On the 23rd of June (2025) Bill McKay, urban issues correspondent for RNZ, discussed “the government’s decision to introduce a bill to demolish Wellington’s Gordon Wilson Flats.” Bill suggests it is a ‘new low’ that the government worked on an RMA amendment to demolish this single building.
the greenest building is the one that is already standing ~ Bill McKay
Elsewhere Christine McCarthy has questioned what it is about this building that illicits such irrational ire:
This week we hear the government may be changing the earthquake regulations that may render this building less ‘prone’. Thank goodness VUW still has the opportunity to return the building to functional housing.
To prove McCarthy’s point, the government has emphatically (7 times?!) demanded the City Council ignore the Environment Court ruling 2017 and delist the “[i]n this section, Gordon Wilson Flats means the building known as Gordon Wilson Flats at 320 The Terrace, Wellington (Wellington Land District Lot 1, Deposited Plan 363050)”… because it is not – the building is just called “Gordon Wilson” – but who needs to split hairs eh? Cause it’s about the intention of the law not facts.
If you’re wondering what Section 194 might refer to… it appears to concern controls over the demolition process as a ‘discretionary activity’ – that is, if the community wanted any rights to ask for the demolition process to be managed in a safe and controlled way. The Council’s response:
Public notice
Public notice of amendments to the District Plan in relation to the Gordon Wilson Flats released 12 September 2025 (45KB PDF)
In accordance with the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025, NZ Legislation website, the Council removed heritage protection for Gordon Wilson Flats, 320 The Terrace, Te Aro.
The following amendments to the 2024 District Plan were made on 12 September 2025:
- Gordon Wilson Flats (DP Ref: 299) is removed from Schedule 1 – Heritage Buildings
- TEDZ-R5.1 is amended to delete the reference to Gordon Wilson Flats
- TEDZ-R5.2 is deleted in its entirety.
In addition, Rule 9.2.3 of the 2000 District Plan has been deleted. [see below]
Note that the Amendment Act requires that any activity that supports or is otherwise ancillary to the removal of the flats is a permitted activity for the duration of the demolition.
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