Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says tolerance for delays in demolishing badly-damaged commercial buildings in Christchurch is wearing thin.
Mr Brownlee says it is dangerous for everyone if a large, badly damaged building in the central city is left standing.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority's demolitions manager said on Friday a tender for the demolition of the 17-storey Clarendon Towers would go out next week even though it had not been able to reach agreement with the owners.
Warwick Issacs says legal issues are holding up reaching an agreement.
Mr Brownlee says the authority's demolition team has shown a huge amount of patience and diplomacy in dealing with owners.
However, the minister says tolerance for "mucking around" is at an end and hopes building owners understand that.
