# Twinkle Toes

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Excavator

Twinkle Toes demolishing the [PricewaterhouseCoopers](/source/PricewaterhouseCoopers) building in September 2012

**Twinkle Toes** is the largest [excavator](/source/Excavator) in the Southern Hemisphere. It was used in [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch) to demolish tall buildings following the [2010](/source/2010_Canterbury_earthquake) and [2011 earthquakes](/source/2011_Christchurch_earthquake) before moving to Wellington following the [2016 Kaikōura earthquake](/source/2016_Kaik%C5%8Dura_earthquake).

## History and description

Twinkle Toes' first [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch) demolition in Liverpool Street in November 2011; note that the telescoping arm is not extended

The excavator is based on a 2008 [Liebherr](/source/Liebherr_Group) 984 that was heavily modified by Kocurek Excavators Ltd for the [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham)-based demolition Coleman & Company.[1] It was bought for around [NZ$](/source/New_Zealand_dollar)4m[2] and imported to New Zealand by Auckland-based demolition firm Nikau Contractors, and arrived in the Port of [Lyttelton](/source/Lyttelton%2C_New_Zealand) in September 2011.[3][4][5][6] The tracked excavator weighs 220 tonnes (220 long tons; 240 short tons) and has a maximum reach of 65 metres (213 ft).[6] When the telescoping arm is not extended, the reach is 25 metres (82 ft). The excavator is not suited for demolishing the bottom two storeys of a building.[5] At full reach, a 2.5 tonnes (2.5 long tons; 2.8 short tons) demolition attachment can be fitted to the hydraulic boom. At 40 metres (130 ft) reach, the machine can handle a 6 tonnes (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) [concrete breaker](/source/Breaker_(hydraulic)).[4] The excavator got its nickname following a naming competition on Christchurch radio station [More FM](/source/More_FM#Christchurch).[4]

## Demolitions

- Early November 2011 – Office building on the corner of Liverpool and Cashel Streets in early November 2011.[7]

- Late November 2011 – Headquarters of AMI Insurance in Latimer Square.[5]

- Early 2012 – [Hotel Grand Chancellor, Christchurch](/source/Hotel_Grand_Chancellor%2C_Christchurch), second tallest building in Christchurch.[8]

- September 2012 – PricewaterhouseCoopers building in Armagh Street. Largest building in Christchurch by mass.[9]

- September/October 2012 – [Farmers](/source/Farmers_Trading_Company) car parking building in Gloucester Street.

- Mid/late October 2012 – [Centra Building](/source/Centra_Building) (Holiday Inn) on the corner of Cashel and High Street in October 2012.[10]

- Late 2012/early 2013 – [Westpac Canterbury Centre](/source/Westpac_Canterbury_Centre).

- Date unknown – Ibis House, Hereford Street.[11]

- Late 2017 – Defence (Freyberg) House, Wellington. [12]

- Date unknown – Work on [Port Taranaki Power Station](/source/New_Plymouth_Power_Station).[13]

## See also

- [List of tallest buildings in Christchurch](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Christchurch)

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Twinkle Toes (excavator)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Twinkle_Toes_(excavator)).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Exclusive – UK's biggest high reach bound for NZ"](http://www.demolitionnews.com/2011/08/11/exclusive-%E2%80%93-uk%E2%80%99s-biggest-high-reach-bound-for-nz/). *Demolition News*. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Palmer, Kloe (2 November 2011). ["Massive digger called on to help in Christchurch"](http://www.3news.co.nz/Massive-digger-called-on-to-help-in-Christchurch/tabid/423/articleID/231451/Default.aspx). *[3 News](/source/3_News)*. Retrieved 14 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Stylianou, Georgina (7 September 2011). ["Big digger for Christchurch demo"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5581897/Big-digger-for-Christchurch-demo). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. Retrieved 14 September 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nikau_page_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nikau_page_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Nikau_page_4-2) ["Excavators"](http://www.nikau.org/wa.asp?idWebPage=44630&idDetails=212). Nikau Contractors. Retrieved 14 September 2012.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AMI_House_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AMI_House_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AMI_House_5-2) Wright, Michael (16 November 2011). ["Twinkle Toes tackles largest project to date"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5977481/Twinkle-Toes-tackles-largest-project-to-date). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. Retrieved 13 September 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Arrow_International_and_Nikau_Contractors_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Arrow_International_and_Nikau_Contractors_6-1) Wright, Michael (17 November 2011). ["Firms target high-rise buildings"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5981460/Firms-target-high-rise-buildings). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. Retrieved 13 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Schwede66 (5 November 2011). ["File:Liverpool Street 06.jpg"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liverpool_Street_06.jpg). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 13 September 2012.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hotel Grand Chancellor"](http://www.emporis.com/building/hotelgrandchancellor-christchurch-newzealand). Emporis GmbH. Retrieved 14 September 2012.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Greenhill, Marc (30 August 2012). ["PWC building comes down"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7579496/PWC-building-comes-down). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. Retrieved 14 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Twinkle_Toes_checks_in_10-0)** Gates, Charlie (13 September 2012). ["Twinkle Toes checks in"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7664921/Twinkle-Toes-checks-in). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. Retrieved 14 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Commercial"](http://www.nikau.org/wawcs0144642/idDetails=191/Ibis%20House,%20Hereford%20Street,%20Christchurch). Nikau Contractors. Retrieved 15 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Demolition_in_central_Wellington_night_and_day_-_neighbours_be_damned_12-0)** ["Demolition in central Wellington night and day – neighbours be damned"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/99710943/demolition-in-central-wellington-night-and-day--neighbours-be-damned). *[The Dominion Post](/source/The_Dominion_Post_(Wellington))*. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Nikau Group Strategic Deconstruction & Environmental :: Liebherr R984C "Twinkle Toes""](https://www.nikaugroup.com/case-studies/twinkle-toes/). *www.nikaugroup.com*. Retrieved 30 March 2020.

v t e Christchurch earthquakes Earthquakes Located in or near Christchurch June 1869 September 2010 Boxing Day 2010 February 2011 June 2011 December 2011 February 2016 Located elsewhere causing damage in Christchurch 1855 Wairarapa 1881 Castle Hill 1888 North Canterbury 1901 Cheviot 1922 Motunau 2016 Kaikōura Buildings Lost Arthur Young House Christchurch Bus Exchange Christchurch Central Library Christchurch Convention Centre Centra Building Crowne Plaza The Civic Clarendon Tower Cranmer Centre Cranmer Court CTV Building Durham Street Methodist Church Excelsior Hotel Fisher's Building Guthrey Centre Hallensteins Building Hornby Clocktower Hotel Grand Chancellor Linwood House Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building Lyttelton Times Building Majestic Theatre Manchester Courts Oxford Terrace Baptist Church PGC Building PricewaterhouseCoopers (Seagull Pit) Press Building Regent Theatre Sevicke Jones Building St John's Church St Luke's Church St Paul's Church Warner's Hotel Weston House Westpac Canterbury Centre Wharetiki House Demolition Implosion of Radio Network House Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Central Police Station Lancaster Park Music Centre of Christchurch Twinkle Toes Damaged with uncertain future Antonio Hall Odeon Theatre Remaining Antigua Boat Sheds Arts Centre (Dux de Lux, Registry Building) Bridge of Remembrance Canterbury Club Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings Chief Post Office Christchurch Art Gallery Christ Church Cathedral Christchurch Club St Michael Church Citizens' War Memorial City Mall Club Tower Curator's House Distinction Christchurch Hotel Dorset Street Flats Edmonds Band Rotunda Forsyth Barr Building Godley Statue Isaac Theatre Royal Knox Church McDougall Art Gallery McLean's Mansion McKenzie & Willis Store Midland Club Building New Brighton Pier New Regent Street Lyttelton Timeball Station Old Government Building Our City Peterborough Centre Public Trust Building Riccarton House Rolleston Statue Scott Statue Shand's Emporium Sign of the Kiwi St Saviour's Chapel Town Hall Trinity Congregational Church Victoria Clock Tower Victoria Mansions Worcester Chambers New 151 Cambridge Terrace 185 empty chairs (memorial) Cardboard Cathedral Christchurch Catholic Cathedral Re:START Riverside Market Lists historic places tall buildings Land Categories Central City Red Zone Residential red zone (East Lake) TC3 Suburbs worst affected Central City Avonside Avondale Dallington Bexley Southshore Brooklands Kaiapoi People Associated with earthquakes Ann Brower Gerry Brownlee Kaila Colbin Clayton Cosgrove Ruth Dyson Antony Gough John Hamilton Andrew Holden Warwick Isaacs Sam Johnson André Lovatt Neil MacLean Tony Marryatt John Ombler Bob Parker Nigel Priestley Mark Quigley Alan Reay Ken Ring Gerald Shirtcliff Roger Sutton Deon Swiggs Mairehe Louise Tankersley Coralie Winn Died in earthquake Jo Giles Amanda Hooper Recovery Plan (1) The Frame (Margaret Mahy Playground) (2) Te Pae Convention Centre (3) Christchurch Stadium (4) Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre (5) Christchurch Bus Interchange (6) Avon River Precinct (7) Te Puna Ahurea Cultural Centre (8) The Square (9) Performing Arts Precinct (10) Justice and Emergency Services Precinct (11) Health Precinct (12) Cricket Oval (13) Residential Demonstration Project (14) Tūranga (library) (15) Innovation Precinct (16) Retail Precinct Earthquake National Memorial Organisations Public sector CCDU CERA Christchurch City Council Civil Defence Ōtākaro Limited Regenerate Christchurch SCIRT Selwyn District Council Waimakariri District Council Private and voluntary sector Farmy Army Gap Filler Greening the Rubble Ministry of Awesome Student Volunteer Army The Press Services Christchurch Recovery Map Memorials and services for the Canterbury earthquakes The Shuttle Legislation Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day Act 2011 Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 Commission of Inquiry Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Mark Cooper (chair) Ron Carter (commissioner) Richard Fenwick (commissioner)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Twinkle Toes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle_Toes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle_Toes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.