Prime Minister Bill English. Photo / Marty Melville
Prime Minister Bill English. Photo / Marty Melville
Bill English's new Cabinet heard proposals on the earthquake-ravaged Christchurch Cathedral rebuild today.
The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Gerry Brownlee, said discussions were still continuing and a decision about a rebuild had not been made.
The Cathedral Working Group, which was formed in June, considered restoration options and delivered its final recommendation on November 28.
"Proposals from the working group were considered by Cabinet today, however discussions continue with the Church Property Trustees," Brownlee said.
"Details about what was discussed at Cabinet will remain confidential."
Newstalk ZB's political editor, Barry Soper, earlier said a decision was expected to be made public before the end of the week.
The earthquake-damaged Christchurch Cathedral. Photo / Supplied
The battle has raged in the Garden City over whether the cathedral should be rebuilt since the devastating earthquake there almost six years ago, killing 185 people.
The cost of the rebuild has been put at more than $220 million.
The city's centrepiece structure is now partly covered in vegetation.
Today, after English saw his new ministers file into Government House to be sworn in, he joked that some had looked a little too long at the seat left empty for him.
He was in a good mood, having seen Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy officially assign his ministers their new portfolios, five days before Christmas and a little over two weeks since John Key announced he was quitting.
"It brings to an end a period where the National Party and the Government have been changing leadership, changing ministers," English said.
The most smiles and nods from National ministers during the ceremony were for new ministers Mark Mitchell, Alfred Ngaro, Jacqui Dean and David Bennett.
The new-look cabinet pose for a group photo during a ceremony at Government House. Photo / Marty Melville
Judith Collins, who lost Police and Corrections in the reshuffle, smiled and whispered a drawn-out "yes" when Dame Patsy announced her Revenue Minister.
A few hours later English chaired the first Cabinet meeting after Sunday's reshuffle was announced, and the last for the year, with media allowed in to witness the new configuration.
"Are you going to make that big announcement on Friday," Bennett asked in front of the media pack. "Sunday morning," another minister suggested.
English said he hoped his ministers wouldn't be taking too much reading on their new portfolios away over the holidays.
Prime Minister Bill English. Photo / Marty Meville
He ruled out calling next year's general election early enough so the Mt Albert byelection, to be held on February 25, wouldn't be necessary.
Labour's deputy leader, Annette King, has accused English of "running scared" after National said it would not stand a candidate in Mt Albert, and called on him to call an early election to avoid the cost of holding the byelection.
English said he could rule out doing that, saying the byelection "has arisen from Labour's problems in losing its competent and moderate MPs and former leaders".
It would be "pretty difficult" to beat Labour's likely Mt Albert candidate Jacinda Ardern, English said, and he would give further thought to the general election date in the New Year.
"[Mt Albert voters] will have a choice at the general election, that's for sure."
ENGLISH TO TRUDEAU: COME TO NZ
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo / AP
Prime Minister Bill English took a phone call from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau this morning, and invited Trudeau to visit New Zealand.
A spokeswoman for English said the discussion was "warm", with both leaders acknowledging the closeness of the countries' relationship.
