Why should Aucklanders buy a church in Christchurch?

Stuff reports:

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel wants the Government to buy and repair the Christ Church Cathedral if the Anglicans reject a restoration deal.

Dalziel stated her position on the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral on Wednesday, shortly before Labour, Green and National MPs united to break a deadlock over the building.

Labour and Green MPs said Christchurch Regeneration Minister Nicky Wagner had agreed to set up a cross-party initiative to tackle the cathedral. Wagner said she had invited all Christchurch MPs to meet on Friday to “discuss the Government’s next steps” on the cathedral.

So Lianne thinks people living in Stratford and Auckland and Gore should buy a church in Christchurch.

If (and that is a big if) there is a case for public funds to be used, then it should be the Christchurch City Council, not the Government.

She said it was her personal view that the Government may have to purchase the building using its earthquake recovery powers.

I’m against the Government confiscating the church.

Dalziel said if Anglicans rejected the offer and chose demolition it would be bad for regeneration of the city.

It’s their church, not yours. If you want a say then go offer to buy it off them and restore it yourself.