The bishop who steered Christchurch's Catholic community through recovery from the massive earthquakes five years ago has died, aged 74.
Bishop Barry Jones, a Rangiora-born priest described as "a Canterbury man through and through", died peacefully at 3.30am today surrounded by his family.
He had been in bad health for some months and was readmitted to Christchurch Hospital on January 29 after a heart attack.
He had been a priest for a few months short of 50 years, and Bishop of Christchurch since 2007. He led the diocese through earthquakes which destroyed several parish churches and badly damaged his Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, known as the Basilica, which has still not reopened.
Church spokeswoman Simone Olsen said the bishop worked hard to support families whose homes were damaged.