Over 200 Wellington City Buildings Are Earthquake Risks

Ohariu Belmont MP and United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says 207 Wellington City buildings are considered earthquake risks by the Wellington City Council.

He had obtained the list, accurate as at May 2000, from the Wellington City Council under the Official Information Act.

Mr Dunne says these buildings are ones considered unsafe by accepted earthquake standards.

"I say it is in the public interest that people know which buildings in their area are unsafe, which is why I have released the information."

"People will draw their own conclusions about the level of risk they face and what action they should take, but at least they will now have the public information to do so," he says.

Mr Dunne says he is extremely concerned so many Wellington City buildings are earthquake risks.

"We like to think we are making great progress in earthquake preparedness, but these figures are a sharp reminder about how much more work needs to be done for us to be truly well-prepared."

"These figures are a wake-up call the community and the Council cannot ignore," he says.

Mr Dunne recently released a list of 136 Hutt City buildings which are earthquake risks and is presently gathering information from local authorities around New Zealand on earthquake risk buildings.

"I am shocked that in our region there are almost 350 earthquake risk buildings," he says.

ENDS

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