NZ Ditches Earthquake Strengthening Rules for Thousands of Buildings
New legislation has been passed in New Zealand to relax earthquake strengthening rules for thousands of buildings across the country.
The Earthquake-prone Building Amendment Bill, which was unanimously approved by parliament, will no longer require quake strengthening in Auckland and parts of coastal Otago and Stewart Island.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said that 'common sense has prevailed' with the new legislation, citing the city's low earthquake risk compared to other regions.
Brown also expressed relief that building owners will no longer be hit with significant costs for seismic assessments and strengthening work.
Building and Construction Minister Simon Watts hailed the reforms as a major victory for New Zealand's economy, predicting it would save Kiwi building owners $8.2 billion in remediation costs over time.