Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing.

Christchurch Cathedral rebuild slowed down by huge budget blowout

I was raised in Christchurch, so like many others I have very fond memories of the Anglican Cathedral in the Square. It was a meeting point, a focal point, and the view from the spire was fantastic. The cathedral – like the beautiful Catholic one on Barbadoes Street, was substantially damaged in the 2011 earthquakes. Unlike the Catholic one that was demolished, the Anglican Cathedral has been the subject of debate, conjecture, and procrastination. Work was commenced in the past few years and now it seems the project is in danger of being mothballed as costs have skyrocketed.

I know many Cantabrians would happily see the rebuild shelved, while as many would like to see it restored. Although a building of faith, it has memory and appeal for the non-religious as well.

What I do not understand is the massive increase in costs and it may be time to consider scaling back the project and focusing solely on the cathedral, rather than the visitors centre, cafe, and other attendant structures.

“Estimations in March 2023 put the cost of restoring the building at $154m, up on an 2016 Government working group estimation of $103m. But on Saturday, The Press first reported the rebuild cost had skyrocketed to $248m, with $30m needed by August to allow work to continue to the end of 2025.

“Reasons for the dramatic cost increase include the building’s foundations were not as deep as sketches from 1881 led to believe and there being more water beneath the tower than estimated. Masonry work and strengthening of heritage walls had also proven to be more complex than planned.” (Source: “Christ Church Cathedral restoration could be ‘mothballed,'” by Caroline Williams, 6th April, www.stuff.co.nz).

2 stars – seems the planning committee were a little hasty in their costs estimation.

Fish and chips fuel world’s oldest man

At 111 years of age, John Alfred Tinniswod has been deemed by Guinness World Records as the oldest man alive. Born in Liverpool, England in 1912, Mr Tinniswood says that moderation is the key factor to a healthy life. Still, he enjoys a weekly ritual of fish and chips – on a Friday.

“’If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much — if you do too much of anything — you’re going to suffer eventually,’ Tinniswood told Guinness World Records. But ultimately, he said, “it’s pure luck. You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.” (Source: “World’s oldest man shares the secret to his longevity at 111,” 7th April, www.stuff.co.nz).

On the strength of it, he may well be right. Do things in moderation and realise that at the end of the day, we are all part of a magical ride where we don’t know when the end may come.

5 stars – well done Mr Tinniswood and enjoy those fish and chips. I bet he puts vinegar on them as well!

Police pay fiasco is an embarrassment

Negotiations between the government and the Police Association have been dragging on and on and highlight a total failure to recognise and reward those who choose to protect us. I find it baffling that people we expect to ward of danger and deal with criminals are put in a position whereby some are looking to leave New Zealand to get better pay and conditions.

My personal view is to pay the police what they ask for. Not to be nickel and diming them over a negotiation table. Why is it that such vital civil servants are treated in such a way? We do the same to health professionals and teachers. The most important jobs in our society and they have to fight to be recompensed adequately. Politicians are paid obscenely in comparison and I’d argue their job performance isn’t always up to scratch.

0 stars – expecting to be protected and quibbling about the price is poor form indeed.