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The $12.8 million restoration and conservation of the historic St Patrick's Cathedral is finished, ready for a grand reopening this weekend.
After being shut for nearly two years, the cathedral is gearing up for the gala reopening during two days of celebrations, culminating in a free concert at 7pm on Saturday featuring 16 members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Dance and song performances from the Korean, Indian, Tongan and Samoan Catholic communities will be staged in St Patrick's Square between 10.30am and 1.30pm on Saturday, and Prime Minister Helen Clark will officiate at the public opening at 2pm.
The unreinforced-brick cathedral on Wyndham St has the highest historic protection from the Historic Places Trust and Auckland City, but its roof leaked up to 18 buckets of water a day, its walls were cracked, it suffered from rising damp and was a major earthquake risk.
In October 2005, extensive internal and external work began in a project spearheaded by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn, cathedral administrator Father Bernard Kiely and cathedral heritage appeal foundation chairman Gregory Shanahan.
Two years ago, the project was expected to cost $12 million and be finished by last Christmas.
But during the restoration, authorities struck problems: large internal arches needed strengthening and the central aisle had an ornate tiled mosaic pattern that had been hidden under carpet and lino.
So extra money was needed. Cathedral business manager Kevin Sherlock said yesterday that $10.9 million had already been raised to pay for the work and several fund-raising events were planned to meet the shortfall, including a raceday at Ellerslie on September 29.
During the work, church authorities wondered whether to further alter their plans after the tomb of Bishop George Lenihan was uncovered at the foot of the altar.
But a decision was taken to proceed with the original plan and cover up the highly decorated tomb again.
The cathedral now has a new tiled roof, a new altar carved from Spanish and Italian marble, and a restored bell tower. A fancy stained-glass rose window hidden at its eastern end has also been revealed.
But the biggest job was earthquake strengthening. Fletcher Construction rammed a new internal steel framework down through the old walls of the building, driving the rods both vertically and horizontally through the cathedral to brace it. Pits were also dug around the walls so new foundations could be laid.
* This Saturday: Free performances from 10.30am in St Patrick's Square off Wyndham St and reopening of the cathedral at 2pm.
