Gerry Brownlee, the Minister for the Earthquake Recovery, said that the contract to demolish the hotel was given to an Auckland company. It will take at least 10 months and cost more than $10 million. The company will use a crane and drop a wrecking ball from the roof, one storey at a time. When they have demolished the top 12 floors, it will be safe for businesses to return to that area. This will take five to six months. After that, the demolition company will use diggers to demolish the bottom 14 floors.

　　Before the demolition begins, the demolition company will reinforce the interior so that it is possible to get some of the guests’ property.

　　The hotel was built in 1986 as an office block. It was bought by a Singapore company and became a hotel with 176 rooms, and a car park in the basement. The insurance company and the owners will pay for the demolition. The owners said they will build another hotel but perhaps not in the same place.

　　This will be the largest demolition ever in New Zealand.

　　Vocabulary

　　Demolish – verb (stress on the second syllable); demolition – noun (stress on the third syllable).

　　Grammar

　　The verb “demolish” is often used in the passive: was demolished, will be demolished, to be demolished.

　　A number of passives are used here: the contract… was given, was built, was bought. Why do you think the passive is used here?

　　Questions

　　What are some other ways to demolish a high building like this? Why do you think this contract was chosen?