%201%20.jpg "NZ Law Changes Reduce Number of Earthquake-Prone Buildings")
NZ Law Changes Reduce Number of Earthquake-Prone Buildings
- Thousands of New Zealand buildings are no longer classified as earthquake-prone following the unanimous passage of new legislation in Parliament, according to reports from 1News, Stuff, RNZ, and...
- Under related territorial authority guidelines, such as those established by the Whanganui District Council following the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016, building management is split into distinct...
- Property owners previously faced strict statutory deadlines to complete costly engineering work or demolition.
Thousands of New Zealand buildings are no longer classified as earthquake-prone following the unanimous passage of new legislation in Parliament, according to reports from 1News, Stuff, RNZ, and the NZ Herald. The legislative change alters how structures are evaluated and managed nationwide under earthquake safety regulations.
Legislative Changes and National Rollout
Under related territorial authority guidelines, such as those established by the Whanganui District Council following the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016, building management is split into distinct categories. The system utilizes specific notices ranging from black-and-orange borders for buildings with a New Building Standard (NBS) rating between 0% and 20%, to black-and-white borders for those rated between 20% and 34%, alongside mandatory public registers.
Impact on Building Owners and Strengthening Timeframes
Property owners previously faced strict statutory deadlines to complete costly engineering work or demolition. Local government frameworks, including Whanganui District Council guidelines, outline structured compliance periods where properties identified on priority routes face a 16.5-year timeframe for street-facing elements like verandahs and parapets, while the remainder of a qualifying building allows up to 29 years. Failure to properly display required earthquake-prone building notices or secure necessary exemptions can result in severe municipal penalties, including a $1,000 infringement fee or fines up to $20,000 upon conviction.