Webb DuncanHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'd like to take a moment to talk about a truly local issue in Christchurch in Christchurch Central in particular. I mean it's one that's actually hit the news and I'll take this opportunity to advocate for the Christchurch Cathedral. You know I was there and in my maiden speech actually I spoke about looking out of the window of the office I then occupied and out of one window one building collapsed—the PGC building—and out of the other I saw the spire of that cathedral topple. It's worth just thinking about the reality of earthquakes here. You know the last member Dana Kirkpatrick talked about the disasters in the north and I recognise that as well. The cathedral's arguably the last significant building that remains as essentially an indication that things aren't finished. I'd invite every member here to come to Christchurch and look at the amazing—and I can't help I must mention that the current Speaker had something to do with the planning of the city rebuild and I acknowledge that and the work that the prior Government before the Labour Government did there and the further delivery that people like Megan Woods did as well. But the remains a problem. It's fundamentally a private building—it is a part of the Anglican Church—but public funds have gone into it already. In my view the church will hold it on trust for the people of Christchurch and when it is rebuilt because it will be rebuilt it needs to be an open and community space. But the problem that we are facing now—and it's a problem that's been faced with a lot of earthquake repairs and rebuilds especially of heritage buildings—is the fact that it's clearly going to cost a lot more than was initially anticipated.The trust entity the cathedral entity has essentially gone cap in hand to the public to the ratepayer to the taxpayer to the church to philanthropists and said Look we need to get together because leaving it there in the current state is really not an option. We've come too far to turn back now." I absolutely endorse those people who in the public arena and on social media and elsewhere say "We can't just tip public money into projects like this willynilly."—there absolutely has to be a limit. But I know the Minister of Arts Culture and Heritage—I think he's nodding because he has received a plaintive email from me saying "Will you look at this?"I hope that all of the members of Parliament who are in Christchurch will do that. And I absolutely hope that the members of Parliament who are part of the National Party and in Christchurch electorates will be speaking loudly in their caucus to say "We need to look at this we need to advocate for this." Leeann Watson who might not be a likely ally who is the CEO of the chamber of commerce has said "We do not want this building to remain as a symbol of the past of Christchurch." Christchurch for a long time was kind of branded by the cathedral and there was nothing wrong with that. But the brand of Christchurch now is the amazing vibrancy that the Avon River / Ōtakaro River makes the amazing things that go on in our university and in our wider city.We do need to tidy up the cathedral. We absolutely need to engage with the wider community and have a mandate to do that. But my case today is that Government also has a part to play. It has put money into it. The Government under my predecessor the MP for Christchurch Central and Megan Woods have put $25 million into this project which is now going to cost $248 million. The city's put $10 million into it as well the church has put their insurance funds and there are philanthropists out there who have put their hand in their own pocket for tens of millions of dollars as well. Now I'm not suggesting that the Government should bear the lion's share of that burden but I think the funding ratios that have gone on in the past are a good way to look forward.I hear the naysayers that this is a church and we shouldn't be funding religion or it's just a quaint—I've seen better buildings in English villages. But at the end of the day it's a landmark in the centre of Christchurch and we need to see it restored and we need to see it open and a public and community space for all. I hope that this Government will consider that carefully. Kia ora Mr Speaker."