Boy to push button for implosion

Queenstown boy to push button for implosion

NICOLE MATHEWSON
Last updated 13:40 02/08/2012
Jayden Halliwell.
Don Scott
BRINGING IT DOWN: Jayden Halliwell will be the first person to blow up a building in New Zealand.
RADIO NETWORK HOUSE: New Zealand's first building implosion is the subject of an online auction.
RADIO NETWORK HOUSE: New Zealand's first building implosion was the subject of an online auction.

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A 6-year-old Queenstown boy will become the first person to blow up a building in New Zealand when he pushes the button to implode Christchurch's Radio Network House on Sunday.

Eight demolition companies won a Trade Me auction to implode the 14-storey Radio Network House with a bid of $26,000, and they gave the opportunity to the Child Cancer Foundation, which nominated Jayden Halliwell.

Jayden is undergoing cancer treatment and is staying with mother Justine at Ronald McDonald House in central Christchurch.

The eight demolition companies were Christchurch's Shilton and Brown Demolition, March Construction, D Construction, Jurgens Demolition, Dormer Construction, Pro Tranz Contracting and Clampet Developments and Auckland's Ward Demolition.

Jim Shilton, of Shilton and Brown Demolition, said the companies were pleased to give something back to the restoration of Christchurch's heritage buildings.

"Being able to offer someone like Jayden a once-in-a lifetime opportunity is a bonus," he said.

The auction was Trade Me's third most viewed auction of all time, with 459,420 views, 113 bids and 243 questions asked.

Isaac Theatre Royal general manager Neil Cox said the final bid of $26,000 would be put towards the heritage restoration of the theatre's facade.

The Government will match the bid amount and its contribution will go towards restoration of other buildings identified by the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Buildings Fund.

Jayden will push the button to implode Radio Network House at 8am on Sunday.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

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