CATHEDRAL STRENGTHENING PROJECT

THE CATHEDRAL BUILDING IS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION

St Mary's Community meets across the road at The Peace Hall. See our St Mary’s section for more information.

FAQs, as of March 2024

WHY IS THE CATHEDRAL WORTH RESTORING?

The Cathedral sits in the heart of New Plymouth on the ancient site of Pūkākā Pā. Taranaki Cathedral is New Zealand's oldest stone church and built of Taranaki Andesite, a volcanic rock from Taranaki Maunga. The first stones for the church were laid in 1845 (much of which was sourced from Kawaroa reef) and all successive additions up to 1907 were constructed using the same construction method. It is a visual reminder of our shared history shaped by our local landscape, intrinsically linked to Taranaki and the stories of who we are, where we have come from and where we are going. Taranaki Cathedral is listed as a Category 1 Heritage building.

WHY IS THE CATHEDRAL CLOSED?

A Detailed Seismic Assessment (DA) undertaken in 2014 by Holmes Consulting found Taranaki Cathedral to be an earthquake-prone building. In 2016 the Cathedral was closed due to strengthening requirements.

As a Category 1 Heritage building, all changes to the exterior of the church have to be approved by Heritage NZ and the New Plymouth District Council. The aim is to minimise the visual impacts of the strengthening by doing most of the work above the beautiful timber ceiling and within or under the stone walls. This requires careful and challenging deconstruction work and then reconstruction after the strengthening elements are added.

WHAT IS THE OVERALL PROJECT?

As we discussed the best solution to restrengthen and restore the Cathedral building, it became evident how important the building is for the community at large. We also came to understand that our shared history required more than just strengthening a building, there is an opportunity for restoration of the entire site. Our history on this land is deep and complicated, but our story began as a beautiful shared space with Mana Whenua and the first European settlers. Because of this, it was essential that we imagine and plan our site developments with Ngāti Te Whiti, keeping the broader objective of reconciliation at the forefront.

After many conversations, the project team planned the development of three connected buildings: The Cathedral, The Vicarage, and Te Whare Hononga. This project has been a catalyst for peace and reconciliation, community building, and collaboration.

In 2019 we began building Te Whare Hononga and restoring The Vicarage. These buildings were completed in early 2023 and are now a busy hub of learning and hospitality. Our restoration journey is underway!

The overall project is a total refocussing of the Cathedral which is made up of multiple aspects: 

• Turning the Cathedral site into an education resource of honest history and audacious hope  

• Moving and upgrading the Vicarage for Te Manu Hononga: Sir Paul Reeves Centre  (completed in 2023)

• Creating Te Whare Hononga to give visibility to Ngāti Te Whiti and provide exceptional education experience (opened to the Public April 2023)

• The remediation of New Zealand’s oldest stone church – earthquake strengthened and designed to make the space more flexible and comfortable for contemporary worship and to reflect our bi-cultural journey. (Ongoing. Strengthening test on southern wall completed March 2024)

Phase 1 (Completed April 2023) Renovation of Vicarage; Building Te Whare Hononga; 2/3 of Exhibition Build. 

Phase 2 (Ongoing) Strengthening (Remediation) of The Cathedral (Heritage 1 Building). In September 2023, we began a strengthening test on the southern wall of the Cathedral and was completed in March 2024. This test phase was a chance to de-risk the project for both us and the contractor, to get a far greater understanding of the work processes needed and to provide time for funds to be secured. 

WHY WASN’T THE CATHEDRAL STRENGTHENED FIRST?

The renovation of the Vicarage and the building of Te Whare Hononga (Phase One) were completed before the Cathedral was strengthened because we had the total funding to sign the contract for that phase. It meant work within the broader project could begin sooner, instead of delaying because of the need to secure funds for the total remediation budget. Also, a broader vision of reconciliation and education has been a large motivation behind much of the funds received to date, especially from TOI Foundation and the Crown. For instance, two million from Kānoa was given specifically for Phase One of the project. 

The Cathedral remediation has been underway behind the scenes since 2016, with planning, consultation, consent and the strengthening test (which was $1.1m). As of March 2024, $2m has already been spent on Cathedral remediation.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS?

The total cost of the project is $28.8m. The total cost of the project includes Te Whare Hononga, the Vicarage, the exhibition, professional fees, consents, the strengthening test and complete remediation of the Cathedral.  Of that total cost, $21.4m is for the remediation of the Cathedral’s stone building.  See below for full breakdown of project costs. 

WHY DO THE COSTS KEEP GOING UP?

In 2019 early engineering solutions put the cost of strengthening the Cathedral in the order of $10m.

In 2023 we were advised that the cost to remediate the Cathedral had increased to $16m.

As of March 2024 the cost has increased from $16m to $21.4m. There are three principal reasons for the latest increase: 

• Completion of a strengthening test on the southern wall of the Cathedral has indicated a longer timeframe needed. More time = more money.

• There have been inflationary-based increases in subcontractor pricing since 2023 by around 60% of the subcontractors. 

• One critical contractor increased their price by $700k. 

As all funds needed for the project have not yet been secured, we cannot lock in the contractor’s March 2024 pricing offer. This means there is a possibility of further cost increases.

HAVE THERE BEEN FUNDING SETBACKS?

Yes, two financial mechanisms we had in place in 2023 are now no longer options: a church trust underwrite of $6m is no longer available and the remaining cost is now too large for an immediate underwrite from another trust, but we have confirmed their commitment to a loan of $7m. 

WHERE HAVE FUNDS COME FROM?

Taranaki Cathedral has been fortunate to receive funds from various sources over the years for the project, including the Anglican church, MBIE Kānoa, Toi Foundation, New Plymouth District Council, Lotteries & Heritage New Zealand, the George Mason Trust, and the wider Taranaki community. Taranaki Cathedral is deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to date.

HOW HAVE COMMUNITY DONATIONS BEEN USED? (as of March 2024)

St Mary’s Parish, the New Plymouth Community and other individuals have donated $1,758,600. Those funds have been used to start the remediation work on the Cathedral’s Heritage 1 building. Donations received for the stain-glass windows and organ restoration have been set aside for that purpose. Full funding breakdown in the table below. 

Note:

• Professional fees and consents (incurred since 2016) across the total project come to $1.3m

• As of March 2024, the strengthening test of the cathedral building has cost $700,000, with a total expected cost of $1.1m once invoicing is finally submitted and paid. 

• As of Februrary 2024 over 2 million dollars has been spent specifically on the Cathedral remediation.

HOW IS THE CATHEDRAL BEING STRENGTHENED?

The Cathedral’s stone walls are comprised of an inner and outer layer, with a space between that is filled with loose rubble or stone offcuts. Overall the walls are typically 750mm (30") thick. There are no reinforcing or steel bars linking the stones together or the inner layer to the outer layer. This sort of construction is referred to as Unreinforced Masonry (URM) and creates unique problems for engineers.

Strengthening the walls involves a specialised grout being injected into the cavity between the massive walls to strengthen them. Pins are then inserted within the thick stone walls into new concrete foundations. The buttresses are pinned through to the central core of the walls and a concrete beam is poured along the top of the stone walls with fixings to connect the timber trusses to the walls.

Additional foundation work must be done alongside and under the walls at the eastern end. Careful hand excavation will be required to minimise ground disturbance.

The existing slates must be removed from the roof to allow a plywood sheet diaphragm to be fixed in place over the timber ceiling. A web of steel frames will be laid over the existing timber trusses before a new slate roof is installed. The new roof will end up 40mm higher - hardly noticeable to the naked eye but needing careful detailing at the gutter and gable ends.

After the work is done the sanctity of Taranaki Cathedral will be enhanced, with sensitive strengthening and interior modifications - designed to make the space more flexible and comfortable for contemporary worship and to reflect our bi-cultural journey. Taranaki Cathedral would like to extend special thanks to Clelands for their support, commitment to the project and their successful work thus far. 

WHAT IS THE FUNDING PLAN?

The current funding effort is to complete the Phase 2 work of remediation, deferred maintenance, and upgrade of the Cathedral. Our current funds leave us $8.4m short and we cannot continue Phase 2 until these funds are secured. 

• In order to secure the remaining $2.75m of grant funding from MBIE Kānoa for the project, we must provide evidence of the funding secured to meet any shortfall.  We are in discussion with Kānoa regarding this but are aware that as we cannot provide this information by their deadline we may lose this funding. 

• We will be communicating with other funders and donators to the project to date regarding the pause of Phase 2 and working with them individually on next steps. 

WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME?

In 2021, The Taranaki Anglican Trust Board (TATB) began The Project by renovating the vicarage and building Te Whare Hononga. At the time, there were insufficient funds to undertake the remediation of the Cathedral. 

In September 2023 remediation work began on the Cathedral. With the experience of the strengthening test completed March 2024, the contractor now feel there is at least a minimum of 24 months of work remaining to complete the work on the Cathedral. The remaining work is not able to be done until we raise the funds to cover the budget shortfall. We are working to secure funds so that the Cathedral’s remediation (Phase 2) can continue by April 2026 subject to contractor availability, with the hope of the projection completed by May 2028.

 April 2024 to April 2025: 

• Continue the conversation with key church organisations to secure pathways for funding 

• Continue to develop Taranaki Cathedral’s commitment to peace and reconciliation through our Treaty-inspired governance and working with iwi

• Continue to develop the educational work of Te Manu Hononga: Sir Paul Reeves Centre

April 2025 to April 2026: 

• Confirm sources of funding  

• Project a date to continue the remediation work 

WHO MANAGES THE PROJECT?

The Cathedral Remediation Project Management Group (PMG) will continue to exist with delegated authority from the governing body of the Taranaki Cathedral (“the Commission”) and reports monthly in that capacity. Activity levels of the PMG will continue to be assessed as the funding process develops. 

The PMG membership consists of: 

• John Eagles, Chair, Taranaki Anglican Trust Board (TATB) 

• Jenny Goddard, Project Manager 

• Barbara Brockie, Treasurer & Secretary 

• Graeme Fairclough, Ngāti te Whiti representative 

• Julie Otene, Parish representative 

• Very Rev. Jay Ruka, Dean, Taranaki Cathedral 

• Rev. Dan Lander, Precentor, Taranaki Cathedral 

• Frances Brown, Operations Manager, Taranaki Cathedral 

PLANS FOR THE OTHER BUILDINGS?

Peace Complex (Across the street from the Cathedral)

There has been no further update from the NPDC as to the heritage status potential of the Peace complex. We will continue to gather as a community with the regular Sunday services in the Peace Hall and other activities in the Peace Lounge. The St Mary’s Op Shop remains open. 

Hatherly Hall 

Vivian Street driveway will be sealed and Hatherly Hall will be reopened for use until the work to earthquake-strengthen the Cathedral can continue.  The reception office is still located downstairs, with access from the courtyard. The upstairs chapel is used for mid week services.