Engineers are continuing to check the vital signs of Christchurch's ChristChurch Cathedral, but the Anglican Church says it's not a signal a decision on its future is imminent.
In fact, the Church isn't saying how long the city must wait before their working group will make a call to reinstate the building or not.
On Thursday, work was underway to replace and install new movement markers on the building which monitor whether the church moves during seismic activity.
A crane was brought in to do the work (Hamish Clark / Newshub.)
Holmes Consulting Group technical director Stuart Oliver says the work, which involved the use of a crane, had been planned for some time.
Crack-monitoring gauges were first put on the church in 2012, with some having faded since then. New ones were being put in other areas of damage.
"They tell us how far the building has moved - in some places up to 75mm - so the markers enable us to determine how wider the cracks get after an aftershock."
Since 2011, some cracks have increased up to 25mm in width.
(Hamish Clark / Newshub.)
In recent aftershocks, the cracks may not have widened but two large limestone blocks, weighing half a tonne, did fall from the arches.
Anglican Church spokesman Reverend Jayson Rhodes says the data from the markers will give the working group information as part of the decision-making process."It's really important to know what the present state of the building is. It's up to the working party to determine what the future state of that building may be."
He said the timing of the work didn't suggest any verdict was close to being made.
"It's just straight information, nothing more.
"The working group has been given a task, and they're doing that task and when the working group comes to their decision then they come to it," Rev Rhodes says.
Drone footage from inside the cathedral has also been taken to help the working group.
Building contractor, and proponent for keeping the cathedral Derek Broerse was confident the building would stay.
"It's our city brand, it's our logo, aside from the fact that it's a church, but it's a tourist icon, it's right in the heart of our city."
Mr Broerse says at a public forum three years ago he'd offered to help do the work save the building for free.
He believes having the cathedral's fate in limbo is having a knock-on effect for nearby developers.
"Even the developers it the perimeter are rejecting what's happening because they've got no confidence in going forward with their developments.
"It's a disgrace the way it's been left to deteriorate like that, it's clear the Church is intent not to restore it, but im in the opposing camp."
Newshub.
