A review into better managing earthquake-prone buildings is now underway, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced.
"The current system lacks clarity, and some owners are stuck in impossible situations, where they can’t move forward with the remediation but equally struggle to sell and move on with their lives," Penk said.
The Earthquake-Prone Building Register currently lists more than 7000 buildings on its website across New Zealand.
Penk said the "system is not working as well as it could, and the reality is many buildings are not getting remediated".
The review will consider questions of how to measure and mitigate risk, implementation and technical matters, finance and funding challenges, regulatory responses, and timeframes.
"It's important that the review takes a fresh look. An external, independent chair has been appointed to lead the work to ensure it is a rigorous process that Kiwis can have confidence in," he said.
Penk said the review was brought forward "to provide certainty" to building owners.
An example of questions the review could include is: For what building use types would it be most important that resilience be prioritised, beyond the risk to life safety, such as hospitals, schools, and retirement facilities?
The review will be completed by the first half of 2025.
Remediation deadlines for earthquake-prone buildings will be extended for four years while the review is underway.
These changes will require an amendment to the Building Act 2004 with the intention that this bill be passed before the end of 2024.
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