The Government's changes to earthquake strengthening standards will see it scrap the current NBS system - where buildings below a certain percentage are deemed earthquake prone, and focus on those deemed to pose genuine risk to human life.
It's estimated more than half the buildings currently on the earthquake prone register will come off it.
Others will need to spend less on remediation.
Just 80 buildings around the country still need a full retrofit.
Overall it will save property owners $8.2 billion in remediation costs. Auckland, Northland and Chatham Islands are being exempted from the system altogether and Dunedin is being upgraded to a medium risk seismic zone.
The Building and Construction Minister is Chris Penk.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
