REMEDIATION PROJECT UPDATE

6 June 2024

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Hello to you all. I trust this project update finds you well, with the firewood stacked and the heat pump primed as we face another spectacular winter. The snow this week on the maunga has been a lovely sight.

In March we announced a pause on the remediation work of the Cathedral due to a lack of funds. Other than the obvious case of being cash-poor, the decision to postpone remediation work was difficult because we were acutely aware of jeopardising the remaining Kānoa MBIE funds (originally the Provincial Growth Fund). 

Therefore, with sadness, we notify our parish and project supporters that the remaining $2.75m of Crown money (from $5.75m) dedicated to cathedral remediation has been removed. The agreement with Kānoa required us to secure the total build cost by March 31, 2024. However, in February we had a significant church underwrite withdrawn which left us considerably short and unable to meet the deadline. For full details on our project finance and expenditure, please visit https://www.taranakicathedral.nz/strengthening.

So where does this leave us now? Our current shortfall, based on February 2024 costings now leaves a $11.25m shortfall. Knowing that inflation will increase the current price, realistically we project at least a further $13m is needed to re-engage contractors by the August 2025 to enable a start in March 2026. This is our new and ever-shifting goal. Our little parish of St Mary’s is reinvigorating fundraising initiatives, while the Taranaki Cathedral Commission, our governance body, continues to seek and explore significant contributions.

I have just returned from the UK where I had the privilege of exploring several Cathedrals. One thing that I did not know previously about the UK was the constant migration of tribes and tongues that moved in, out and around that landscape. Each time, many of the cathedrals were brutally vandalised at best, and in some cases destroyed at worst. In other words, the sacred spaces of England–those that have functioned like a marae for their people–have had anywhere from three-to-four epochs of forced change. Taranaki Cathedral is currently experiencing her first. History has proven that change is inevitable. It also proves the perpetual resilience of communities to rebuild spaces of collective sacredness. Therefore, even though the costs increase, the significance of remediating our little stone Cathedral fervently remains.

We would like to thank all who have given to date. Your investments have been invaluable as we continue to add to them and see our remediation project through.

Arohanui,

The Very Rev. Jay Ruka
Dean of Taranaki Cathedral