The cordon has been extended along Tory St to Wakefield St to prepare for the demolition of Reading Cinema car park.

The safety cordon on Wellington's Tory St has been extended as preparations are made for the destruction of the Reading Cinema car park.

The area was cordoned off soon after the Kaikoura earthquake on November 14, and now extends to the intersection with Wakefield St.

A Wellington City Council spokesman said the extra space would allow access for trucks and heavy machinery, including a demolition crane.

KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ. A large crane will sit atop this protective bed of sand and metal.

After high winds prevented it from being moved on Tuesday, the large crane will be moved from the demolition site at 61 Molesworth St over the coming days. A smaller, more powerful crane will then finish the Molesworth St demolition, which could be completed by Friday.

READ MORE:

* Reading Cinemas car park demolition to begin on January 4 and finish in March

* Demolition plan leaves cars trapped - and a fish dinner sitting on the kitchen bench

* Earthquake: Car parks at a premium

* Wellington businesses to get earthquake relief from Government

The Tory St cordon extension will mean Brendon Motors and Joe's Garage restaurant will have to remain closed after the Christmas break until the demolition is finished in March.

KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ Contractors aim to have the demolition of 61 Molesworth St done by Friday, when this crane will move to Tory St for the demolition of the Reading Cinema car park.

Joe's Garage owner Craig Macfarlane said he did not think he met the criteria for the Government's Kaikoura earthquake relief package, but the business was insured and there would be no job losses.

There were others in far worse situations, and the lost business time would be used to upskill staff.

"We want to maintain our team. It's a tough time, but we've got to go with the flow, be philosophical and deal with it."

FAIRFAX NZ Joe's Garage on Tory St is inside the new cordon and will be closed until February.

Food and other perishables from the cafe had been donated to food banks, and Macfarlane said the council had kept him informed during what had been a "moving feast" in the aftermath of the quake.

The situation was difficult because of the break in continuity of trading, the way it affected customer's habits and because it created self-doubt and uncertainty for staff.

Brendon Motors manager Lizette​ Standish told RNZ that staff would continue working at their other branch, but closing down the Tory St location would hurt financially.

"Definitely our profits have dropped off, but we're still able to work, so we've still been able to do what we needed to do."

Hundreds of people have been unable to go home or to work as nearby buildings have been behind the cordon since the Kaikoura quake.

Nine cars are trapped inside the building, and will be destroyed along with it, because it is considered unsafe to retrieve them.

Some insurance companies have told the owners that they will not pay out until the building is flattened.

Demolition is scheduled to begin on January 4.