The pair were the last two cats left roaming the earthquake-damaged cathedral and the surrounding square after more than 25 cats were rescued from the area in the past two years. Read more

Reinstatement project director Keith Paterson said he was pleased work on the cathedral was getting underway.

He said the building and frame - which are not connected - were a dramatic reminder of what the city went through during the Christchurch earthquakes.

It was important people saw the project was progressing.

Once the frame and rubble are removed, it would be possible to get a closer look at that part of the building.

This would help decide what needed to be done next.

Sections of a 90-tonne crane essential for the frame's removal arrived on-site on Thursday.

Two cranes will be used to remove the rubble: one will have workers in a basket, while the other will use straps to carefully lift out pieces of rubble.

Paterson said some of the stonework was heritage material, so would need to be moved carefully before being documented and catalogued for the future.

He said the work signalled the end of the tidying up of the site, ready for the next stage to begin, although it was too early to put a realistic timeframe on how long the cathedral's restoration would take.

Paterson is an engineer with more than 30 years' experience. In November he was employed by Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCRL) as the Project Director for the reinstatement of Christchurch Anglican Cathedral.

He has worked for Beca from 1986 until recently in a variety of roles both in New Zealand and offshore.

He oversaw the firm's Canterbury rebuild projects and says the Cathedral project is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

CCRL is the charitable company set up to lead the reinstatement project.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

David Morrell, who is a canon emeritus of the cathedral and former city missioner, said there had been "zilch" progress since the church agreed to fix the central Christchurch building nine months ago. Continue reading

"To reinstate a very damaged building, so people can say 'we like the outside of it', seems to me somewhat misdirected.

"I wonder what an empty cathedral would be an icon of."

The retiring Anglican bishop of Christchurch New Zealand, Victoria Matthews put these question last year in an interview on National Radio's Checkpoint programme.

Matthews asked tough moral and theological questions that few in the secular world ever had to confront until earthquakes changed everything in Christchurch, according to an editorial in the Christchurch Press.

She asked how a church should serve its public, what its buildings are for and what its priorities should be.

In announcing her resignation Matthews said, "I'm not retiring and I'm not in ill health, I am merely following where my Saviour is leading me, wherever that may be."

The cathedral debate has been so dominant that Matthews' emphasis on community work and social justice has often been overlooked.

She said in 2008 that "it's all too easy in the First World to live in isolated splendour and I would like every Anglican to be deeply aware that they are brothers and sisters to people living in extraordinarily bad circumstances in other parts of the world".

A multimillion-dollar youth hub to address a rise in Christchurch youth homelessness and mental health issues is on the cards after years of battling to get the project off the ground.

Anglican Care, the Anglican Church's social service agency, stepped in to help last year and bought the old bowling club site on Salisbury St in central Christchurch for $4 million.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• anglicannews.org
• stuff.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: josephjohnson/stuff.co.nz

The ChristChurch Cathedral Restoration Trust will spearhead fundraising for, and delivery of, the restoration project.

Minister Woods says Mr Guthrey has been selected because of his governance, business and tourism experience, as well as, a longstanding connection to the Christchurch central city through ownership and operation of the Guthrey Centre in City Mall from 1988 to 2011. Continue reading

However, they have expressed regret at what they call the conduct of some aspects of the debate.

The church leaders say there is a great deal of concern about the sometimes vicious nature of the debate.

"Vitriol and personal attack add nothing of value to a decision-making process, and in fact demean all of us in the city," they say.

Their joint statement of support and concern comes after the Anglican Synod voted on options to replace Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.

A 55% majority voted this week to restore and rebuild. It will cost about $108 million.

Christchurch's Christian churches say the saga has been long and difficult. They say every Cantabrian must be aware of the angst and debate over the future of the building.

The church leaders say the decision to demolish or rebuild was for Anglicans to make. But many Christians have felt a stake in the matter, even from the sidelines.

They say many have prayerfully supported their Anglican brothers and sisters, their leaders, and Anglican Bishop, Victoria Matthews.

With the decision made, the churches say they express unequivocal support for the Anglican community. They look forward to seeing a building filled with people and praise again.

They say, "Christians are fallible humans… so we acknowledge our shortcomings. However, as followers in the footsteps of Jesus, we are glad to be called by God to bless the city with hope, joy, creativity, beauty and love."

Matthews, says she had supported demolition. But she says that a government's offer of funding had changed her mind.

She said a new Christ Church Anglican Cathedral should be ready within ten years.

Fr Rick Loughnan represented the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch on the group and Mike Stopforth the Catholic Bishop's Pastoral Office.

Source

• RNZ
• Catholic Diocese of Christchurch

Image: RNZ

Dalziel said the future of the cathedral had divided the city because the decision rested with the church, rather than the city.

Dalziel went on to clarify her statement, saying "to the church it is a religious building, but to the city it is more than that".

"It is the Christ Church Cathedral, it is a category 1 Heritage building [and] it sits at the heart of the city . . . it holds a very special place."

She reiterated her earlier warnings that a church decision not to save the cathedral would lead to "years of indecision".

Dalziel made the comment in Cathedral Square during last Sunday's launch of an 8.4 metre-tall model of the People's Steeple, built by United States master carpenter Marcus Brandt.

Brandt, who has the support of the Restore Christchurch Cathedral Group, wants to rebuild the collapsed Christ Church Cathedral spire in timber and hoist it into place using ropes, pulleys and 500 volunteers.

On September 9, the Anglican synod will vote on three options for the cathedral's future including, restoration, building a new church or handing it over to the Government to manage on behalf of citizens.

Asked if the Government wanted such a gift from the Anglican Church, Prime Minister Bill English said: "We'd have to consider what they think they mean by that".

Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner was a little more forthcoming. She said she was keen to hear more detail in order to better consider what it means for the Government.

She also said the funding model of the existing restoration option - including a $10m pledge from the Christchurch City Council, a Great Christchurch Buildings Trust pledge of $13.7m, a $10m Crown cash contribution, a $15m suspensory government loan and the church's insurance payout - would likely "have to remain the same".

Source

• Stuff
• Stuff
• NewsHub
• Image: Screen shot TVNZ

The new survey will be the latest in a long list of polls conducted in the city about the Christ Church Cathedral. There were two major surveys in 2013 and two more in 2014. Continue reading

The chair of the group Geoff Dangerfield said they were investigating how to "repair, restore and, in some parts, rebuild" the cathedral and were being "careful to ensure the building retains its external appearance as much as possible". Read More

He has been appointed one of eight trustees on the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch Church Property Trust (CPT).

Sutton (above) resigned from his role at Cera in November, 2014, after a senior staff member laid a sexual harassment complaint against him. Continue reading

Anglican diocese spokesman Jayson Rhodes said there would be no comment on the cathedral until a Government-appointed working party considering options for the damaged building reports back by December 7.

"The Diocese sees no need for any questions and answers regarding the Cathedral until there is a decision from the Cathedral Working Group," he wrote in an email. Continue reading

Prior to this announcement Ernest Duval was reported as saying,"Christchurch is an oddball place. The heavens open and there are these great announcements and then there is nothing. It is like the cone of silence and no one will talk to you,"

Duval, a developer, is City Owners Rebuild Entity chairman.

He said developers and landowners in Cathedral Square are waiting on a cathedral decision before starting to build.

He is of the opinion that the lack of action after the Government announcement last December has eroded trust in its rebuild leadership.

"It is like the boy who cried wolf."

Duval said the six-month wait for any news on how the Government intended to break the deadlock over the derelict cathedral was frustrating.

The Mediator

The Government last year appointed mediator Miriam Dean, QC, in an attempt to break the deadlock over the building. Anglican leaders had decided to demolish the cathedral. They planned to replace it with a modern building but those plans were caught up in legal challenges.

In December Church leaders and the Government announced that reinstating the cathedral was being considered. Campaigners expected announcement on how the deadlock would be resolved in April.

The Working Party

Now there is a further delay as the newly appointed working party has been asked to make its recommendation for the cathedral by November 28 and provide a report to the Government and church trustees by December 7.

The working party was formed last month, but announced this week by Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Gerry Brownlee.

The working party comprises of high profile Christchurch developer Alasdair Cassels, the man behind The Tannery shopping centre in Woolston, former Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority general manager Steve Wakefield, National Party regional chair Roger Bridge, former NZ Transport Agency head Geoff Dangerfield, and academic Sue McKenzie.

Developers continue to wait

Speaking before the announcement of the working party Duval said credence in statements has been diminished. "People wait for the hoardings to go up and the equipment to appear on site before they believe it. There is a loss of trust."

"It is very frustrating, but many people have just accepted that this is the new normal for Christchurch. You get these big statements, but there is no follow through."

Another property developer Miles Yeoman, said the his development plans were on hold. He owns the former Press building site in Cathedral Square. He says he had shelved hotel plans for now because there was not enough activity in the "barren wasteland" square.

And Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said recently announced plans for the convention centre made it more important to resolve the cathedral deadlock.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Sunday's 5.7 magnitude earthquake appeared to cause more of the historic cathedral to crumble and fall away from the steel props that have held up the front of the building for the past few years.

Reverend Jayson Rhodes, spokesman for the Anglican Church, said some Church Property Trustees had done a walk-by of the cathedral after the earthquake, but a thorough inspection had yet to be done. Continue reading

Plans for the future of Christchurch's iconic cathedral stalled in 2011 after Anglican leaders came out in support of plans to partially demolish the building.

They had faced ongoing opposition from heritage campaigners, particularly the Great Christchurch Building Trust (GCBT), which wanted the old cathedral to be fully restored.

Bishop Victoria Matthews made the announcement to a full house at the ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral on Hereford St on Thursday evening. Continue reading

A High Court judgment released on Wednesday said it was sufficient for the Church Property Trustees (CPT) to repay the $4 million it used from the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral insurance payout to construct the Transitional Cathedral near Latimer Square.

The CPT holds property on various trusts for the diocese.

The Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT)- a pressure group led by former MPs Jim Anderton and Philip Burdon took the CPT to court over the use of insurance money to build he Transitional Cathedral.

The CPT repaid the money with funds diverted from a trust account after an interim High Court judgment in 2012 said the $39m payout for the Christ Church Cathedral could only be used for work on the existing structure or its successor in the Square.

The Great Christchurch Buildings Trust believied the CPT should be penalised for its breach.

The CPT's lawyer Jeremy Johnson asked the court to rule on whether it was still an issue still an issue.

Source

• anglicantaonga.org.nz
• newstalkzb.co.nz
• Image: anglicantaonga.org.nz

The editorial explains how public reaction to the two Churches has differed and suggest the reason can be found in their history and current use.

Since the earthquakes, debate has raged about the Anglican cathedral in the Square but there has been relatively little controversy over the fate of its Catholic counterpart.

The relative heat in discussions about the two can be judged in the number of hits for the phrases "Christ Church Cathedral" and "Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament" in the electronic archive of The Press since 2011.

The Anglican cathedral rates more than 850 mentions; the Catholic one just 150.

The editorial suggests that the positions of the two buildings in the life of the city owe much to history, and particularly to the founding of Christchurch as a supposedly model Anglican settlement, in which the cathedral of that denomination - after much delay, it must be said - eventually took the central position.

This also had the effect of bestowing the Christ Church Cathedral with a secular and civic significance which is reflected in the passionate debate over its future.

The arguments surrounding it are roughly divided between these ecclesiastic and civic factions - lately more awkwardly expressed as the "churched" and the "unchurched".

The Catholic cathedral, on the other hand, although much admired for its architecture, was always predominantly a place of religious worship without parallel secular significance.

Source

• stuff.co.nz

Until now the church officials have single-mindedly advocated for the demolition of the cathedral and its replacement with a contemporary design on the basis of the impracticality of restoration, cost of repair and liturgical inconvenience of the current building. Continue reading

The Trust has released survey results showing more than half of Christchurch residents support restoration, 51 percent and 66 percent if privately-funded, which the Anglican Church estimates would cost $220 million.

But the Buildings Trust's Jim Anderton believes the church has factored in $115 million in inflation.

A member of the trust, the Reverend David Morrell, said the church should rethink its stance and engage with the wider community.

"If the church wishes to retain the respect - let alone the affection - of this city, it would be wise to reconsider its direction and engage in constructive dialogue with the town."

Survey findings:

• Based on no other information than the High Court ruling that a Cathedral must be built on the current site, 51 percent of those polled said a cathedral should be restored and 43 percent preferred demolition.
• Given the scenario of the costs of restoration or replacement being approximately the same and private donations rather than ratepayer donations meeting the funds needed after insurance cover, the majority preferring restoration increased to 66 percent versus 30 percent preferring demolition.
• Although the Anglican Church may officially own the Christ Church Cathedral, 77 percent of those questioned thought they should have a say about its future.
• 68 percent felt restoration would boost the morale of Christchurch residents.
• 86 percent of respondents said the Cathedral was a vital part of Christchurch's history and heritage, despite its presently damaged condition.
• 92 percent said Christ Church Cathedral had always been a vital part of Christchurch's history and heritage.

Some 1000 people were surveyed, and the poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: playbacktheatre.org

Sir Miles Warren has been working on detailed plans for a cathedral enabling much of the building's exterior to be saved and a timber construction created inside.

The slate roof would be replaced with copper. The upper part of the tower would also be replaced with timber and copper. Continue reading

See also: Cathedral Wars Heat Up

They got another court win late last week and are now basically allowed to get on with the demolition, as in deed they should.

The cathedral has turned into one of those heated overly emotive debates that becomes counter-productive and saps energy time and money.

I don't doubt for one moment that those who oppose its demise aren't passionate or determined or indeed think they're right. But a couple of key things are at play.

Firstly, it's not their church. Secondly, the courts have failed to side with them.

Of course the church's role in Christchurch society goes well beyond its ownership.

Having grown up in the place, I am not Anglican but I always felt the cathedral was the city's.

I've been in it many times, I've climbed to the top of it many times. But despite that, I have never felt as though I owned it or that I had any more say than anyone else, and certainly not as much say as those who do own it - i.e. the church.

Christchurch has a lot of big fish to fry and they'll be doing that for many years to come.

And part of that scenario working out requires people to be reasonable in their approach to any given major decision.

Decisions like the city centre, the convention centres, the sports facilities, the general design - all of those big calls require input but not to the point where it becomes a fight and a delay.

The cathedral debate falls smack into the middle of that category. Continue reading.

Mike Hosking presents the breakfast show on NewsTalkZB, and has lived and worked in Christchurch, Wellington, currently based in Auckland.

Source: NewsTalkZB

Image: Joshua Drummond