Organisers of the 'Cathedral Square Unearthed' archaeology exhibition hosted in Christ Church Cathedral in the Square this week have reported tours have booked out for the duration of the show between 16-22 February 2026. 

Katharine Watson, Chair of the Christchurch Archaeology Project, says the overwhelming response highlights the community’s strong desire to reconnect with the Cathedral and explore the rich archaeological discoveries of Cathedral Square. The free exhibition is delivered through one-hour tours, each limited to 50 visitors, with several operating daily across the eight-day programme.

Bringing together objects uncovered during post-quake excavations and the city’s rebuild, Cathedral Square Unearthed helps visitors 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. Over the coming months, people who have lived in Christchurch can also contribute memories and connections via social media, to help ground the exhibition in shared experience. 

Joining Dean Ben Truman to open the show, Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell was encouraged to see strong public interest in the partially-restored Cathedral from so many people, including one visitor who described bursting into tears on entering the building for the first time in years. 

"People have a strong emotional attachment to this building, which makes it significant for present day life and not only because of its history." Bishop Peter said.

His dream is for the Anglican Church to be able to reopen the Cathedral fully, and restore the building to its purpose as a place of pilgrimage, prayer and spiritual refreshment that once again becomes a hub of Christian service to the people of Canterbury and beyond.

For people who have missed out on this week's opportunity to visit the partially restored Cathedral, the team at Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd (CCRL) will be running an open weekend on 13 - 15 March, which will be complemented by Cathedral Square Unearthed walking tours.  

Due to the high demand, the Cathedral Square Unearthed archaeology exhibition will now be shown again at 'The Crossing' from 24 February - 22 March 2026.