The Christchurch Long-Term Council Community Plan 2009–2019, adopted 30 June 2009, confirmed the council's intention to extend the existing tram circuit in the central city, for which $11.5m was set aside.
 The extension will be constructed in two stages, with the first stage expected to have been ready in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the second stage to be completed by the summer of 2013.

The first stage will involve a new loop, connected to the existing circuit, running down Oxford Terrace, through the Cashel Mall, down High Street to the corner with Tuam Street, and back up High Street to Colombo Street where it will join the existing circuit behind the cathedral.
 The original plan for the second stage was a line running down the remainder of High Street, along Ferry Road, and terminating in a smaller loop around Barbados Street and Williams Street, but it has since been suggested that the line should run through the grounds of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.

Construction began on the first stage in August 2009.
 Much of this extension was complete prior to the February 2011 earthquake including the section through the Cashel Mall and along High Street from Colombo Street to Cashel Street.
 The condition of the tracks has been assessed by the Council with a view to determining the future of the extension.

A significant portion of the stage 1 tramway extension opened to the public on 12 February 2015.
The trams run the complete stage 1 extension route up to the High and Lichfield Street intersection, where the trams will then continue using the northbound track via a new set of points.
Total route length has been increased to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi).
The Christchurch Long-Term Council Community Plan 2009–2019, adopted 30 June 2009, confirmed the council's intention to extend the existing tram circuit in the central city, for which $11.5m was set aside.  The extension will be constructed in two stages, with the first stage expected to have been ready in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the second stage to be completed by the summer of 2013.
The first stage will involve a new loop, connected to the existing circuit, running down Oxford Terrace, through the Cashel Mall, down High Street to the corner with Tuam Street, and back up High Street to Colombo Street where it will join the existing circuit behind the cathedral.  The original plan for the second stage was a line running down the remainder of High Street, along Ferry Road, and terminating in a smaller loop around Barbados Street and Williams Street, but it has since been suggested that the line should run through the grounds of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
Construction began on the first stage in August 2009.  Much of this extension was complete prior to the February 2011 earthquake including the section through the Cashel Mall and along High Street from Colombo Street to Cashel Street.  The condition of the tracks has been assessed by the Council with a view to determining the future of the extension.
A significant portion of the stage 1 tramway extension opened to the public on 12 February 2015. The trams run the complete stage 1 extension route up to the High and Lichfield Street intersection, where the trams will then continue using the northbound track via a new set of points. Total route length has been increased to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi).
Christchurch tramway system