The building was designed in the 1930s by New Zealand architect Cecil Wood . Construction began in 1954 , and was completed in 1998 . It was constructed in reinforced concrete due to the effects of the 1931 Napier earthquake making other choices impractical . The church was initially envisioned as a war memorial cathedral , and it was designed on a monumental scale . Archbishop of New Zealand Reginald Herbert Owen declared in 1958 : " Every nation needs in its capital city a great church to express its belief in the things of the spirit " . The building began to be used as an Anglican cathedral in 1964 ( replacing Old St Paul 's ) , and was consecrated in 2001
1931 Napier earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul