2 investigations into demolition botch-up as family forced out of home

A homeowner forced to move out of her damaged Auckland bungalow after her bedroom was wrecked by a bungled demolition is furious workers were back on site at sunrise.

Work has ground to a halt and two investigations are under way after a concrete wall crashed into Kate Paterson's Pt Chevalier home last night.

A toppling chimney tore a gaping hole in the bedroom of her wooden bungalow after a wall collapsed the wrong way. Paterson's driveway is covered in debris and her home's gas main was ruptured in the collapse, sparking fears of an explosion.

The force of the wall hitting the house was so strong a set of drawers was sent flying across the room and electrical sockets were blasted out of the wall.

Paterson, who uses a wheelchair, was forced to spend the night in a hotel with her family after she was rescued by firefighters.

She said the nightmare continued this morning. Neighbours told her up to eight workers were back at the demolition site clearing material before inspections had taken place.

"At 6.30am I got a call from a neighbour concerned that the workers were on site and had started working.

"My neighbour went across and said 'you mustn't work because you'll cause more damage'."

Paterson called Auckland Council and Worksafe NZ. Soon after a man speaking on behalf of the property owner apologised for the accident and said the owner would fix any issues with her property.

He also indicated they would clear up the Moa Rd site as quickly as possible so she wouldn't have any problems in the future.

But work has ground to a halt on the levelled site after Worksafe NZ issued a non-disturbance notice this morning.

Auckland Council said an investigation had started into the work but it was too early to advise any findings or outcomes.

WorkSafe NZ is leading an investigation into safety concerns.

"WorkSafe is making initial inquiries into the matter to determine the next steps," said a spokesperson.

In the meantime insurance assessors were today assessing Paterson's damaged home.

Paterson said it was thanks to a concerned worker who told her get everyone out of the house because the demolition was becoming increasingly dangerous that no one was injured in the collapse.

Paterson said she was struggling to be comfortable in the standard hotel bed and was longing to be back in her home to sleep on her hospital bed and in her wheelchair-friendly house.