Cera accused of abusing power and wasting public money.
A Christchurch heritage building slated for demolition benefited from $225,000 of public money for preservation and strengthening work.
The Armson Woolstore building was given a demolition order by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority this month.
The historic building, which has the highest heritage ranking, was completed in 1881 and is a brick structure at the back of the former Rialto cinema.
The Historic Places Trust commissioned engineers who recommended the building could be saved.
The building’s previous owner was granted $75,000 from the trust in 2006 and $225,000 from Christchurch City Council in 2004 for repair and strengthening work. The council grant came with a covenant restricting any development that would affect the heritage building.
Heritage group Iconic chairman Ian Lochhead said Cera’s demolition order was “pouring public money down the drain”.
“Cera is unjustifiably using its legislation to set aside the public interest that has been backed up with nearly quarter of a million dollars of public money,” he wrote in an email.
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