Christ Church Cathedral update expected in a ‘matter of weeks’

Saturday, 4 November 2023

The Christ Church Cathedral restoration project is undergoing a full review, after reaching a major milestone earlier this year.

In March, community leaders and workers gathered inside the cathedral for the first time since the February 2011 earthquake to mark the completion of the stabilisation phase.

However, no update on the $160 million project has been received since.

Keith Paterson, the project director Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd (CCRL), the charitable company managing the work, was unable to provide a full update this week, but he acknowledged one was needed.

He said the restoration group would be in a position to provide an update “in a matter of weeks”, with a full review currently being finalised.

“Re-entry was a critical project milestone that enabled further extensive investigation and consideration of the work required to strengthen and reinstate the cathedral,” Paterson added.

He said that comprehensive assessment was nearing completion and would initially form the basis of briefings to key people and groups.

“It is at this point we will have the necessary updated information and full context to answer your questions and brief the wider community.”

In March, CCRL said the next phase of the project would be to strengthen and restore the main cathedral and rebuild the collapsed tower, followed by starting construction on a new visitors’ centre in 2025.

CCRL chairperson Mark Stewart also confirmed in March that restoration of the cathedral was on track to be completed in 2027.

At that point, the company still needed to raise $50m for the project.

Stewart said at the time he was confident the money could be found.

“These things are always a challenge. We will be fundraising right up to the last minute that we are reconstructing this building.”

He said the work was staged and it was in no danger of stopping.