Its budget may have blown out by almost a third more than the original figure, but this weekend the doors to the Christchurch Town Hall will re-open for the first time since the 2011 earthquakes. It was touch and go whether the 47 year-old building would even be repaired after the 6.2 quake eight years ago today. 167-million-dollars later and the city is finally getting its town hall back. Conan Young was allowed inside for a sneak peak ahead of Saturday's official opening.
An aerial photograph of Kilmore Street in the central city with the Town Hall complex in the centre and Gap Filler's Pallet Pavilion on the cleared site of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
A photograph of a member of the New Zealand Police using a search dog to examine the rubble of the Caledonian Hall on Kilmore Street.
During the year 1857, developments moved closer towards making colonial Christchurch a working city. The Bridle Path opening in March, provided emigrants direct access to and from Lyttelton, on a s…
Roy Stokes Hall New Brighton - Welfare Distribution Centre
A photograph of a Jonathan Hall transferring Crack'd for Christchurch's ottoman artwork onto a trailer.Crack'd for Christchurch comments, "Jonathan Hall getting Otto ready for his trip to meet Flora at their final destination."
A pile of pipes and cables outside the Town hall.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Ian Hall, Sorensons Place home ruined".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "St Barnabas Church Hall".
The Artiste Entrance of the Town Hall, behind cordon fencing.
A damaged church hall. The brick walls have partially collapsed.
A video of a press conference with Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, in the Christchurch Town Hall. Clinton talks about Canterbury's recovery after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. She also answers questions from members of the public.
A photograph of a stretcher bed and the belongings of a Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team member. The stretcher was set up in the hall of the Rima Park Scout Camp.
A photograph of a member of the New Zealand Police using a search dog to examine the rubble of the Caledonian Hall on Kilmore Street. There are two crushed cars amongst the rubble.
A story submitted by Rachel Hall to the QuakeStories website.
The former Town Hall building in Rangiora, behind a cordon fence.
A photograph of a temporary structure titled Synthesis, which was created by students from CPIT, in partnership with Dance Hall and Soda Bar. Synthesis was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team relaxing on stretcher beds. The stretchers were set up in the hall of the Rimu Park Scout Camp.
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team relaxing on stretcher beds. The stretchers were set up in the hall of the Rimu Park Scout Camp.
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team relaxing on stretcher beds. The stretchers were set up in the hall of the Rimu Park Scout Camp.
A photograph of Helen Campbell and Jonathan Hall transfering Crack'd for Christchurch's ottoman artwork from Campbell's garage to a trailer.Crack'd for Christchurch comments, "Helen Campbell and Jonathan Hall getting Otto ready for his trip to meet Flora at their final destination."
The Town Hall, with broken windows covered in sheeting and wooden battens.
A photograph of the High to Hereford Food Hall on High Street.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Damaged paving at the Town Hall".
The Great Hall of the Arts Centre, with bracing protecting its roof.
Weeds growing in the Ferrier Fountain in front of the Town Hall.
Weeds growing in the Ferrier Fountain in front of the Town Hall.
Cathedral Grammar School, where the school hall has been replaced with portacabins.
A photograph of the High to Hereford Food Hall on High Street.
A photograph of a temporary installation titled GlowCity, which was created by students from Unitec, in partnership with Games Hall street games. GlowCity was part of CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.