Sex entrepreneurs John and Michael Chow will not enter a plea to charges against one of their companies until a sentencing indication is given in March.
Their company, Willis St Parking, entered no plea today to two charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act relating to the demolition of the former Settlement Restaurant in Wellington's Willis St.
The Chow brothers, whose wealth stems from their sex and property development businesses, planned to build an apartment building and temporary car park on the site of the historic building, which is now vacant.
The Department of Labour alleges the Chow brothers' company failed to take all practicable steps to ensure workers on the site were not harmed by asbestos and live electricity while the building was being demolished between January 19 and 20 last year.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of $250,000.
Willis St Parking's lawyer, Noel Sainsbury, successfully argued in court last year that the charges laid by the department were not specific enough.
The department amended its charges at the Wellington District Court hearing today.
Mr Sainsbury said the company's plea would depend on the outcome of a sentence indication hearing, which has been set down for March 13.