Hutt City Council successfully prosecuted Alura Limited, after it ignored multiple orders to complete seismic work on its Jackson Street building over a period of 10 years.
Alura was fined 37-thousand and five-hundred dollars after earlier pleading guilty to one charge under the Building Act.
It's the first prosecution of its kind in New Zealand.
In sentencing, the Judge said the failure to strengthen or demolish the building for so long was egregious.
The sentence reflects the risk the building poses to human life and will deter other building owners from delaying such work.