Capital faces $1m bill for quake assessment

Wellington will need to spend at least $1 million just to see if any of its buildings are earthquake risks and comply with the new Building Act, the city's mayor said today.

Under the Building Act, passed in 2004 and progressively coming into force, the definitions of earthquake-prone buildings and the measures required to make them safe are upgraded and responsibilities placed on councils to monitor the situation.

Particularly in question are commercial and multi-storey premises built before 1965.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast today said the city would need to spend at least $1 million on an initial assessment of about 7350 buildings.

Of those, about 4500 were unlikely to comply with the new legislation, she told National Radio.

Such buildings would require remedial work or even demolition.

- NZPA