Another major post-earthquake milestone has passed in Christchurch, with the opening of the new QEII pool complex.
The former Commonwealth Games venue was damaged beyond repair, prompting a $38 million rebuild.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel officially opened the new sports and recreation centre in Christchurch's eastern suburbs on Thursday.
- Christchurch shopping centre becomes NZ's first to allow pets
- The Palms mall in Christchurch reopened after unspecified incident
- Man found dead outside flats in Christchurch
The original QEII complex was built for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, but the pools were damaged beyond repair in the 2011 earthquakes.
The $38 million replacement is much smaller, with a 25-metre pool, a children's water park and a 130-metre-long hydroslide.
"It's part of the network of facilities we'll have once they're all rebuilt - but certainly, the importance of this to the community of this side of town hasn't changed," said Nigel Cox, Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sport Unit Operations Manager.
While the complex is a downgrade from the old QEII, with no 50-metre pool and no running track, those facilities are part of the wider Christchurch rebuild, and will be housed elsewhere in the city.
For nearby residents, the days of trekking across town for a swim are over; QEII is back in business and set to make a splash for decades to come.
Newshub.
