A dilapidated building in Wellington’s Lyall Bay is prompting growing concern from residents who fear it poses a safety risk, particularly after recent storms exacerbated its already precarious condition. The two-story structure on Queens Drive has been the subject of complaints for decades, but remains unoccupied and increasingly unstable, according to locals.
The most recent severe weather event, occurring more than a week ago, tore roofing iron from the building and shattered windows, adding to a long list of structural issues. Residents say the property appears to be on the verge of collapse.
“It’s one gust of wind away from falling down I’d say,” said Michelle, a Lyall Bay resident of 20 years. She recalled previous storms where the fire brigade had been called to secure loose tiles, expressing surprise the building had remained standing. “Over the last six to 12 months the centre beam in the shop window has started to bow quite badly. So surprised that the veranda’s still there but it’s quite dangerous. I really think that council should be looking at stopping people walking underneath it in case an accident happens.”
The building’s veranda, blackened with dirt, overhangs the pavement, supported by a pillar that is visibly bulging at its base. At ground level, windows and former shopfronts are boarded up with painted plywood. The upper level features empty window frames and extensive graffiti on interior walls.
Emma Dee, a resident of nearby Rongotai, said the sight of the deteriorating building triggered feelings of anxiety, recalling her own home being struck by roofing iron during the recent storms. “We had a neighbour – who lived five houses down from us – lose their roof and it took out part of our house while we were in there with our kids. It’s so amazing to me that nobody was injured by shrapnel or killed or worse. I’m shaking. There’s a little bit of PTSD there,” she said.
Neighbour Jo Maunder described a pattern of deterioration over the past two years, raising concerns about hazards to the public. “It’s a safety thing for the community that worries me. There’s so many people going past that building everyday to get their coffee or go to the beach and lately there’s been young people using it as a bit of a club house I think – coming and going – and the police have been involved in trying to secure it better. We keep an eye out. We’re just worried about their safety and the safety of anyone else ’cause sooner or later that [beam’s] going to go.”
Maunder also reported that the overgrown garden surrounding the property had become a dumping ground for stolen goods, citing an incident where police recovered bicycles, tires, and kegs of beer from the weeds. Wellington police confirmed they had been called to the property at least five times in the last two years to address issues of trespassing and damage.
The property is listed as being owned by Eva Shue and Jan Meng Shue. Attempts to reach the owners for comment have been unsuccessful. Property records also link the Shues to a property on Millward Street in Newtown that was destroyed by fire in 2013, a fire that occurred while the building was unoccupied and had evidence of illegal occupants.
Wellington City Council has been receiving complaints about the building’s condition since 1997. Following complaints about the veranda between 2002 and 2006, an engineer assessed the structure and deemed it not dangerous. The council has made repeated attempts to contact the owners since 2017, most recently between 2022 and 2025, requesting maintenance work on the veranda by May 2026. However, the council stated it has received no response from the owners.
According to the Building Act 2004, a building is considered dangerous if it poses a risk of collapse, fire, or injury to people or property. The council stated it has limited powers to intervene until a building reaches this threshold, and even then, it can only require the owner to address the dangerous elements, not to renovate or rehabilitate the property.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had made multiple complaints to the council over the past six or seven years. He recounted a conversation with a man believed to be associated with the owners, who dismissed concerns about the building’s safety. “I don’t feel safe walking under the veranda and I purposely avoid it. Due to the fact that I just don’t know how long it’s going to hold out. It’s very windy in the area and I can just imagine in a hot summer day – if a fire was to go on – it would definitely catch the neighbouring houses,” he said.
Property lawyer Kristine King noted that balancing property rights with public safety concerns can be challenging, and that the council’s interpretation of the Buildings Act is key. “It’s interesting that council is saying that’s a ‘high’ threshold when the definition of ‘dangerous’ just includes ‘injury’. I understand entirely if their definition required ‘death’, that’s a very, very high standard, but ‘injury’ in of itself is a far lower bar so I think it comes back to council’s interpretation and their own policies and whether we need to be looking at some measure to get them to revisit their approach.”
Wellington City Council has been asked for comment regarding the recent storm damage to the building under the terms of the Official Information Act.
