Thirty-four elderly residents in 33 units are being evacuated from an Auckland retirement village after concerns that part of the complex may be unsafe.

Eastcliffe Retirement Village at 217 Kupe St, Orakei, overlooks Bastion Pt and the 143-residence complex was only developed last decade.

Ngarimu Blair, a director of village owner Ngati Whatua Orakei Whai Rawa, said invasive testing to one of four blocks to prepare for weathertightness repairs revealed that other buildings could be unsafe.

As a result, 33 out of 58 townhouses and apartments will be evacuated, he said, affecting about 34 people.

The residences are in six separate blocks: Nikau, Matai, Kauri (partly demolished with its cladding removed and under shrink wrap), Kowhai Totara and Rimu.

"In the course of undertaking remedial works to address specific weathertightness issues in block three, additional substandard fire protection and structural issues have been identified," Blair's statement said.

Invasive testing conducted last week had revealed that the walls of block three were not built to past or present Building Code "and not built in the way the plans had dictated", Blair said.

"This has raised concerns that the structural integrity of the block is compromised and therefore may be insufficient to withstand a fire or earthquake.

"Block three is currently unoccupied and therefore this finding poses absolutely no risk to residents. However, because this block was built at the same time and in the same manner as four other blocks, it is likely that these blocks may also be affected," Blair said.

"As a result, village owner, Ngati Whatua Orakei Whai Rawa, has taken the immediate decision to relocate residents while all Eastcliffe buildings are now surveyed as a matter of urgency," he said.

Eastcliffe has 25 independent townhouses, 33 apartments, studios and hospital rooms and residents buy licences to occupy their places which they do not own.

"The board's number one priority is ensuring that residents' homes are safe. Our commitment is to ensure that any building issues are addressed as quickly, and with as little disruption to residents, as possible," Blair said.

"However, until the extent of any problem is known, we will take absolutely no risks when it comes to residents' safety."

Residents and their families have been kept fully informed and are supportive of the actions, he added.

"We have organised quality serviced apartment accommodation for all residents and will be assisting them with relocation. We understand how unsettling this is for them, and we are grateful that they have been very supportive of our approach. We couldn't in good conscience allow residents to live in homes that are potentially unsafe."

Two years ago, serious weather tightness issues at Eastcliffe came to light, estimated then to cost $12 million and take five years to fix.

Ngati Whatua's annual report out in November, 2015 revealed the extent of the leaks in the buildings which are home to many elderly residents and which are marketed as "a retirement resort", promoting its extensive facilities.

"Full building surveys were undertaken in early 2015 and have revealed that significant remediation works need to be undertaken to the townhouses and apartments," Ngati Whatua's report says of the village, then 95 per cent occupied.

"This work, which is the result of poor workmanship and inadequate project management at the time of construction, will likely involve a full reclad of these buildings," it said at the time.

Eastcliffe advertises one and two-bedroom serviced apartments, one and two-bedroom independent apartments and two-level townhouses.

The company's website says: "We currently have a sales promotion on our 1 bedroom serviced apartments. Apartments are priced from $330,000, so be cosy and warm all year round in our main building and enjoy the Rangitoto sea views from one of our 4 lounges."

Ian McCormick, Auckland Council's general manager of building control, said he understood Ngati Whatua Whai Rawa "made a decision to relocate tenants from one of its buildings".

"The council has not issued a dangerous building notice. While the council doesn't have specific concerns at this stage, we will continue to liaise with the property owner to find out more information.

"The council has been working through a recladding programme with the property owner for a number of years.

"Several of the buildings were issued with notices to fix in 2010 because of weather tightness concerns, and we have been working very closely with the property owner to address this.

"A building consent is in place for the reclad that is currently underway on one of the blocks."