"A campaign to save the Christchurch Cathedral begins today, featuring aerial images taken from a helicopter at 500 feet just two months ago, show that the building is not ruined."

"The Great Christchurch Building Trust is behind the campaign and says the new perspective shows that the historic building can be restored."

The Media Release is as follows:

22 August 2014

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT)

Our Cathedral is not a ruin

A campaign to save the Christchurch Cathedral begins today, featuring aerial images taken from a helicopter at 500 feet just two months ago, show that the building is not ruined.

The Great Christchurch Building Trust is behind the campaign and says the new perspective shows that the historic building can be restored.

The images present a different perspective to those usually shown from the front view, which portrays a dangerous looking building, beyond any possibility of restoration.

The new photos seen from above show the structure is intact with a roof as straight as a gun barrel.

The Great Christchurch Building Trust says no ratepayer contribution is needed to restore the building after available insurance and private funding is applied to the repair.

The Christchurch Cathedral is one of New Zealand’s most important Category One historic buildings.

“It is not a ruin. It can, based on reputable engineering advice, be restored for a cost-effective sum of around $67 million in five to seven years. No replacement Cathedral will be able to match the character and substance of this restored icon for a similar cost.

“We have little of our historic heritage left, but we can save our Cathedral. It is one of New Zealand’s most important historic Buildings. Our courageous forebears built this Cathedral with sacrifice and hard work.

“The people of Christchurch have established an emotional commitment to this historic, cultural and religious heart of our city. Tourists have been drawn to the central city square for years to enjoy the backdrop of images featuring the Christchurch Cathedral and its remarkable character,” the Trust says.

The campaign will put photos on display around Christchurch through billboards and flyers delivered to 72,000 households to show the Cathedral can be restored.

The Great Christchurch Building Trust is willing to lead the fund raising programme to pay for the restoration.

Contacts for Media: Philip Burdon 021-222 8846; Jim Anderton 021-777 680; Mark Belton 027-229 1483

Further documentation supporting how the Christchurch Cathedral can be restored is available at www.amazingcathedral.co.nz

Cathedral: symbol of Hope

• The Cathedral is not a ruin. The photos were taken from a helicopter at 500 feet just two months ago. The untouched photos, never before publicised, show the building with solid walls to the north, east and south, and a straight undamaged roofline.
• After available insurance and private funding is applied no ratepayer contributions will be required. For the money available, no replacement Cathedral will be able to match the character and substance of this restored icon.
• The Cathedral can be fully restored to meet the highest safety code required for public buildings in New Zealand.
• The Cathedral can be restored within 5-7 years.

Enclosed: GCBT booklet, Weekend Herald article by Jim Anderton, four page Household Brochure.

Key points regarding the restoration campaign

 

• The photos of the Christchurch Cathedral, taken from a helicopter at 500 feet just two months ago show a new perspective of the Cathedral,  which most Cantabrians have never seen.
• They support reputable New Zealand and international engineering opinion that the cathedral is far from a 'ruin' and can be safely repaired and restored to the highest code required for public buildings.
• After insurance receipts and private funding are included there will be no need for any ratepayers' contribution.
• The Christchurch Cathedral is one of New Zealand's most important Category One Historic Buildings. It can be restored for a cost effective sum of around $67 million within 5-7 years.
• No replacement Cathedral will be able to match the character and substance of this restored icon for a similar cost.
• We have lost a lot of our heritage buildings in Christchurch and any of those left, which we are reasonably able to save we should certainly  do so.
• We owe it to our courageous forebears who built the Cathedral, as well as to future generations, to do all we can to restore this iconic  building.
• The people of Christchurch have established an emotional commitment to this historic, cultural and religious heart of our city. Tourists have been drawn to the central city square for years to enjoy the backdrop of images featuring the Christchurch Cathedral and its remarkable character.
• We hope that Bishop Victoria and the Church Property Trustees will reconsider their opposition to restoration. If they do so, the restoration could start immediately. The GCBT will be willing to take responsibility for raising the remaining funds required for restoration.