Man charged with burning Rotorua cinema

A 20-year-old Rotorua man has been charged with arson following a fire in an abandoned city cinema.

He is due to appear in Rotorua District Court today. Police are looking for other suspects.

The future of the abandoned multiplex is in doubt after fire swept through it early yesterday. Several parts of the building, including the roof, were badly damaged.

The fire service left just before 6pm yesterday, but returned at 8pm after flames were seen on the roof.

Several nearby businesses closed yesterday as there was no power.

Chief fire officer Wayne Bedford said there had previously been several smaller fires in the building.

The multiplex has been the focus of controversy since it was built in 1993. It was open only a few weeks before sub-contractors forced its closure, claiming they were owed almost $3 million by original developer Rua Developments Ltd.

An engineer's investigation found construction shortcomings, saying a moderate earthquake could be enough to make it collapse.

In the late 1990s the council went to court seeking to have the building demolished but the then Building Act prevented this.

The presiding judge indicated he would have ordered the building demolished.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)