Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee opened the first stage of Christchurch's Avon River precinct on Thursday.
The precinct - the first of the anchor projects to get under way in the Christchurch rebuild - involves $100 million worth of landscaping beside the river, which flows through the middle of the city.
The first stage, near the Antigua St boatsheds, includes boardwalks and green space down to the water's edge.
