Earthquake-ravaged Christchurch has been highlighted as a global superpower that will help shape the next century.
An influential US magazine has ranked Christchurch alongside New York and Singapore as one of the world's top 10 cities to watch.
Foreign Policy magazine has revealed its list of 16 cities most worth watching, which was compiled by Harvard University economist Edward Glaeser and Columbia University sociologist Saskia Sassen.
Christchurch came in at number nine, flanked by Sao Paulo and London.
Mr Glaeser wrote of the city: "A massive rebuilding effort following this year's New Zealand earthquake is a unique opportunity to rethink urban form.''
Singapore headed the list and was described as being, "surely the world's best-managed city''.
"It's always worth watching what they are up to because they provide a clear model for much of the world,'' Glaeser said.
The recently-troubled Greek capital of Athens rated at number five, with the authors stating: "The urban heart of Western civilization and the center of the current chaos that buffets the European Union. What happens in Greece once again affects us all.''
At number seven on the list, New York "still matters''.
"Protests on Wall Street. A new science campus on Roosevelt Island. There is plenty worth watching,'' Glaeser said.
The top 10 urban centres that will shape the next century are: Singapore (Singapore), Gurgaon (India), Cairo (Egypt), Hong Kong/Shenzhen (China), Athens (Greece), Vancouver (Canada), New York (United States), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Christchurch (New Zealand) and London (Britain).
