Q+A with Jack Tame Chris Penk: Will earthquake-prone buildings be safe enough?
Oct 4, 2025
Chris Penk, New Zealand's Minister for Building and Construction, shares insights on major reforms to earthquake-prone building regulations. He outlines a new, proportionate approach aimed at enhancing safety while addressing financial barriers for building owners. The discussion covers the complexities of risk management, the implications of insurance and financing, and the importance of consumer protection measures. Penk also touches on aligning health and safety with these new rules and the government’s broader energy and manufacturing strategies.
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Practical Safety Over Ideal Standards
- Chris Penk frames the overhaul as making the earthquake-prone regime sensible, balanced and risk-proportionate.
- He emphasizes life-safety remains central while seeking practical, achievable standards.
Projected Risk Versus Real Compliance
- The regulatory impact statement projects a 30% increase in risk versus the status quo but that likely overstates it.
- Penk argues current rules assume full compliance which hasn't occurred, so real-world risk under current rules is lower.
Compare To Real Outcomes Not Ideal Ones
- Compare new rules to realistic outcomes under the current system, not an idealised full-compliance case.
- Aim for standards that can actually be implemented to achieve life-safety gains sooner.