It was Wellington’s largest commercial building when it opened in 2010. This month is the second time Inland Revenue staff have been evacuated from the building, the other following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake amid concerns about a stairwell. At that time, Dunajtschik argued the building was still safe to occupy.
STUFF
Inland Revenue is preparing for another wave of change (first published February 2020). This time the engineering report was sought as Inland Revenue weighed up whether to renew its lease. In an email to staff, the department said engineers considered the building was fit for occupation and not dangerous under the Building Act.
Catherine Harris21:23, Jul 28 2021
KEVIN STENT/Stuff
Hundreds of Inland Revenue and other staff have yet to return to the Asteron Centre in Wellington’s Featherston St.
There’s no word on how long more than 1400 public servants in Wellington may have to work from home, as engineers pore over the building s structure. About 1000 staff at Inland Revenue, plus staff from Suncorp, Civil Aviation and Aviation Security Service, were working out of the Asteron Centre, one of the capital s biggest commercial buildings, almost a fortnight ago when they were told to leave urgently. The union representing many Inland Revenue staff says it has no idea when staff will be able to return, and Civil Aviation, which also occupies the building, is expecting an update in mid-August.