AusLeisure

An agreement between the New Zealand Government, the Anglican Church and heritage groups is likely to see work begin on the rebuilding of Christchurch’s cathedral in the coming weeks.

The future of the Christ Church cathedral - which has sat damaged and derelict since the 2011 Canterbury earthquake - has been the the subject of considerable debate over the past seven years.

However, with the Anglican Church’s Synod voting to restore the cathedral as of last September, a joint venture between the Church Properties Trust (CPT) and the New Zealand Government has been agreed.

The Government-brokered funding package to reinstate the cathedral is budgeted to cost $104 million, with funds sourced from Government and council grants and loans, and the church's $42m insurance proceeds.

Announcing the agreement, Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods stated "I think one of things the people of Christchurch are looking forward to is seeing momentum around that building.”

Christchurch-based investment banker Justin Murray has been appointed as the independent chair of the joint venture - Christchurch Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCRL).

Murray stated “the early works will be around site preparation, and as you can image it is not a small project, but we want to get under way with that

"I don't think there will be stonemasons on site for many months, because that preparation work needs to be done first.”

The decision to restore the cathedral has been described as a significant catalyst for the Christchurch economy by ChristchurchNZ General Manager of Destination and Attraction Loren Heaphy.

Stating that the announcement delivers long-awaited certainty for the city, Heaphy “this announcement provides greater clarity around the future of our Cathedral, which will have a knock-on effect on encouraging ongoing private sector investment in our city.

“In its current form, the cathedral continues to represent a broken Christchurch, which is inconsistent with our new and vibrant city centre.

“A restored cathedral will create vibrancy for our residents while attracting visitors and encouraging people to reconnect with our central city.”

Heaphy added “restoring this much-loved city symbol sends a message to the world that Christchurch is a city that embraces its history while at the same time championing modern, fit-for-purpose infrastructure and a high standard of living.” 

27th April 2018 - NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO SEPARATE CHRISTCHURCH’S NEW SPORTS FACILITIES

13th September 2017 - EARTHQUAKE-DAMAGED CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL TO BE REBUILT

10th August 2017 - NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE INDUSTRY WELCOMES CHRISTCHURCH CONVENTION CENTRE BUILD 

4th July 2017 - CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL REPAIRS ON TRACK FOR MID 2018 COMPLETION

1st June 2017 - CHRISTCHURCH CENTRE DESIGNS REVEAL WORLD-CLASS VENUE 

22nd February 2017 - CHRISTCHURCH’S REGENERATION SHOWCASED AT AIME 2017

24th July 2016 - ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL RECOGNISED AT CANTERBURY HERITAGE AWARDS

29th June 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH READY TO RETURN AS A LEADING BUSINESS EVENT HUB 

13th June 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL REPAIR A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH

19th December 2015 - CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY REOPENS AFTER MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR REPAIR PROJECT 

18th December 2015 - CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE $635 MILLION POST-EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT

3rd December 2015 - CALLS FOR BUILDING OF NEW CHRISTCHURCH CONVENTION CENTRE TO BE EXPEDITED 

25th July 2015 - REVAMPED JAMES HAY THEATRE TO HOST PERFORMANCES FROM CHAMBER MUSIC TO ROCK

12th June 2015 - GO AHEAD FOR $127.5 MILLION RESTORATION OF CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL

7th December 2014 - CHRISTCHURCH’S ‘GRAND OLD LADY’ IS BACK

27th November 2013 - CHRISTCHURCH REVEALS PLANS FOR TOWN HALL AND PERFORMING ARTS PRECINCT

27th November 2012 - LONELY PLANET RATES CHRISTCHURCH A ‘MUST SEE’

29th September 2012 - CAMPAIGN PLANS TO CHANGE TOURISTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF CHRISTCHURCH

22nd February 2011 - TRAGEDY AS 6.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS CHRISTCHURCH

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.