City Mall, Christchurch

City Mall, located in the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand, is the principal pedestrian thoroughfare within the central city. It encompasses two segments of Cashel Street, including the Bridge of Remembrance, and a portion of High Street, earning it the colloquial name, Cashel Mall. The transformation of this area into a pedestrian-friendly zone began with the pedestrianization of the Bridge of Remembrance in 1976. The main mall area followed suit, ceasing vehicle traffic on January 11, 1982, and officially reopening as a pedestrian mall on August 7 of the same year.

Between 2006 and 2009, City Mall underwent significant redevelopment, which included the installation of tram tracks to extend the heritage tram network, highlighting its status as a central hub for both shopping and cultural heritage. Despite its importance and historical value, the mall faced several challenges due to natural disasters. The February 2011 earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3, brought devastating impacts to the mall, leading to the collapse of many building façades and resulting in fatalities. This disaster prompted the closure of the city center to facilitate demolition and rebuilding efforts.

Most of the heritage buildings within the mall, which were registered by Heritage New Zealand, suffered during these earthquakes. Despite these challenges, the resilience of Christchurch and its people shone through. The Cashel Street section from Oxford Terrace to Colombo Street became the first part of the central city to reopen on October 29, 2011. The City Mall was reopened to the public in 2018.