Blog

Tennent Brown architects Hugh Tennent (far left) and Brenda Solon (far right) met with members from the parish and Ngāti Te Whiti hapū on site recently as part of the planning process. Wellington firm Tennent Brown Architects have been chosen to help give form to plans for peace and reconciliation at Taranaki Cathedral. Their appointment comes as momentum behind The Cathedral Project – A Taranaki Taonga project builds and preparations for a major community fundraiser continue. Fundraising for the $15m... read more

Phil and Robyn Hinton present the works Salt Peanuts by Aaron Waghorn to Terry Parkes ready to go under the hammer at The Great Collectables Road Show and Auction to be held on 3 May 2019 at the Plymouth Hotel. The artworks could either be bought as a pair or individually. Phil and Robyn Hinton are delighted to donate to the Cathedral Project – A Taranaki Taonga as part of their big picture thinking for Taranaki. The couple recently donated... read more

The Cathedral Project has received a $500,000 grant from Lottery Environment and Heritage for the earthquake strengthening and development of Taranaki Cathedral. “This is fantastic news and a real boost as we head into 2019 – a year during which we aim to begin work on our $15 million project,” The Cathedral Project fundraising lead Cathy Thurston said. “We thank the Lottery Environment and Heritage committee for their much appreciated support, which greatly acknowledges the regional and national significance of... read more

So where should the light switches be in our re-opened cathedral? That is one of the questions our electrical engineers have asked. Seems simple enough, but with all the wiring being renewed – yes the cathedral is being literally re-energised - there are opportunities to rethink the positions of our distribution boards and switches to ensure they are less intrusive elements in our stone church. Electric lighting was probably installed in the church in the early 1900s and replaced gas pillar... read more

Warren Boys and Ian Roebuck, of Ian Roebuck Crane Hire, remove the northen gable cross at Taranaki Cathedral. Having sat atop Taranaki Cathedral for more than 100 years, it was perhaps understandable that the large stone cross looking out over New Plymouth clung on for as long as possible. The cross, on the northern gable facing Vivian Street, was removed today as part of the preparatory work for the earthquake strengthening of the historic church. All the crosses on top... read more

One of the stone crosses that sits atop Taranaki Cathedral will be removed early tomorrow morning. The Cathedral Project design and remediation manager Jenny Goddard said the cross, which is on the northern gable and faces Vivian Street, could be a safety concern and would be taken down by crane. “As part of the earthquake-strengthening of the building, it has always been planned for the crosses on top of the cathedral to be removed and then reinstated when the remediation is... read more

Matt Cathcart, left, and Toa MacDonald, of Clelands Construction, excavate the foundations of Taranaki Cathedral’s oldest wall, which was built in 1846. The Cathedral Project is digging into the church’s past to ensure there is a strong base on which to build the cathedral’s future. Excavation investigation work of the 172-year-old building’s foundations is being undertaken as part of the project to earthquake strengthen and refurbish the historic cathedral – New Zealand’s oldest stone church. “The project’s engineers, Holmes Consulting,... read more

An open and honest telling of Taranaki Cathedral’s past will help more people understand the church’s role in the region’s turbulent history, Cathedral Project fundraising lead Cathy Thurston says. The $15 million remediation of Taranaki Cathedral and enhancement of the site includes a world-class welcoming atrium space, which will incorporate professionally curated displays, multi-media resources and audio visual guides, recounting the church’s history and its role in the relationship between Maori and Pakeha over 175 years. “We believe this development will... read more

Hours of dedication, bundles of cotton swabs and plenty of patience will be needed to return Taranaki Cathedral’s stained glass windows to their former splendour. As part of the Taranaki Cathedral remediation and development project, the church’s array of stained glass windows, many of which have deteriorated over time, will be restored, bringing out the details and colours the artists intended. “As far as we are aware, they have had minimal maintenance over the years and a number are failing,” Cathedral... read more

Like a harmonious choir, the successful remediation of Taranaki Cathedral is dependent on all parts being in tune. One of those is the building’s renowned acoustics. With Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary to host a wide range of arts, music and drama events once earthquake-strengthened, as well as regular church services, weddings and funerals, it is important that the acoustics are not adversely impacted by proposed modifications. Working on this are acousticians Daniel Protheroe and Arthur Postles, of Marshall Day... read more