The future of more than half of all Catholic Church buildings in Wellington is in question because provision for earthquakes could cost millions of dollars.

Wellington Archdiocese administration director David Mullin said the denomination has hired an engineer to provide analysis as part of Project Stronger.

“We want our buildings to be strong and safe. Our buildings are where our communities grow strong in faith,” said Mr Mullin.

“It’s about protecting our people and our taonga — our treasure — being both the people and the things that people value.”

The diocese, which covers an area from Reefton in the South Island to Levin in the north, faces costs of more than $3 million just to complete assessments and decide on remedial work for each of the 181 parish buildings in its domain.

In April 2011 Archbishop John Dew established a focus group to consider the future configuration of parishes in the Archdiocese.

The Project Stronger Working Group will provide all of its data, analysis and conclusions about the seismic status of parish buildings to help in the group’s deliberations.

Preliminary results revealed that more than half of all churches, halls and presbyteries (priests’ homes) in the Wellington region were considered high-risk and in need of immediate assessment.

Initial assessments have now been undertaken on 41 buildings. Of these, 25 churches, four halls and seven presbyteries were found to be earthquake-prone, or assessed at less than 34 per cent of the national building standard.

Those churches have been instructed to display large warning signs telling adults to enter at their own risk.

School groups which might usually use the buildings have been banned until further notice.

Churches are facing another funding challenge due to a hike in earthquake insurance cover, with premiums leaping by 80 per cent. The total cost for all parishes in the area has jumped from $380,000 to around $680,000.

By Aaron Ironside