I have just heard that the Upper Hutt District Court has been given an earthquake clearance following the recent severe shakes that have hit Wellington. This is interesting as the Minister for Courts Chester Borrows said in a public meeting in November last year that he was closing it because it was an earthquake risk and was going to cost over $700,000 to fix.
The actual quote was never released because of confidentiality concerns. One local builder at a meeting where Borrows made this announcement, said he could undertake the repairs for a fraction of the cost. Now the empty building has been given the all clear. In the meanwhile Upper Hutt has lost jobs and a community has lost their courthouse. While Waipukurau with a population of just 4000 (but in a National electorate) keep theirs.
