Creaking metal and roaring machinery have heralded the end of Queensgate mall's cinema.
After hours of delays, demolition is now underway in Lower Hutt. It was scheduled to begin at 7.30am, but yesterday's 5.5 aftershock meant needed to be checked for safety first.
Signage and wall cladding have been the first to go, with the noise of torn metal drawing a sizeable crowd of locals.
Now that it's begun, demolition is expected to take two months.
Eighty retailers in other parts of the mall are still open for business.
