Reading Cinemas are closing the doors to their Courtenay Place Wellington branch after reports from engineers put the building at 'high risk' if an earthquake were to occur.
An earthquake that struck Kaikōura in 2016 had serious effects on buildings throughout the Wellington region.
A car park next to the cinema building was demolished after suffering serious quake damage.
The branch released a statement on Saturday on their Facebook page saying the building would be closed until further notice.
"The safety and wellbeing of our patrons, employees, and tenants is of the utmost importance to us and as such out of an abundance of caution we have taken action to close the building until further notice."
The cinema building houses a movie complex, retail stores and a food court.
Libby Dearnley, the co-owner of pop-up store Craft Central, located in the Cinema building, told Newshub that the decision to close the building came as a surprise.
"We've had no issues with the building at all, it has been a complete surprise. There was no reason for us to think there would be anything wrong or unsafe with it."
She said businesses in the building were now "moving as quickly as we can to get everything out".
The company says vouchers for movie tickets can be redeemed at their Porirua branch or by emailing the company for a full refund.
Newshub.
