Wellington's councillors have agreed to use $1 million dollars of heritage funding to help secure 244 buildings with unreinforced masonry.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The Government is contributing $2 million dollars to the pool, to help building owners secure or strengthen unreinforced masonry facades and parapets within a year.
Wellington mayor Justin Lester said he was comfortable with the money coming from a heritage fund, despite just a third of the 244 buildings being heritage-listed.
"It'll make sure that they are pinned back - their facades are pinned back, parapets are either pinned back or removed - within 12 months.
"As we saw in Christchurch 40 people died as a result of unreinforced masonry falling on top of individuals and that's not a situation I want to have reoccur in Wellington."
If buildings were not strengthened within a year, the council could be forced to do the work or buy the building, Mr Lester said.
