A stoush has broken out at Wellington City Council over a meeting that was held behind closed doors.
It's understood the council met to discuss buying an abandoned cinema just days after mayor Tori Whanau revealed a multi-million dollar budget blowout on another property project.
It looks like something you'd see in a post-apocalyptic movie, but Reading Cinemas on Wellington's Courtenay Place has sat idle since it was deemed earthquake prone in 2019.
"It looks like someplace that's haunted in a ghost movie," one city dweller told Newshub.
"There's not really much here. It's a pretty ignored building," said another passer-by.
Newshub understands the council met in secret on Wednesday to discuss buying the land, owned by Readings Limited.
It comes just one day after Wellington Council reported a $147 million budget blowout on its nearby Town Hall project - with ballooning costs due to additional faults found within the building.
"I think there is a divide in the Council between those who see that we are in a different place financially," said councillor Tony Randle.
"We haven't been as transparent as we should be with Wellingtonians, we have a significant financial hole, and we just continue making it worse," councillor Diane Calvert told Newshub.
Mayor Whanau said in a statement that the details are being kept private because of the complicated and sensitive nature of the deal.
She also said it's getting boring that some councillors continue to speak to media.
"I'm sorry if democracy is becoming boring to her but she needs to take the criticism," Randle said.
"I'm getting bored with the Wellington City Council not listening to Wellingtonians," Calvert shot back.
So, we asked some Wellingtonians what they want.
"I think if they're going to try and save it, they should have it out in the open," one local woman told Newshub.
"If there's nothing happening with it, then it might be a good idea to buy it up, do something with it, utilise the property," another person said.
Details are set to be made public later next month, so perhaps the end credits haven't rolled on this old cinema just yet.
