Nelson's courthouse reopened after an upgrade in 2010, but was closed in February for urgent strengthening. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
More than six weeks after its closure, work is yet to begin on seismic repairs to the Nelson courthouse.
The building closed in February after a report found the connection between the original courthouse and an extension added in 2007 was a safety concern, and may be as low as 15 percent of the national building standard.
For the safety of users, the ministry decided to vacate while urgent temporary repairs were undertaken.
Ministry of Justice corporate services deputy secretary Kelvin Watson said it had applied for building consent to carry out the seismic strengthening work.
Construction is expected to begin later this month and to be completed by the end of May.
The cost of the remedial work was still being assessed.
A temporary courtroom for criminal matters to be heard has been set up at the nearby Community Corrections building at Albion Square, with another temporary courtroom established in the community for family and civil hearings.
Some District Court matters were being heard in Blenheim, if required, while Nelson High Court cases would be heard remotely from Wellington or Blenheim.
Trial matters were being triaged, as there were no appropriate alternative facilities available while the seismic strengthening took place.
Ministry of Justice chief operating officer Carl Crafar previously said some delays to court proceedings would be expected as a result of the remediation work and the ministry was working through the impact on court operations with the judiciary.
News of the building's seismic issues comes 14 years after the courthouse underwent a $10 million redevelopment.
The upgrade, announced in 2008, doubled the courthouse's floor area and added two new courtrooms, bringing the total to five.
Space for the court's administration and public waiting areas was also increased, three additional judicial chambers were added, along with new cells and a dedicated space for security officers.
The re-developed courthouse was opened two years later in 2010 by the then- Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu.
