24 April 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

NZHPT Board calls for pause on Cathedral deconstruction

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) Board has called for an immediate pause to deconstruction work on the ChristChurch Cathedral.

At their meeting in Wellington last week (subs: 19 April) the Board resolved to support the retention of as much of the Cathedral’s heritage fabric as possible and called for a pause to any further deconstruction work.

The Board is repeating the NZHPT’s strong concern of the Anglican Church leaders’ decision in early March 2012 to undertake the most destructive of options to make safe the Cathedral.

NZHPT Board Chair, Shonagh Kenderdine said the Board recognised the Cathedral’s historic and heritage significance and its sense of place in Cathedral Square. In the interim the Board said the Cathedral should be supported and fenced off for public safety.

“The Board recognises and respects the difficult decision made by the Church.

“However, our engineering report by respected structural engineer Win Clark, who is Executive Director of the Society of Earthquake Engineers, and other reports by seismic engineering experts indicate that the Cathedral can be retained in a greater form than what Church leaders believe. It is a question of time and money, and time needs to be taken to find the necessary money.

“ChristChurch Cathedral defines the city and province. It is a landmark that the whole community and visitors have an affinity with and is connected to, be it spiritual, physical, visual or emotional.”

The NZHPT Board comprises Shonagh Kenderdine (Chair), Sir Tumu te Heuheu, Ian Athfield, Anna Crighton, Naida Glavish, David Kiddey, Brian McGuinness, Dr Apirana Mahuika and Allan Matson.
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