The Presbyterian Church wants neighbours evacuated near a derelict historic hall it owns in the Auckland suburb of Mount Eden. The heritage building was classified as dangerous six years ago but last year the Church got two engineers' reports warning its condition was worse than thought and is at risk of collapsing.
Three weeks ago the church asked the city council to move neighbours out and close a footpath and road. But it didn't warn the nearby primary school of the risk to children who walk past.
The church is fighting in the Environment Court for permission to pull the hall down so it can go ahead with a multi-million dollar sale to a property developer. Margaret Galt is the deputy chair of the Church Property Trustees. She spoke to reporter Phil Pennington.
