Earthquake-prone building and seismic risk management review

In 2024, the Government announced an extensive review of the management of seismic risk in existing buildings. The purpose of the Review was to ensure seismic risk in existing buildings is being managed effectively and in a workable, proportionate way.

A Steering Group with an independent chair provided oversight of the Review for Stage 1.

Read more about the Seismic Review Steering Group

MBIE played a key role in carrying out the Review, but a number of key components were delivered externally, including ensuring the right level of technical input and other expertise informed the Review.

The terms of reference for the Review can be accessed here:

At a high level, the Review included:

• considering society’s expectations and willingness to pay to mitigate the risk of injury and death in an earthquake, and for improving the resilience of buildings over time
• recommending regulatory responses that balance life safety risks against the costs of regulation and impact on private property owners
• identifying barriers to meeting regulatory requirements and the types of support or incentives that would help building owners to better manage seismic risk
• considering how outcomes from seismic risk requirements align with broader Government objectives.

There were opportunities for input during the Review and we heard a range of views. 

Extension of earthquake-prone building remediation deadlines

Remediation deadlines for earthquake-prone buildings that had not lapsed as at 2 April 2024 have been extended for 4 years, to allow time for the Review and any subsequent changes to take place.

The Bill to give effect to the extension was passed into law in November 2024. The Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Act came into effect on 26 November 2024. 

Timeline

The Review is the first of three key stages to improve how seismic risk is managed in existing buildings. The three stages and their estimated timeframes are shown below. We are currently at Stage 2 and commencing Stage 3.

Stage 1: Review of seismic risk management in existing buildings

2024-mid 2025

• Appointment of steering group members and chair.
• Examination of current state of earthquake-prone building system, including cost-benefit analysis.
• Summary and assessment of future state options.
• Final report summarising findings and high-level recommendations drafted and provided to Government.
• Final report published.

Stage 2: Options to deliver the recommendations of the Review

Mid-2025 to September 2025

• Detailed development and assessment of options to deliver on the recommendations accepted by the Government at Stage 1.
• Final Government decisions for changes to be made via legislative amendment and/or non-regulatory measures.

Stage 3: Legislative process and implementation

Commencing October 2025

• Drafting, introduction and passage of Bill
• Implementation of any regulatory and non-regulatory measures.

Cabinet papers, reports, and supporting analysis