Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Shock absorbers will be fitted at the Carillon bell tower in Wellington in a multimillion-dollar effort to at last safeguard it from earthquakes.
The tall bell tower in Pukeahu National War Memorial Park has been shut since 2020 due to high seismic risks that have persisted despite years of costly work since 2012.
Officials say they will now adopt a "viscous dampers" strengthening approach recommended by engineers last year.
It is an expensive option but has less visual impact on the tower than some of the other options outlined in the engineering reports.
The cost was put at at least $3.6 million last year, with the work to take about six months.
They were also opting to replace the upper bell frame with a stronger one.
The lower bell frame would be repaired and strengthened.
The 75 tonnes of bells were already taken apart, and steel added to the frames several years ago, but this [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423787/documents-show-ministry-blunders-on-wellington-s-carillon-tower
cut-price job has not worked as planned], documents released earlier to RNZ show.
An upper bell frame overhaul was priced at $1.55m last year, and local fixes lower down at $320,000.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage said it would now begin work on the detailed design with the structural engineer, heritage architect and others.
Anzac Day services have been able to fully use the Carillon for only a handful of years since 2012, while the Ministry for Culture and Heritage blundered through various strengthening projects.
