Rebuilding the cathedral requires government help – mayor

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says central government must step up and ensure the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral is completed.

Earlier this year, the Anglican Church announced that the Christ Church Cathedral renovation project could be put on hold as the cost of the rebuild had risen to almost $250 million, resulting in a budget shortfall of $114 million.

After a six-hour synod, the church agreed to lower seismic reinforcements and roll back some elements of the original plan, reducing the shortfall to $85 million.

On Wednesday, Christchurch City Council will discuss providing $7 million for the project. Mauger told RNZ it should be a formality.

“We have a target of $10 million. We gave them three, we owe them seven, we should have given them seven because that was part of it. Some people will say, ‘no, you shouldn’t have because it was supposed to be given right at the end.’ We collected the seven under the pretext that we were giving it to the cathedral, so that’s how it should be.”

Mauger called the cathedral the “last missing piece” in the city’s reconstruction and the help of the central government was needed to complete the project.

“The most important thing is to get it done so people can enjoy it,” he said.

“But the other thing is that we can’t do anything until the government comes to the party. And from what I understand, (the project team) is working very closely with the government, and it will be interesting to see what comes of it.”

Mauger said a decision is expected in September.

Carolyne Grant, campaigns director for the Christ Church Cathedral Restoration Project, confirmed the Government had been approached about the matter.

“Talks have taken place and are ongoing, there is nothing official to announce at this stage.”

The Treasury said it would ultimately be a Cabinet matter.

“We can confirm that the Christ Church Reinstatement Project has written to the government to request additional funding to rebuild the cathedral. The Cabinet Office will consider the request,” a Treasury spokesman said.

Mauger told RNZ the council could not provide additional funding for the project without consulting the community.

“There’s nothing we can do. If we were to extend that $10 million target, we’d have to consult on that because we’d get shot.”

The original estimate was for 2031, but the church said completion of the cathedral is not certain until an $85 million deficit is addressed.

This shortfall assumed further fundraising and contributions from the church. A proposal to inject $16.2 million through the sale of land and church buildings was also agreed to at the June synod.