ChristChurch Cathedral is slowing "rocking herself to pieces," according to its project manager.

Last night the cathedral's project manager, RCP's Marcus Read, told "Campbell Live" every aftershock was bringing the end of the building closer.

"She's actual done pretty well as a building. The engineer says she continues to rock back and forth with every event and she's slowly rocking herself to pieces," he said.

"We are just waiting to hear what can and cannot be done at the moment. We are still in limbo. It is damage on damage," he said.

Bishop Victoria Matthews, speaking on "Campbell Live," said safety comes first. "Who said it's all over [the earthquakes]?

"I'm not a doom-predictor but let's be honest – we thought it was over after September except for some aftershocks, then there was February, then there was June. And now there's been December.

"I've heard people use the word `decades'. The only thing I want said after I'm dead and gone is `she made the place safe and she allowed people to worship'."

Plans for a temporary cathedral for Christchurch have been put on hold for about two weeks, Philip Baldwin said.

The cardboard cathedral, designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, would cost $4 million, take three months to build, and could seat 700 people.

It would act as a temporary home while long-term decisions are made about the earthquake-damaged cathedral in the city centre.