New Zealand Parliament Passes $8.2 Billion Seismic Reform Bill

The New Zealand Parliament unanimously passed the Earthquake-prone Building Amendment Bill on September 19, 2026, reforming the national system for seismic building safety to focus specifically on risk to life. Simon Watts, the Building and Construction Minister, stated the reforms will save building owners and the national economy $8.2 billion by removing approximately 2,900 buildings—roughly half of all current designations—from the system.

Under the new rules, low-risk concrete and wooden buildings will lose their earthquake-prone status. Specifically, the legislation removes designations for buildings in Auckland, the Chatham Islands, and the low-seismic zone of the upper North Island. However, high-risk unreinforced masonry and vulnerable multi-storey concrete buildings in high and medium seismic zones remain subject to requirements. Additionally, parts of coastal Otago and Stewart Island will move from low to medium seismic zones.

Updated seismic zones take effect the day after Royal Assent, with the remaining reforms coming into force on July 1, 2027. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown praised the move as a victory for common sense, arguing that the previous system imposed unnecessary costs on owners in low-activity regions and primarily benefited consultants. Following the passage of the bill, Brown indicated his next priority is addressing fire safety regulations that obstruct the conversion of older office buildings into residential apartments.