The Christchurch City Council's finance and performance committee voted 12 to 0 on Tuesday — with two abstentions and three councillors opposed — to allocate $15 million of ratepayer funds toward the reinstatement of Christ Church Cathedral, contingent on the Crown contributing an equal amount and the Anglican Church demonstrating it can complete the full project.

The earthquake-damaged cathedral has sat in a holding pattern since 2024, when a $45 million funding shortfall brought active work to a standstill. The project's revised budget now sits at $219 million, after earlier cost blowouts pushed the original estimate to $248 million.

The vote came as part of a broader $35.8 million package carved from the council's $44.4 million forecast budget savings. Alongside the cathedral funding, the committee approved $15 million for the Canterbury Museum upgrade — plus a $28.6 million loan to be repaid over 25 years via an international visitor charge — and $4 million for the Christchurch School of Music.

Councillor Melanie Coker captured the sentiment driving the decision: 'We had an earthquake and it kept us out of the city, so it was like a break-up with the city that we knew and we never got it back again. We need to heal our broken heart.' Councillor Jake McLellan, who co-sponsored the proposal with committee chair Sam MacDonald, framed the funding as closing the book on Christchurch's earthquake legacy.

However, the conditional nature of the vote may prove its undoing. Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed the Government would not step in with further taxpayer funding, and both National and Labour told RNZ the country had more pressing priorities. The only political lifeline for the cathedral came from NZ First leader Winston Peters, who pledged $15 million in Crown funding — but only if his party forms part of the next government after November's election.

Critics, including broadcaster John MacDonald, called the council vote 'tone deaf,' arguing it was irrational to commit funds contingent on a government contribution the government had already explicitly ruled out. The 5,888 public submissions considered by the committee showed more opposition to further cathedral funding than for any of the other heritage buildings under consideration.

"We need to heal our broken heart. These buildings are a vital part of Christchurch's identity." — Cr Melanie Coker, Christchurch City Council