The Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, passed its third reading on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
An independent review of regulations around earthquake strengthening requirements has been approved by the government alongside new legislation that will change timeframes building owners have to complete the work.
The review was initiated after several building owners raised concerns it was not affordable to complete the required work within the deadlines.
The Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, passed its third reading on Thursday and provides temporary relief from compliance and enforcement challenges.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk told Morning Report everyone now has an extra four years to complete the work.
Govt to review earthquake prone building regulations
"For the ones coming up soon in terms of deadline, they've got an extra four years, and those already out a few years will then have four years on top of that, with the possibility of an extra two, which Parliament has kindly granted me the power to grant as an extension should it be needed."
The strengthening rules will remain different for areas deemed higher risk or lower risk.
"There's a deliberate effort to balance risk, and also even out the labour market capacity."
Penk said there were hundreds of buildings in Wellington that would be impacted by the change, as the owners would now have extra time to complete the strengthening.
"With the specialist engineers and construction workers needed to do that work, there simply wasn't going to be the physical ability to do it all."
Penk highlighted that the cost blow out of many strengthening projects had become prohibitive in many cases.
"For example, a million dollars per apartment worth of strengthening, and generally speaking, apartments aren't worth that much money."
There are also added complications for heritage buildings, and unit title properties like apartment buildings, which has hindered the work in the past.
Penk said the review could show that New Zealand had been too risk averse when it came to laws around strengthening buildings.
"It's not an exercise in simply lowering the threshold such that everyone can get across the line. It is a genuine balance in wanting to place the risk mitigation where it most appropriately can sit.
"I think understanding the risk is a major element, because people need to make an informed decision on what they are facing. But at the same time, even that's complex because sometimes people don't have a choice to enter a building."
Penk hoped a greater awareness and an easier way of understanding the risk would be a good place to start.
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