Earthquake-prone building owners can now do alterations without seismic strengthening

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

Owners of earthquake-prone buildings, such as the Feilding Hotel, can complete renovations without being forced to do seismic strengthening.

Owners of earthquake-prone buildings can now do small alterations without strengthening their entire building.

The move allows owners of low-value buildings in rural towns to make renovations, such as fitting a toilet or moving a kitchen, and was announced by building Minister Jenny Salesa at the Feilding Hotel on Sunday.

Previously, they would have to strengthen their structure at the same time if the alterations cost more than 25 per cent of the building's value.

'This policy was having a disproportionate impact on provincial and small towns, due to many buildings having a low-building value in those areas,' Salesa told the small crowd, which included mayors from Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Tararua.

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'This is discouraging progressive building work from being undertaken in these areas.'

Salesa didn't want 'ghost towns' popping up as the burden of earthquake-prone building demands begins to grip landlords. Feilding, she explained, had 90 buildings that would either be demolished or strengthened within 7½ years.

Salesa spoke with Feilding Hotel owner David Wiseman, who informed her his building had stood on the corner of Manchester St and Kimbolton Rd since 1875.

'It really brings home just how important it is that historical buildings like these are ones that we ensure remain here.'

Salesa credited a forum of mayors in the central North Island, who had united to advocate on the behalf of rural building owners. Without their dedication, the problems of earthquake strengthening in small centres would never have been brought to her attention.

Rangitīkei mayor Andy Watson was part of the group, which went to the Government with concerns echoing around provincial towns.

Ultimately, building owners had less capital to draw on for their investment and lower potential for growth, but faced similar prices for repairs as those in the big smoke, he said.

Incentives, even as small as the ability to complete alterations, made a difference.

In May, the Manawatū District Council adopted a bylaw forcing 90 landlords to have their buildings inspected by an engineer within 12 months, and strengthened or demolished within 7½ years.

The district's deputy mayor Michael Ford, who had pushed to extend the deadline to 15 years, described it as a 'sad day'.