Wellington's earthquake-damaged Statistics House is to be demolished. Several buildings in Wellington were badly damaged in the November Kaikoura quake, but Statistics House was particularly serious, because three floors partly collapsed.
A large beam in the ground floor also collapsed.
After a Government review into how the building performed in the quake, Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith said the "unacceptable" damage could have killed people. Having notified its shareholders and Statistics New Zealand of the decision, CentrePort will apply to Wellington City Council for consent to demolish the five-storey office block.
Chief executive Derek Nind said planning for the building's removal, working with tenants, neighbours and other key stakeholders, will now begin.
CentrePort is still working with engineers and insurers on the BNZ building.
