Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill open for submissions

The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 9 December 2025 and proposes significant changes to how earthquake-prone buildings are identified and managed. These reforms will affect many property owners and investors across the sector.

The Bill aims to introduce a more proportionate, risk-based system, with regulation focused on high-risk building types located in medium and high seismic zones. Importantly, it also proposes removing New Building Standard (%NBS) ratings from the earthquake-prone building system, which have traditionally been used to assess expected building performance in an earthquake.

Property Council New Zealand welcomes these changes. We have long advocated for seismic reforms that prioritise safety while being practical, evidence-based, and proportionate to risk.

We will be making a submission on the Amendment Bill and are keen to reflect member views in our positions. Members who wish to contribute are encouraged to get in touch with Sandamali to join our Seismic Strengthening Taskforce.

The progress achieved to date, including the proposed removal of %NBS ratings, reflects sustained advocacy by Property Council and the valuable input of our taskforce members.

🎥 Watch: In the accompanying video, Sandamali provides an overview of the Bill, what it means for the sector, and how members can get involved.

Submissions on the Bill close Monday, 16 February 2026.