The Wellington region will moved to Orange Level on Friday 3 December.
Read morePlease access our enquiry form below.
Bin Enquiry FormThere are many ways you can limit the damage a major earthquake could do to your house; most of them will require you to have a building consent. Watch the video below for ideas.
Earthquake-proofing measures include:
Keep your house on its foundations in an earthquake, using the fixtures and fittings in the Pryda foundation strengthening kit. Each comprehensive kit has enough fixings and fittings for up to 20 piles – enough to greatly improve your home’s earthquake resilience.
Before buying, you need to know if your house piles are concrete or timber as there’s a different kit for each. Pick up a kit right away from your local Mitre10 MEGA or order from Bunnings or PlaceMakers. For more information about the kits visit Pryda's website. This video shows you how to install the kit – it's easy:
To prevent damage and injury in an earthquake, it’s a good idea to restrain your large appliances and furniture.
Seismic Restraints also stock an extensive range of earthquake safety fasteners to secure common fixtures and furnishings in every part of your home.
Check if you need consent before starting work
All new building work must comply with the New Zealand Building Code, which tells you how a new building must perform.
If the work is structural or affects the house’s weathertightness, it’s likely to be ‘restricted building work’. This means that you must employ licensed building practitioners to design and supervise or carry out the work.
If you want to do the work yourself, you must first get an ‘owner-builder exemption’ and complete a statutory declaration. Take a look at the MBIE website for more information and application forms. Note that future buyers of your house will be able to find out about the work you’ve done.
Check out Wellington City Council's earthquake strengthening checklist.
If your building is a heritage building, we may be able to help with some of the costs of earthquake strengthening through our Built Heritage Incentive Fund. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
Your application for an earthquake strengthening-related building consent will need to include:
The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office has information about preparing for an emergency, and ways to connect with your community before a natural disaster.