NZ Transport Agency and Inland Revenue evacuate quake-prone Palmerston North building

The NZ Transport Agency and Inland Revenue are evacuating their shared Palmerston North office, after investigations found it was earthquake prone.

The agency's interim chief executive Mark Ratcliffe said investigations were done this week, with the results coming in on Thursday . The building houses the 480 agency staff and 220 Inland Revenue staff

The building, 43 Ashley St, on the corner with Ferguson St, was below 34 per cent of the building standard, so was being evacuated and closed until further notice, he said.

"Our first priority on receiving this information from the engineers was to advise staff and clear the building.

"Our next steps are to carry out invasive testing as well as getting the structural engineer's report peer reviewed."

An Inland Revenue spokeswoman said all staff would be leaving the building by 4pm and they would not return to work there. It is set to move into an under-construction building owned by Horizons Regional Council.

Photo credit: stuff.co.nz

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