A crane is in place for the delicate task of removing stained-glass windows and other heritage items from ChristChurch Cathedral this week.
The structure is deemed too unsafe to use scaffolding.
This phase is expected to take two months, followed by lowering of the cathedral to around 3 metres.
Deconstruction should be complete by the end of the year, says the diocesan media officer, Fiona Summerfield.
Over 60,000 people farewelled the city’s landmark last weekend when CERA opened a walkway past the damaged building.