Owners of earthquake-prone apartments want the government to pay some of the cost of strengthening rather than offer low-interest loans.
The last-resort financial help is open to owner-occupiers of multi storey apartments in high risk quake zones who can't get a loan anywhere else to do the work.
The money will only need to be paid back when the apartment's sold, or the owner dies.
But residents don't want to take on huge debt and had hoped the Government would share the bill.
Jordan Bond reports.
