A petition asking Christchurch City Council to cancel its plan to give an extra $15 million of ratepayer money to the Christ Church Cathedral rebuild had gathered 18,650 signatures by Wednesday morning RNZ.

Christchurch resident James Pawson started the petition. It asks the council to reverse the $15m decision and to reconsider its 2025 rates rise of 7.35% RNZ.

Rates are the regular fees property owners pay to the council for local services. A rates rise means those fees go up.

The petition says spending $15m of ratepayer money on the cathedral "sends the wrong message to the people of Christchurch" RNZ. A Change.org page titled "Stop Using Rate Payers' Money for Christ Church Cathedral Rebuild" puts it plainly: "We must ensure that no more rate payers' money goes into rebuilding the Christ Church Cathedral unless there is clear public support for such" Change.org.

The council would not comment, saying it had not formally received the petition yet RNZ.

Steve Wakefield, who chairs the company overseeing the cathedral rebuild, said people hold different views on the cathedral's future. He also said the council's $15m depends on central government contributing as well RNZ.

Under local government law, a formal petition needs signatures from 5% of enrolled voters in a council area to force a public vote. This petition looks to be community-run rather than a formal one, but the large number of signatures still gives Pawson a strong platform to pressure the council publicly.

By linking the cathedral funding to the 7.35% rates rise, the petition reaches beyond people who care about the cathedral to anyone who pays rates in Christchurch.

The council's decision not to comment is a standard response — until it formally receives the petition, it is not required to act. Once the petition is tabled, councillors will need to decide whether to debate the $15m in a public meeting, ask staff for a report, or simply note it and move on.

Wakefield's comment matters most for those watching the project closely. By saying the council's contribution depends on central government support, he has shifted the spotlight to Wellington. If the government does not commit funding, the council's $15m pledge may be revisited whether or not the petition succeeds. Any minister considering whether to back the project will also see the near-19,000-signature objection on the public record.

The debate between preserving heritage and keeping costs down for residents is not new in Christchurch, which has been rebuilding since the 2011 earthquakes. But tying the cathedral funding to a rates rise well above inflation adds pressure on councillors who voted for the extra money.

For now, the petition is growing. The council has not formally engaged. The rebuild company is looking to central government. And the government's position on extra support for the cathedral is the key question still unanswered.