The September 2010 Canterbury earthquake caused damage to some buildings , but the Boxing Day aftershock , directly underneath the city , caused even more damage , including building failures . The 6.3 magnitude February 2011 Christchurch earthquake devastated the mall ; the façades of many buildings collapsed and there were several fatalities . The centre of the city was subsequently closed to allow demolition work to proceed . Structures affected included most of the heritage buildings in the mall that are or were registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust . Part of City Mall , the section of Cashel Street from Oxford Terrace to Colombo Street , was the first part of the central city to open again , on Saturday , 29 October 2011 , marked by a ceremony at which the Prime Minister John Key officiated
2010 Canterbury earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
City Mall, Christchurch