New Zealand's Iconic Cathedral to be Demolished

Anglican church officials in New Zealand said Friday an iconic cathedral in downtown Christchurch must be demolished because earthquakes damaged it beyond repair.

Christ Church Cathedral is the city's best-known building, but its climbable spire collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed many other downtown buildings.

Officials had thought part of the building could be saved, but they said Friday that recent aftershocks caused even more damage.

Bishop Victoria Matthews told The Associated Press the new cathedral will have a different design and cost an estimated 50 million New Zealand dollars ($42 million).

She said up to 10 feet (3 meters) of the existing cathedral's base will be kept, possibly for use as a prayer garden.