Cardboard tubes for the construction of a temporary cathedral in Christchurch were delivered today.

The six-metre, 120-kilogram tubes will be used to build the temporary cardboard cathedral planned for Latimer Square.

The cathedral, which is expected to be completed by February, will require 320 tubes.

The tubes are made in Christchurch and were delivered to project manager Naylor Love's warehouse in Middleton in trucks this morning and unloaded.

The tubes will be painted in polyurethane over the next three weeks and should be craned on to site at the end of next month.

Laminated timber will be inserted into each tube for strength and then covered with a waterproof polycarbonate roof.

The transitional cathedral will cost $5.3 million to build.

The Anglican diocese is using $4m from Christ Church Cathedral insurance money, but is looking for donations for the $1.3m shortfall.

Cathedral spokesman Craig Dixon said it was exciting to see the tubes arrive.

"It is really exciting to see this happening. It has been a long journey up to this point,'' he said.

"We had hoped this would take six months from beginning to end. It is probably going to be two years.''

- © Fairfax NZ News

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