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Home / New Zealand

Whanganui developer Dave Moore gets council infringement reprieve as he battles cancer

Mike Tweed
Mike Tweed
Multimedia Journalist·Whanganui Chronicle·
26 Nov, 2025 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Dave Moore under the artwork in August this year. Photo / Mike Tweed

Dave Moore under the artwork in August this year. Photo / Mike Tweed

A months-long stoush over a large Lego head on the side of a Whanganui heritage building has been paused and infringement fees waived as its owner battles cancer.

The 5sq m plywood work was put up in April.

Since then, Whanganui District Council has issued owner Dave Moore with a series of infringements, saying it was installed without consent and must meet district plan requirements.

Moore, who has disputed the notices, was also required to remove signs advertising a tenant in his building, Boredom’s Doom.

He was diagnosed with cancer at the end of August, resulting in the amputation of a leg this month.

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Council regulatory and compliance operations manager Jason Shailer said the infringements had been withdrawn, and while there was still compliance work to be done, it would be readdressed at a later date.

“There is no enforcement action at all on him at the moment,” Shailer said.

“Basically, when he’s well enough, we are going to sit down and talk, and hopefully get a resolution.”

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He said a person’s health and wellbeing “always takes precedence”.

“When it comes to any type of enforcement action, we’d rather not do it.

“We would rather work with people to help them along and help them achieve what they want to achieve.”

In August, Shailer said that under the district plan, some minor maintenance or repairs could be carried out on the exterior of a heritage-listed building without consent.

But consent was required for new signs, artwork or additions.

“The purpose of these rules is to preserve the look of heritage-listed buildings as they contribute to the character of our district,” he said.

Moore bought the property in 2018 with the intention of converting it into 18 high-end apartments.

A lack of funding and financial pressures caused the project to stall, and he currently runs Lego play area and shop Brick HQ in the Taupo Quay-facing side of the building.

The withdrawal of the infringements was “a huge relief”, and he had hired an architect to assist with consent applications, Moore said.

“I think it’s a sign that little shoots of common sense are coming out.

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“It’s very likely the artwork will have a Christmas tinge added to it, which I’m sure the children will enjoy.

“That’s the fun part, and the whole point of it.”

He said chemotherapy would begin early in the new year.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.

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