Horowhenua's mayor is demanding to know why it has taken so long to determine if the district council's building is an earthquake risk.
A new engineer's report rates parts of the building as earthquake-prone when measured against the higher standard that a Civil Defence centre has to meet - and also as an earthquake risk when measured by normal office building standards.
The report said the building was sound, but that it also needs a substantial seismic upgrade.
Mayor Michael Feyen said he was not happy his staff would have to work there until a review of the latest report, which he commissioned, comes up with a clear overall rating.
"The nub of it all is I believe there needs to be a full inquiry over the whole process, because you've got to remember it's been to a national level."
"My thing is - what the hell is there to hide?"