21 Sept 2026: Earthquake-prone buildings

Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Earthquake-prone buildings and government reforms

Enquiry

I'm doing a story on the Government's earthquake-prone building reforms announced on Friday and am seeking information on the likely impact for Rotorua.

Government modelling suggests Rotorua currently has 66 earthquake-prone buildings, falling to 40 under the new system, with 26 buildings expected to be removed from the regime and estimated compliance costs reducing from $160 million to $53 million.

Could you please comment on the following:

• Does Rotorua Lakes Council agree with the Government's estimates for Rotorua?
• Are any significant CBD, heritage or publicly accessible buildings among those affected?
• How many earthquake-prone buildings are currently on Rotorua Lakes Council's register?
• What impact does council expect the reforms to have on local building owners and businesses?
• Does council have any concerns about the safety implications of the changes?
• What will be the process and timeframe for reclassifying affected buildings in Rotorua?

If possible, could you also provide a list of the Rotorua buildings expected to lose their earthquake-prone status under the reforms?

Response

From Group Manager – Destination Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:

Existing earthquake-prone buildings may be eligible for reassessment under the Government’s new methodology once it is introduced, which could change their status. MBIE is developing the methodology, which will outline the process for owners seeking reassessment or reclassification of an existing earthquake-prone building.

The legislation also restricts changes to the use of earthquake-prone buildings until any required strengthening work has been completed. Councils are responsible for administering the legislation enacted by Parliament, which has determined the relevant safety requirements.

The earthquake-prone building register can be accessed via the link below. While the register is publicly available, it may include some multi-unit residential properties that are not typically accessible to the public. Due to the scale of the register, we have not been able to undertake a detailed review of those properties at this stage, but the register remains the best source of the latest available information. Register of earthquake-prone buildings (EPB Register)

For the current number of earthquake-prone buildings on Rotorua Lakes Council’s register, please refer to the link provided, which contains the most up-to-date information available.