Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery Act 2016

​The Government amended the Building Act in February 2017, after the Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes in 2016. 

The amendment addresses the risk to public safety from buildings with unreinforced masonry (URM) on certain streets in Wellington City, Hutt City, Marlborough District and Hurunui District Council areas. It’s considered that these areas faced a higher risk of earthquakes in the 12 months following those earthquakes.

The affected streets in these areas are listed in the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery (Unreinforced Masonry Buildings) Order 2017. Building owners will be told by their council if they are required to secure the parapets and facades on their buildings.

You could get help with strengthening URM

To support building owners who are subject to this requirement, the Government and affected councils have set up the Unreinforced Masonry Buildings Securing Fund.

Unreinforced Masonry Buildings Securing Fund - Building Performance website