Cathedral Square’s Early History Unearthed In New Exhibition

Ōtautahi Christchurch will soon have the rare opportunity to step inside Christ Church Cathedral and rediscover the city’s past through Cathedral Square Unearthed, a new exhibition developed by the Christchurch Archaeology Project Charitable Trust with the support of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Project .

The free exhibition will run 16–22 February 2026, marking the 15th anniversary of the 22 February earthquake. Tickets are available at https://events.humanitix.com/cathedral-square-unearthed from 9am, 5 December 2025.

Katharine Watson, Chair of the Christchurch Archaeology Project says “Engaging with archaeology enhances our understanding of the past and fosters community connection. We are delighted to share the stories of early Christchurch residents with those in the city today.”

Bringing together objects uncovered during post-quake excavations and the city’s rebuild, Cathedral Square Unearthed will allow visitors to reconnect with everyday stories of 19th-century European settlement as well as a small but significant collection of pre-colonial Māori taonga.

Featuring artefacts, personal stories, augmented reality, audio, and video projections, the exhibition highlights central Christchurch’s history. Local people will also be invited, over the coming months, to contribute memories and connections via social media, further grounding the exhibition in shared experience.

Access to Christ Church Cathedral remains limited for health and safety reasons, making this exhibition a rare and final chance to step inside one of the city’s most significant heritage landmarks before it is closed to the public for the next stage in its reinstatement.

With just 1500 tickets available to view the exhibition inside the Cathedral, organisers encourage people to reserve their tickets early for a “limited-release, free, unrepeatable, Christmas gift.”

The Cathedral is being restored as an unconditionally welcoming public space—a place alive with memories, stories, heritage and taonga. Cathedral Square Unearthed reflects this vision by celebrating the Cathedral’s evolving role as a vibrant hub at the heart of the city’s future.

Dean Ben Truman says “"We’re delighted to host Cathedral Square Unearthed, bringing history to life, reminding us of the people who once held and used the objects. Celebrating our taonga inside a building that is itself filled with memories feels especially fitting.”

Local businesses and individuals have already shown generous support for the exhibition, enabling organisers to keep entry free of charge.

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