New Earthquake-Prone Building Regulations w Dr. Megan Boston - September 30, 2025
Description
Yesterday, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced changes to the earthquake-prone building regulations that will remove nearly 3000 buildings from the classification register.
Previously, buildings would have to meet a 34%NBS (new building standard) threshold to predict likelihoods of withstanding seismic action. The new system instead prioritises identifying structures that pose a higher risk to human life. Alterations seek to measure risk in a manner that balances safety with more affordable and realistic remediation action for existing properties.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Dr. Megan Boston, Senior Lecturer for Civil Engineering, at the University of Waikato about what the new quake-prone building regulations mean for Aotearoa’s community safety and heritage.
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