Iconic New Zealand structure to be demolished after quake

[Candlelight]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6509814/Christ-Church-Cathedral-to-be-pulled-down

Quake-ravaged Christ Church Cathedral will be pulled down, Bishop Victoria Mathews confirmed today.
The central-city icon was badly damaged in last year's deadly February 22 earthquake and church insiders had earlier said there was little appetite to rebuild or restore it.
However, heritage campaigners had been pushing for a moratorium on any decision surrounding the Anglican cathedral.
Mathews said the Cathedral would be carefully deconstructed down to a level of approximately 2-3 metres in order to meet safety requirements and allow the safe retrieval of taonga and heritage items which could then be stored and protected until decisions about a new Cathedral were made.
"There will be no bulldozers or wrecking balls, on the job," Mathews said.

Very sad. I used to walk past it everyday when I lived there.

 

[sojourner]

Interesting that they didn't mention the age of the church in the article. How old is it?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Oh that is terrible, terrible

 

[Amaris]

I knew it before I read it. A shame.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Interesting that they didn't mention the age of the church in the article. How old is it?

The cathedral took from 1864 to 1904 to build. This link mentions that it has been damaged by earthquakes on several occasions.

 

[MHT1138]

That is very sad, hopefully they rebuild it and in a way that respects the original style. And preferably in an earthquake resistant way.

 

[Gov Kodos]

It is sad to see historic structures damaged, but with funding and care taken in deconstruction, I'm sure it can be rebuilt to its past self. Perhaps, this news will help bring in the attention and money needed to do it.