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 remediation cost has steadily risen 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 because the full $20 million was required upfront. 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, leaving us in the top-tier category.

We have engaged a new project management group, RCP, to 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, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and developing a staged approach. We've asked them for a simpler plan that complies with current law, makes the building safe, and anticipates the new law.

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.