Restoration

When the Christchurch earthquake struck in February 2011, the tower of the Cathedral collapsed, with much damage elsewhere in the building. Early reports said that a bus party of 20 Japanese tourists were in the tower at the time. The Search and Rescue Team had to demolish a further area to gain access. It was a relief that no bodies were found.

After many years of legal wrangling, the Cathedral is about to be restored at an estimated cost of $140 million. The project will take 7-10 years to complete,