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A new report has found if Wellington doesn't improve the region's infrastructure, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake could cost New Zealand more than $16 billion in lost economic activity and cause years of disruption.
The city needs a $5 billion infrastructure upgrade to order to protect New Zealand's economy in the event of "the big one".
Former mayor Dame Fran Wilde is the chairwoman of the Wellington Lifelines Group which carried out the research.