The government will not give $60 million to help rebuild Christ Church Cathedral. This means the project may stop for now. The cathedral project needed this money to cover an $85 million shortfall.
Last week, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said the central government needed to help to finish the rebuild. Earlier this year, the Anglican Church warned that costs had risen to nearly $250 million, resulting in a $114 million gap in the budget. This gap was later reduced to $85 million after changes were made to the project plans.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated that the government has already given $25 million to the project and helped speed up permits for the work. She said giving more taxpayer money for a project not owned by the public wouldn’t be justifiable, especially since the cathedral is a private, religious space.
Willis noted the positive work done by Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd and the Christchurch Property Trust to stabilize the building and control costs, but she understood the decision would be disappointing.
At a city council meeting, Councillor Sara Templeton suggested delaying the release of $7 million from a $10 million grant for project managers. Acting Mayor Pauline Cotter said the government’s decision would disappoint the restoration group and impact the area and private investors.
Mark Stewart, chairman of the restoration group, called the government’s choice “incredibly sad and disappointing.” He said the decision means finishing the project will take much longer, and mothballing the cathedral is now likely.
Stewart mentioned the board will meet on August 19 to discuss their options and plans. Meanwhile, the Christchurch City Council has agreed to release $7 million they had collected for the restoration, but they have asked to pause this funding until a new plan is decided.
This is a tough situation for Christchurch. As the city completes major projects, it is becoming a modern and lively place. Finishing the cathedral restoration would have been a significant achievement for the city.
