Bob Parker can't believe it's been nearly six years since the ChristChurch Cathedral was almost destroyed by an earthquake, and still it sits there, largely untouched since demolition work carried out in 2012.
"It's a monument to procrastination," he told Paul Henry on Thursday. "Instead of being an inspiring icon for the city it's exactly the opposite. Nobody really seems to know where it's going at the moment."
Mr Parker was Mayor of Christchurch when the February 22 quake killed 185 people and broke the iconic cathedral. It took more than two years for worshippers to find a replacement - the Cardboard Cathedral - and a decision on what to do with the real thing is expected later this month, following years of court battles.
The church wants to demolish the ruins and build a new cathedral, while others want the old one restored.
Mr Parker says whatever the decision, it should have been wrapped up inside of six months, not six years. He called the two sides' unwillingness to compromise "the kind of mentality that takes us to war".
"To a degree it's the dysfunction that's a result of a massive destructive event that happened in our city."
He sits somewhere in the middle - he's not for or against restoration or rebuilding, but prefers a third option.
"I was always supportive of the idea of retaining and artistically restoring the stone structure, making it safe, and leaving the building in a sense of ruin - remove the roof then encase it in something inspiration, like a lovely exoskeleton of glass, if you can imagine that.
"It's been done before in the world, and would serve to remind people what actually happened here."
Reports suggest the Government-appointed working group's report will recommend restoration. Whatever it suggests will be non-binding.
Newshub.
