Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
It is just weeks from Christmas but Kāinga Ora is emptying out its infamous Dixon Street Flats in Wellington because they are "old and no longer fit for purpose".
Regional director Greater Wellington Greg Groufsky said the organisation was still working through a decision regarding the building's future but had recently finalised a 10-year lease of a 100-apartment building at 11 Church Street.
"It was important that we chose a location that helped to enable our customers to stay in their community.
"The central Wellington building is very close by, so customers can maintain their connections to local services and support."
Some residents will begin moving this week, while others would move after the holidays.
Kāinga Ora manager of operations Kathy Furfie said the organisation understood "that not everybody wants to move just before Christmas and we want to make sure that we're working with our customers".
Letters had been sent out to Church Street residents to advise them of the move, Furfie said.
Decisions on the future of the Dixon Street building were "complex", she said.
The modernist apartment block is classified as a heritage building.
As a heritage building, Kāinga Ora needed to be careful about any decision made regarding it, she said, but none had been made yet.