Mullin said earthquake premiums had more than doubled since the Canterbury quakes, despite insurers offering less cover.

Faced with rocketing insurance premiums, the archdiocese is proposing to scrap natural disaster cover for most of its churches.

Under the proposal, 43 churches and about 60 community halls between Levin and Westport would be financially unprotected if hit by an earthquake or tsunami.

Major buildings, including Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Mary of the Angels church in Wellington, would retain some quake cover, he said.

But other smaller churches, including the centres of many suburban parishes in the Hutt Valley and Wellington, would not be covered.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: tripadvisor.com
  

The initial earthquake was a vicious, violent one, she said.

Even though the statues and other items were tied down, "the statue of Our Lady came down and was damaged at the back, and all the crosses were thrown about 12 feet around", Mrs Costello said.

As well, a large cross on the roof at the rear end of the church came down.

David Mullins Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington's Director of support services says they are waiting for "assessments on church buildings. There are reports of structural damage to the Ward Church. There has been minor damage to other buildings in the wider region, the extent of this is still to be confirmed.Source."

"The Archdiocese will contact all parishes to ask them to look for any signs of damage to assess the need for a check by a structural engineer," Mullins says.
Source

• New Zealand Catholic
• Archdiocese of Wellington
• Image: Geoplocation