Nine cars to go with building

When the Reading Cinema parking building in central Wellington is torn down, Rob Zorn can kiss his BMW goodbye.

His prize 7-series 2002 model has been stuck in the car park since it was evacuated after the magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake on November 14.

Zorn was told his car is one of nine that will be demolished along with the building because it is not safe to retrieve them.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard Maclean said the earthquake-damaged building in Tory St would almost certainly be demolished with cars remaining inside.

There were thought to be nine cars still trapped in the building, he said.

’’At the moment, there’s no intention of getting them out,’’ he said.

As well as the damage to the building itself, the ramps inside were also damaged, making removal of the trapped cars too dangerous, Maclean said.

The decision to demolish the building with the cars still inside was made by engineers and the city council.

A nearby section of Courtenay Place, including several bars, as well an entire block in Tory St, was also cordoned off and evacuated.

That affected about 40 businesses and their staff, and up to 200 residents, according to the city council. - Fairfax NZ