There’s been limited progress on the cathedral since we were last here… Work started in 2020, but paused in August 2024 as costs soared and the request of a further $60 million from government was not granted. 14 years on from the devastating earthquakes can’t help thinking the decision to rebuild was unwise… 

It might have been better to have agreed part or complete demolition and to have built a more contemporary / flexible building/ space… In retrospect it certainly would have been cheaper.