Wairoa District Council is hopeful that proposed legislative changes may reduce the requirements of local earthquake-prone buildings.

In the Wairoa district, there are around 40 buildings identified as, or potentially, earthquake-prone. The majority of these are based in the Wairoa township.

Nationally, the changes are expected to remove approximately 55% of buildings (2,900 buildings) from the earthquake-prone building (EPB) register.

It is expected that the changes will deliver around $8.2 billion in savings for building owners, including government agencies, and will bring positive financial and economic outcomes for EPB owners across the country.

Around 1,440 EPBs will have more affordable remediation requirements, and 840 EPBs will have no mandatory requirement for remedial work.

Nationally, only around 80 buildings will require a full retrofit due to the risk they pose. 

The changes are designed to make seismic strengthening more accessible by reducing costs and disruption for building owners.

The focus is on higher seismic risk areas and high-risk buildings.

The proposed new system focuses resources on buildings that pose the greatest risk, rather than a broad, costly approach. By removing the requirement for simultaneous fire and accessibility upgrades, the changes aim to prevent unnecessary costs and demolition of some buildings. The ability to apply for deadline extensions provides more flexibility for building owners to manage remediation work over time.

Mayor Craig Little is hopeful the proposed changes could boost the town by easing the strengthening requirements through a more targeted risk-based approach. He is hopeful that some buildings that had uncertain futures due to the cost of earthquake-strengthening requirements may now have a reprieve if the proposed legislative changes go ahead.

“These proposed changes could help revitalise struggling town centres, which have been at risk of having buildings demolished or left vacant after being labelled earthquake-prone.”

A bill containing the latest proposed changes is expected to be introduced to Parliament soon. Public submissions will be sought during the select committee process in the first half of 2026, with an implementation date for the new system currently anticipated in mid-2027. 

7 November 2025

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