New Zealand has launched a detailed review aimed at reshaping its policies for managing earthquake-prone buildings.
The initiative seeks to balance the need for public safety with the financial challenges faced by building owners as the country works to address seismic risks more effectively.
The review is being led by an independent chair, Dr Erica Seville, who will oversee a steering group comprising representatives from the building, property, and construction sectors.
Seville, an expert in risk management and disaster preparedness, has significant experience in analysing the impacts of seismic events, including the Canterbury earthquakes.
She brings extensive experience to the role, including her work as a commissioner for the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) and as a director at the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ).
Her past research has focused on disaster recovery, including the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes on businesses.
While efforts to improve seismic risk management continue, changes to the On-Sold Programme (OSP) – an initiative designed to resolve unresolved earthquake damage from the Canterbury earthquake sequence – have sparked complaints about fairness.
Critics argue that new deadlines and procedural changes create barriers for homeowners still attempting to resolve claims.
Ali Jones, a former Christchurch city councillor and advocate for claimants, has expressed concern over the tighter timelines. She suggested that the new requirements could leave some homeowners excluded from the programme, forcing them to seek costly legal remedies.
She also raised concerns about the treatment of independent structural engineering reports. She alleged that reports prepared by qualified professionals are being rejected without explanation, leaving homeowners uncertain about how to proceed with repairs.
Tina Mitchell, chief executive of the NHC, defended the changes, emphasising that they are intended to help expedite claim resolution.
She noted that extended timelines were previously introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to address delays caused by supply chain and workforce challenges but have now been adjusted as those pressures ease.
Mitchell added that approximately 900 claims have been resolved under the programme, with 270 properties in the construction phase and 250 claims progressing with engineering reports.
She emphasised that settlement specialists are working closely with claimants to guide them through the revised process and ensure progress under the updated framework.
“Every homeowner in the programme has assigned settlement specialists who make contact regularly to support progress. Since the government announced the recent changes, NHC has also contacted each applicant to ensure they understand how the changes impact them,” Mitchell said.
