Christchurch City Council will seek urgent legal advice to see if it is able to halt the demolition of the historic Majestic Theatre.
The theatre was deemed unsafe after the earthquakes and was bought by the Crown last year; demolition work began late last month.
Mayor Liane Dalziel and acting chief executive Jane Parfitt met with the Christchurch Central Development Unit's director Warwick Isaacs on 3 April to oppose the demolition.
Ms Dalziel says the council received advice it has no grounds for a judicial review but it will seek legal advice on how it could halt the demolition.
Mr Isaacs says he cannot halt the demolition, saying the decision was not made lightly.
