Government makes progress on reviewing earthquake risk management rules.
The New Zealand Government has moved forward in its efforts to revamp the country's approach to managing earthquake risks. Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk announced the appointment of an independent chair, Dr Erica Seville, to lead a review of earthquake building settings. The review aims to provide fairer and more sensible rules for managing earthquake-prone buildings.
The Government has passed legislation extending the remediation deadline for these buildings by four years. This decision was made to avoid requiring building owners to comply with standards that may change once the review is complete. Dr Seville, an expert in risk management, will lead a panel of 10 representatives from various organizations across the building and construction sectors.
The public is invited to provide feedback on the current system for managing earthquake risks. This input will be considered as part of the review, which is expected to provide recommendations for safer and more certain futures for building owners and the public.