A decision on how best to demolish the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Christchurch should be made within a couple of weeks.
The 26-storey building, in the central city, has been on a lean since the day after last month's earthquake.
Civil Defence says engineers are coming from Germany and the United States to advise on the best course of action.
They will make a recommendation about whether to demolish the building with explosives or dismantle it over several months.
CD national controller Steve Brazier says a decision needs to be made soon, because the hotel is impeding access to other buildings in the area.
He says the question of who will pay for the demolition is still being discussed among the building's owners, insurers and the Government.
