Christmas quakes' bill keeps rising

The intersection between Manchester and Lichfield streets where the Ruben Blades Academy building collapsed, killing four people. Photo / Simon Baker

The bill's rising for the two quakes just before and just after Christmas this year - and has now topped that for the 2010 Boxing Day quake.

The Earthquake Commission has received more than 20,000 claims for the December 23 and January 2 quakes.

That makes it the fourth largest even in terms of claims - pushing Boxing Day event to fifth.

The Commission says the target remains to have all properties with more than $50,000 repaired by the middle of next year.

It and Fletchers are also aiming to have 80 percent of all repairs completed by the end of 2014.