The long-standing standoff over Wellington’s Gordon Wilson Flats is finally coming to an end, with the Government announcing it will remove the building’s heritage protection to enable its demolition.
Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop confirmed in a press release published in June of this year that Cabinet has approved a legislative amendment that will clear the way for the derelict structure to be torn down. The move comes after more than a decade of legal and planning that have prevented progress on the site.
“The Gordon Wilson Flats were used as social housing until 2012, when an engineer’s report showed the building was so unsafe that large slabs of the concrete exterior could come off in an earthquake or even a strong wind,” Chris Bishop said in a press release. “The building has sat vacant since then, becoming more dangerous and more of an eyesore every year.”
Once used for state rental housing, the 11-storey building overlooking The Terrace has become a symbol of what the Government describes as a failed planning system that prioritises heritage preservation at the expense of common sense and safety.
“There has been attempt after attempt to deal with the Gordon Wilson Flat since 2012, all of which have failed,” Bishop said. “The flats sit as an ugly scar on the Wellington skyline, emblematic of a failed planning system that prioritises preservation of heritage, no matter the economic cost.”
The amendment, to be added to the upcoming Consenting and Other Resource Management System Amendments Bill, will remove the flats’ protected heritage status and make their demolition a permitted activity under the Resource Management Act. This means no resource consent will be required for its removal.
“Cities shouldn’t be museums,” Bishop said. “The Wellington City Council wants the Gordon Wilson Flats demolished, the University (the current owner) wants them demolished, and the people of Wellington want them demolished too.”
Constructed in 1959 and named after government architect Gordon Wilson, the building was once a prime example of modernist architecture and public housing. It was added to the Wellington District Plan heritage list in 1995 and later granted Category 1 heritage status by Heritage New Zealand.
However, after safety concerns forced its evacuation in 2012, the building fell into disrepair. Despite several efforts by Victoria University, which brought the building in 2014 and now owns the property, to demolish or repurpose the structure, heritage protections repeatedly blocked progress.
While critics have argued for the cultural and architectural value of preserving the site, the Government maintains that the current situation is unsustainable.
Heritage buildings are formally recognised structures that carry cultural, historical, architectural, or social value. They serve as physical reminders of a city’s evolution, representing the craftsmanship, styles, and stories of past generations. In New Zealand, heritage recognition is managed at both national and local levels, with varying degrees of protection that can prevent demolition or restrict modifications.
Supporters of heritage conservation argue that such buildings enrich urban identity, create community pride, and can be opportunities for education, tourism, and adaptive reuse. But, maintaining heritage buildings can also be costly and complex, especially when they are in disrepair or pose safety risks.
In the case of Gordon Wilson Flats, the Government has concluded that demolition is the only logical path forward.
The legislation is expected to pass in the middle of this year. Once in effect, Victoria University will still need to obtain a demolition consent under the Building Act, which covers factors like asbestos removal, sediment control, and site safety. However, they will no longer be required to undergo the RMA consent process for demolishing a heritage structure.
The University has not yet released detailed plans for the site’s future, but previous discussions have included the possibility of student housing or teaching facilities.
As Wellington prepares to say goodbye to a once-iconic, now crumbling piece of architecture, the debate between heritage preservation and practical urban development still continues.
