The New Zealand Government is in the process of considering a law that would require all commercial, multi-unit and multi-story residential buildings upgraded and strengthened to a minimum of 35% or more of the New Building Standard. Buildings so designated will have up to 15 years from the end of the review period to bring their buildings into line with these requirements. The proposal particularly affects old buildings constructed in unreinforced brick masonry. Many of these are home shop buildings with some heritage value, built around the turn of the 20th Century. Together they make up a considerable portion of many small town commercial precincts. The proposed legislation will affect all parts of New Zealand, regardless of the particular region’s exposure to earthquake risk. The implications of the upgrade are significant, both for owners and for townscape to which they belong. If the cost puts the viability of the building at risk, the owner will be in a position where demolition is the only feasible option. This could have far reaching implications for the wellbeing of many small towns within New Zealand. The Governments decisions follow on from some of the recommendations of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission report on the recent Christchurch earthquake. The paper will examine these recommendations and report on the submissions to the proposed legislation, particularly as they relate to small-scale unreinforced brick masonry buildings. It will examine the social and economic effects of the legislation on the provincial town compared to inner city Auckland and suggest that there are other cost effective solutions to this dilemma than the route proposed by the impending legislation.
