxing Day.
There was new damage and many inner city shops were closed on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Cashel mall and surrounding streets were cordoned off on Boxing Day but those cordons were lifted this morning. Some individual buildings may remain closed off if deemed unsafe.
Council building inspectors and structural engineers have evaluated about 5000 buildings within the four avenues since the Boxing Day aftershock and around 115 required remedial work after damage during the weekend.
