Poll: What should happen to the Christ Church Cathedral?

Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Bishop Peter Carrell and Mark Stewart, chairperson of ChristChurch Cathedral Reinstatement Limited, walk through Christ Church Cathedral last week.

Christchurch’s iconic landmark - the Christ Church Cathedral - has been back in the headlines after the rebuild team revealed it will mothball the project if it can’t find $30 million by August.

The cathedral was significantly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake. The church originally decided to demolish it, but a legal campaign was mounted to prevent that.

Restoration began in 2020 with $25m of central government funding, $10m from Christchurch ratepayers and $33m from insurance. There has also been $24m worth of donations.

Christchurch Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd (CCRL) announced on Saturday the rebuild cost has jumped 55% - from $160m to $248m - mostly because the work had been more complex than first expected. The project finish date has also been pushed out by four years, from 2027 to 2031.

CCRL chairperson Mark Stewart said they were more than a third of the way through the project and he was confident they could raise $26m from New Zealand and overseas.

Christ Church Cathedral in 2008, before it was significantly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake.

What do you think should happen to the cathedral now? Vote below in our unscientific poll, and email your suggestions to reporters@press.co.nz