February Project Update
Our Cathedral has now been closed for 10 years. In 2016, a seismic assessment of St Mary's revealed that the building met only 16% of today's seismic standards. Since then, the estimated cost of remediation has steadily increased to over $20 million.
In 2024, the Cathedral's south wall was strengthened for $1 million. This work served as a test case to confirm the cost estimates, and the good news is, they were accurate. However, we could not proceed with strengthening the rest of the building at that time, as the full $20 million upfront was required - only partial funding had been secured.
In 2025, the government proposed new regulations for earthquake-prone buildings, adopting a "tiered risk mitigation" approach. The highest tier targets "unreinforced masonry and heavy-material buildings three storeys or higher" situated beside footpaths or State Highways. Unfortunately, the unreinforced Taranaki Cathedral sits just metres from a footpath on State Highway 45. As the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill currently stands, this leaves us in the top-tier category!
We have engaged a management group, RCP, to help define our next steps. RCP has worked with the Christchurch Cathedral and the restoration of the stone-walled Christchurch Arts Centre. They bring valuable expertise in stone buildings. RCP is currently reviewing our plan to identify cost-saving opportunities and develop a new staged remediation approach. This plan aims to make the building safe and to comply with current regulations and legislation. A new plan, including updated consents, is expected around Easter 2026 and will be reviewed by the Cathedral Commission and Diocesan Standing Committee.
Please visit here for detailed information about the project, including financial updates. We also invite you to view our new video exhibition, Lament & Hope, filmed by Katie Wolfe, featuring parishioners reflecting on the closure and changes. The mini documentaries are on display in Hatherly Hall, next to the Cathedral doors, where you can also glimpse the beginning of St Mary's restoration.
