Logic Group has been granted a consent from the Dunedin City Council to conduct maintenance work on St Paul’s Cathedral in the Octagon.
The cathedral was constructed more than 100 years ago and is listed as a category 1 historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
The western end of the cathedral was significantly damaged in a fire in 2020 and much of the proposed work aims to fix it, along with making it more usable and accessible.
The work is part of a $4 million redevelopment project announced in 2021 but since delayed.
The Very Rev Dr Tony Curtis, dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, said it was great work could now get under way.
"It is extremely good news to have the resource consent through.
"We’re hoping to have the building consent for the work downstairs through towards the middle of the year and then we’ll gradually see the facilities continue to improve."
The application proposed a wide range of alterations to the cathedral, namely refurbishments to its apse, nave and crypt.
The fire had torn through the ceiling and roof of the apse, dropping debris that had damaged the floor level.
The apse would receive a new timber-joint subfloor along with a new altar layout to accommodate different cultural tikanga (custom).
A new multi-functional space would be created in the crypt, and the original exterior stone wall retained and made a feature.
New ceiling treatments and accessibility upgrades — ramps, a new staircase and an accessible lift into the existing stairwell — would be installed.
Dr Curtis said there had been a "very long delay" to the repairs due to consultation with insurers and heritage advocates, as well as obtaining the proper consents.
This latest resource consent, which had taken three years to obtain, allowed work to finally commence on the rest of the building, he said.
At every stage, they had looked to preserve the cathedral’s taonga while incorporating new additions, Dr Curtis said.
A "very exciting" feature was a new stained-glass nativity window, to fill an arch of slightly tinted windows overlooking Harrop St, that would be made by Dunedin artist Peter Mackenzie.
It would contain features of classical Pre-Raphaelite art combined with elements of New Zealand’s unique flora.
"One of the things we were very keen to ensure is that no matter who you are, you will feel welcome and you’ll be able to access everything at the cathedral and come to all our events", Dr Curtis said.
"No matter what difficulties the building presents, we’re going to overcome those and make it a space for the whole city."
