Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Hundreds of people turned out to the mall's opening in October 2011 in the quake-damaged CBD, and for many years the shops in shipping containers were the only ones operating.

A farmers' market is to be built on the block, and the Re:START branding will disappear.

A spokesperson for the landowner, the Re:START Heart Trust, said the colourful containers would remain on the site until work begins on the permanent farmers market later this year.