A new $15 million council grant to help finish the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral is up in the air, as the Government refuses to contribute.
The Christchurch City Council approved the support today, but said it would only pay it if the Government matches the funding.
But tonight, the Finance Minister told 1News there won’t be any further taxpayer money.
"The Government has already contributed $25 million to the reinstatement of the Christchurch Cathedral as part of an $18 billion investment in the Christchurch rebuild."
In a statement, Nicola Willis said Cabinet considered a request for more money last year, and declined it.
"Christchurch, and the country as a whole, has many pressing infrastructure needs competing for public investment," she said.
"In declining the Cathedral’s funding ask, we noted that the requested amount represented a significant contribution for a building that would not be owned by the public, and where public use could be limited due to the Cathedral being a private, religious space.”
The restoration has been on hold since 2024, with a $45 million funding shortfall.
1News approached Christchurch City Council for a response to the Minister's latest statement.
A spokesperson said it hadn't yet been contacted by the Government.
The council's additional funding for the cathedral was part of a wider $34 million package it agreed on today, with other money going to the Christchurch School of Music and the Canterbury Museum.
The grants have come from the council's savings.
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