The owner of an earthquake-prone building near Wellington has pleaded guilty for failing to complete strengthening work to keep occupants and the public safe.
Alura Ltd, the owner of the two-storey residential building at 307 Jackson Street in Petone, faces a maximum fine of up to $200,000.
An earthquake-prone building notice was first issued to the company in 2008, and there were several years of repeated attempts from the council to get it to strengthen the building or demolish it to ensure it was safe.
The company pleaded guilty in the Hutt Valley District Court and was convicted on Wednesday to a charge under the Building Act 2004, with sentencing reserved until August.
Hutt City Council will order the occupants to vacate the building for it to be strengthened or demolished.
It's believed to be the first successful prosecution of its kind, and the Council says it should serve as a warning for any quake-prone building owners who are delaying taking action.
Council divisional manager for environmental consents Helen Oram said the conviction should act as a warning that it "won't be tolerant of any delaying tactics by owners of quake-prone buildings".
She said the council had been more than patient with Alura, who made commitments to the council that it did not meet. A signed agreement was made between the two parties that strengthening work would commence and multiple building consents were issued, but they lapsed without any work getting underway.
"Council believed that the company was acting in good faith, and it ultimately dragged the process out," Ms Oram said.
"We have always worked closely with building owners, we understand the pressures many are under and most have shown a willingness to get strengthening work done. But our experience with this case has shown us there's a point where Council needs to act decisively to ensure public safety."
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