Court almost in session

Contractors remove the last of the scaffolding from Dunedin’s historic courthouse as its $20 million upgrade nears completion.

Ministry of Justice commercial and property general manager Fraser Gibbs said officials were preparing for the full resumption of court services on February 7.

Office furniture, computers and other equipment were being installed.

The courthouse’s public counter would reopen on February 5.

The official reopening, on January 26, will be attended by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias, other senior judges, and MPs.

Deemed an earthquake risk in 2011, most of the building was mothballed, and closed completely in 2015. Court services were relocated to a temporary court in High St.