Vibrant Christchurch CBD

It's worth a wander around the Christchurch CBD. Apart from deconstruction, there are plenty of projects that are innovative and indicate that we are making a fresh new start for our city.

Clockwise from top left:

New Regent Street. The street comprises 38 boutique shops and restaurants built in the Spanish mission style. It is due to reopen by the end of April after a $5 million restoration following earthquake damage. At some stage the city tram will once again rumble through this very attractive cobbled street.

Cashel Mall, where brightly painted shipping containers have been used as temporary shops, in order to attract people back into the city centre.

Punting boarding point on the Avon River, near the Worcester Street bridge. New plans for the central city include more access to the Avon.

Christchurch's transitional Cathedral, being constructed with cardboard tubes, with a capacity of 700. It is the brainchild of Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, who has designed similar projects for other devastated cities in the world. It is scheduled to open later this year, complete with a stained glass window at one end.