The Sign of the Kiwi , originally called Toll House , is a small café and shop at Dyers Pass on the road between Christchurch and Governors Bay . It was built in 1916 – 17 by Harry Ell as a staging post and opened as a tearoom and rest house . It has a Category I heritage classification by Heritage New Zealand and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike . The building was closed some time after the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and it was not until 23 January 2017 , six years later , that it opened again . Although located within the burned area , the building was not damaged by the 2017 Port Hills fires a month later
2017 Port Hills fires
2017 Port Hills fires
Sign of the Kiwi