New photos reveal smashed walls, graffiti and rubble inside historic Carrington site

Holes smashed in walls, dangling light fittings and floors strewn with rubble – new photographs reveal the destruction inside Auckland’s historic Carrington Building One. 

The images show graffiti-covered rooms and ceilings stripped back to timber framing, months after repeated calls to protect the former psychiatric hospital. 

Auckland Council says a bylaw notice requiring building managers to secure the site has lapsed, however developers routinely work with the council to address damage and access points. 

The building has been dormant for five years since Unitec sold the land to the Crown in 2018. 

The land is set to be developed into at least 4000 apartments by the Marutūāhu Ockham No.6 Limited Partnership. 

Newly released photographs from inside Building One reveal the extent of the damage. 

Holes in the ceiling expose timber and insulation above the historic building’s arched windows. Photo / Mark Wallbank 

Gaping holes in ceilings expose timber framing and insulation, while broken plasterboard, glass and bricks litter floors. 

In a narrow corridor, a fluorescent light fitting hangs diagonally beneath missing ceiling panels, with loose wiring dangling overhead. A detached sink bench lies among the debris. 

Graffiti covers walls and windows throughout the building. 

Missing ceiling panels, graffiti and scattered debris reveal the condition of the former Unitec building. Photo / Mark Wallbank 

In one room, a large hole has been smashed through a wall beside a doorway, leaving a pile of bricks below. 

Elsewhere, arched windows are boarded over, paint peels from cracked walls and empty shelving stands beneath long stretches of exposed ceiling framing. 

James Watson, Auckland Council regional compliance response team leader, said unauthorised access to Carrington Building One remained an issue, with determined individuals continuing to find or create new ways inside. 

Watson said there was no active bylaw notice. 

“The owner’s project manager continues to engage and work collaboratively with the council to address damage and access points as they are identified.” 

The Herald sought comment from the developers yesterday but received no response. 

Building One has been the subject of repeated warnings about its deterioration. 

The category one heritage building has been dormant for five years since the sale by Unitec in 2018 to the Crown, with the land it resides on set to be developed into at least 4000 apartments. Photo / Jason Dorday 

The Herald has previously reported smashed windows, graffiti and dumped rubbish at the historic brick building, and concerns about its roof. 

Mt Albert MP Helen White wrote to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown demanding action amid community fears the building was being demolished “through neglect”. 

Auckland Council issued a notice in May requiring entry points to be secured and barriers maintained by July 13. 

Also in May, police said three men targeted materials to sell, understood by the Herald to include copper wiring. Three men were charged with burglary. 

The removal of the tiles from the roof at the Carrington Building One has caused significant damage, MP Helen White said. Photo / Jason Dorday 

Council compliance manager Adrian Wilson previously said prosecution was the only enforcement mechanism under the bylaw, but the council expected to work with owners to achieve compliance before reaching that point. 

Breaches could have attracted fines of up to $20,000. 

The building sits within the wider Carrington redevelopment area, where thousands of homes are planned. 

Herald reporting has outlined plans for at least 4000 homes, bringing about 12,000 residents to the neighbourhood. 

In August, Mount Albert Grammar School headmaster Patrick Drumm identified the site as a possible location for another school or campus. 

Drumm suggested a vocational focus could build on Unitec’s strengths in trades and technology, potentially serving 1500 to 2000 students. 

The idea offered one possible future use for the site as the surrounding community prepares for substantial population growth. 

Rachel Maher is the education correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. She also covers other topics such as Auckland issues, crime and local government. She started at the Herald as a breaking news journalist in 2022, before joining the Auckland team this year.